the history
the domain
The Auberge du Cèdre is the ancient Master house of the vineyards estate of Cazeneuve which, at the time, covered more than 50 hectares of vines, around 250 hectares of hillside pine and oak forests, the large cellar and the service quarters being located opposite L’Auberge.
The oldest part of the house goes back to the 13th century, where the farmhouse was then called “Mas de Trimon”. The name of “Cazenove” appears in the 14th century. Later on, in the 17th and 18th centuries, Gentlemen glassblowers from the La Roque et Girard families practiced their art here.
At the end of 19th century, Cazeneuve became a large vineyard belonging to a merchant family from nearby Sète. And it is then, around 1896, that the old farmhouse was rebuilt and enlarged at great cost to become the beautiful mansion we see today.
The wine-growing part of the property has today found again its primary purpose, while the large main house has become the Auberge. It’s been gradually renovated, with the aim of improving and personalise the hospitality of our hosts, while respecting the site.
The park, landscaped about a hundred years ago, includes many different kinds of trees, some of which may have come straight from the Botanical garden in Montpellier.
The Cedar tree itself goes back to this time.
the Auberge
The Auberge du Cèdre was born when Olivier Antonin, in 1987, shortly after the acquisition of the agricultural part of the domain by his friend André Leenhardt, discovered this beautiful mansion that had been empty for many years, like some kind of a “sleeping beauty.”
The purchase was finally concluded in 1988, by a group made up of two families and friends, organized in a Société Civile Immobilière (Real estate company) composed of about fifty joint owners, with the project of a house open and accessible to all, a convivial place to meet, train, work, rest…
In the beginning of 1992, after three years of operation developed by an association, the Limited Liability Company Domaine de Cazeneuve, managed by Francoise Antonin & Lutz Engelmann, took over to develop the activities proper to the Auberge.
The house was then modified to suit its new vocation, with the creation of the bedrooms and sanitation facilities, the restaurant with its kitchen. It’s also at that time that the name “L’Auberge du Cèdre” was coined. Two years later the swimming pool was built, and about almost every year restorations have contributed to make the house a more and more pleasant place.
All the benefit from the activity have been reinvested, as well on the level of the Limited Liability Company as on the level of the SCI joint owners. Part of the benefit is distributed to the Auberge’s employees with a profit-sharing agreement.
the Auberge
The Auberge du Cèdre was born when Olivier Antonin, in 1987, shortly after the acquisition of the agricultural part of the domain by his friend André Leenhardt, discovered this beautiful mansion that had been empty for many years, like some kind of a “sleeping beauty.”
The purchase was finally concluded in 1988, by a group made up of two families and friends, organized in a Société Civile Immobilière (Real estate company) composed of about fifty joint owners, with the project of a house open and accessible to all, a convivial place to meet, train, work, rest…
In the beginning of 1992, after three years of operation developed by an association, the Limited Liability Company Domaine de Cazeneuve, managed by Francoise Antonin & Lutz Engelmann, took over to develop the activities proper to the Auberge.
The house was then modified to suit its new vocation, with the creation of the bedrooms and sanitation facilities, the restaurant with its kitchen. It’s also at that time that the name “L’Auberge du Cèdre” was coined. Two years later the swimming pool was built, and about almost every year restorations have contributed to make the house a more and more pleasant place.
All the benefit from the activity have been reinvested, as well on the level of the Limited Liability Company as on the level of the SCI joint owners. Part of the benefit is distributed to the Auberge’s employees with a profit-sharing agreement.
