Domaine Riberach, 4-star hotel in Belesta

The Story of Domaine Riberach

Where it all began...

In the heart of the village of Bélesta, nestled between the vineyards of the Fenouillèdes and the foothills of the Pyrenees, stands an impressive former wine cooperative built in 1925.
For nearly seventy years, it was the beating heart of the village. Winegrowers brought in their harvests, locals came to collect their wine, and generations crossed paths within its walls. More than just a building, it was a place where life happened.
Then, in 1995, the cooperative winery closed its doors for good.
The vats emptied. The machinery fell silent. For more than a decade, this vast cathedral of wine stood abandoned, seemingly forgotten.
And yet, its story was far from over.

One encounter. Two passions.

The story of Domaine Riberach is, above all, the story of a couple.
Originally from Bélesta, Luc Richard has always shared a deep connection with this land. Passionate about wine, he began crafting his first vintages in his grandfather's cellar. His ambition was simple: to reveal the remarkable potential of the Roussillon terroirs through sincere, expressive wines.
Alongside him, Karin Pühringer, a German-Austrian architect specialising in the restoration of historic buildings, immediately saw beyond the simple idea of a winery.
Where Luc envisioned a wine estate, Karin imagined an entire destination.
Where others saw an abandoned industrial site beyond saving, she saw extraordinary architecture waiting to be brought back to life.
Very quickly, their complementary visions became obvious.
Together, they embarked on an ambitious challenge: to breathe new life into the former cooperative winery without ever compromising its soul.

An ambitious project.

A slightly crazy idea.
A project to which they devoted several years of their lives.
Reinventing without erasing
Their ambition was never to transform the winery.
It was to reveal it.
Every architectural decision was guided by respect for the original building.
The former concrete wine vats became guest rooms.
The vast industrial volumes were preserved.
Existing materials were reused wherever possible.
Steel walkways, exposed beams and raw concrete walls still tell the story of the place today.
Contemporary architecture never seeks to replace the heritage.
Instead, it enhances it.
It elevates it.
This philosophy, imagined by the two architects, has become the signature of Domaine Riberach.

Wine as the common thread

While the architecture tells the story of the past, the wine continues to write the present.
At the very heart of the estate, the winery remains fully operational.
Riberach wines are crafted on site, close to the old vineyards of Roussillon, with deep respect for organic farming and the natural balance of the land.
This passion flows throughout the entire estate.
It can be found in the wine tastings, Wine Treks, Wine Safaris, food and wine pairings, and even in the cuisine served at the gastronomic restaurant.
Here, wine is far more than a product.
It is where the entire adventure began.

A different way of welcoming guests

In 2010, after several years of restoration, Domaine Riberach finally opened its doors.
Not simply as a hotel.
But as a way of life.
Today, the estate brings together under one roof:
an organic wine estate;
a four-star eco-lodge with rooms built within and above the former wine vats;
a gastronomic restaurant;
a spa housed inside five former wine vats;
a natural swimming pool filtered entirely by plants;
a wine bar and bistro;
a range of wine tourism experiences designed to help guests discover the region in a different way.
Every space has been created to encourage guests to slow down, take their time and fully embrace the present moment.

A philosophy of life

From the very beginning, Luc Richard and Karin Pühringer have shared one fundamental belief:
an exceptional place is not built with beautiful stones alone, but with strong values.
Respect for heritage.
Respect for the women and men who bring it to life.
Respect for the local territory.
And respect for nature.
Long before sustainability became a trend, Domaine Riberach had already chosen geothermal energy, photovoltaic panels, rainwater harvesting, a chemical-free natural swimming pool, short supply chains and organic farming.
Today, this commitment is recognised by the Green Key eco-label.
It is not a marketing promise.
It is simply the continuation of a philosophy that has guided every decision since the very beginning.

More than a hotel...

It is a story of transmission.
The story of a former cooperative winery transformed into a place where people come together.
The story of two passionate architects who chose to preserve a remarkable heritage rather than build something new.
The story of a region to be discovered through both the eyes and the palate.
And, we hope, the beginning of a story that you, too, will become a part of.