High in the granite spine of Corsica’s Alta Rocca, where chestnut groves meet peaks brushed with cloud, a grande dame has returned to life. Domaine Le Mouflon d’Or, once a faded early-20th-century retreat, has been restored with quiet grandeur — and has just been welcomed into the Relais & Châteaux family.
A Revival with Soul
First built in 1905 by the Paris–Lyon–Méditerranée railway company, the Mouflon d’Or was once the kind of address whispered among European travelers in search of Alpine air with a Mediterranean view. For decades, it stood silent. Today, thanks to Corsican owners Lise Canarelli and Anthony Bornea, the property has reopened as a 19-hectare estate with its original stone façade intact, its cedar and chestnut parkland preserved, and interiors reimagined for a new century of travelers.
Rooms with a View
There are just 20 rooms and suites — some tucked beneath exposed beams, others opening onto terraces with long views of forest and mountain. Two converted shepherds’ huts, or bergeries, offer a taste of Corsican pastoral life with the comforts of a modern retreat. At the top end, a 100-square-meter villa, Caseddu Le Mouflon d’Or, gives families or friends a private base complete with Relais & Châteaux service.
The Flavor of Corsica
At A Nepita, chef Sébastien Chauchat tells the story of the island through its ingredients: herbs from the maquis, local charcuterie, citrus and chestnut, seafood from nearby coasts. It’s Corsican terroir elevated with French finesse — best enjoyed on the terrace as dusk turns the granite pink.
Why Go Now
Mouflon d’Or isn’t just another luxury hotel; it’s part of a movement in travel toward authenticity. Guests can swim in the heated outdoor pool, wander the parkland beneath century-old cedars, or venture out on hikes that begin at the estate’s edge. A spa stocked with Corsican Nucca products promises recovery, while the concierge curates everything from village market visits to wild-river swims.
Relais & Châteaux Credibility
Admission to Relais & Châteaux isn’t given lightly. It signals that a property embodies more than comfort — that it safeguards local culture, landscapes, and traditions. Mouflon d’Or does all three, presenting Corsica not as a backdrop but as the story itself.
The Takeaway
Corsica has long been a destination for insiders: more rugged than the Riviera, more mysterious than Sardinia. With Mouflon d’Or’s rebirth, the island gains a hotel that feels both rooted and rarefied. For travelers who want to trade the clichés of coastal resorts for mountain air, heritage architecture, and a seat at the table of Corsica’s evolving cuisine, Mouflon d’Or might just be the year’s most intriguing check-in.
Book it: lemouflondor.com | Relais & Châteaux
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