The first time I met Christian Collot was in January 2020. During our conversation in his interior design agency, he told me about all his great projects, including that of the Hôtel Richer de Belleval, a 17th century hotel that has become Relais & Châteaux Hotel-Restaurant in the heart of the city of Montpellier (France). A place overlooking the superb Place de la Canourgue designed to satisfy today lovers of gastronomy, art, culture and history.
photo credit @stefanpinto
An incredible achievement in a superb setting
Christian is involved in all the interior decoration by working in coherence with the architectural firm Philippe Prost, the Atelier de Ricou for the renovation part, and of course the Pourcel brothers.
To have followed in pictures the restoration of the building, I can tell you that I just find incredible and the various works of contemporary art signed by exceptional artists: Jim Dine, Abdelkader Benchama, Marlène Mocquet, Olympe Racana-Weiler or even Jan Fabre.
And then Christian gave me the immense pleasure of inviting me to carry out our interview in the heart of this exceptional hotel with its prodigious heritage, cultural and culinary richness.
photo credit @stefanpinto
I was thus able to take stock of the fabulous work carried out by this atmospheric director from the intimate rooms of the gourmet restaurant Le Jardin des Sens, passing through the interior courtyard of the Bistro La Canourgue, the majestic staircase of honor, the Absolutely crazy L'Elytre bar, up to the 20 rooms dressed in haute couture so chic and so contemporary!
photo credit @stefanpinto
I made the whole interview in one of the bedrooms on the second floor with the help of excellent photographer Stefan Pinto who accompanied us for an absolutely quirky photo shoot.
Christian continues his decorating adventures in France but also abroad. Indeed, he was recently selected to work on a new large-scale hotel project in the North West of the United States. In the meantime he wants to "make Richer de Belleval's Christmas the most magical of all". We cannot thank him enough for the magic he delicately deposits wherever he goes.
