Parmi toutes les cures détox existantes, celles proposées par Henri Chenot sont certainement les plus populaires dans les hautes sphères. La réputation de son Palace Mérano en faisait le point de rendez-vous incontournable de la jet-set en recherche de remise en forme. Aujourd’hui, Chenot a déménagé en Suisse dans son superbe Palace, mais il est encore possible de suivre une cure de son invention en Italie : à l’Albereta en Lombardie, proche de Milan. Pascal Languillon, fondateur de Luxe Wellness Club, s’est rendu sur place à deux reprises en 2020 et 2025. Voici le récit de sa cure détox, qui vous permettra de comprendre pourquoi l’Albereta offre une alternative très intéressante aux autres cures proposées ailleurs. C’est aussi un hôtel où on peut venir en famille et en loisirs, ce qui permet de combiner plaisir et bien-être.
L’Albereta, a romantic haven in the heart of the Franciacorta vineyards
Set on a hill overlooking the rolling vineyards of the Franciacorta, L’Albereta is much more than just a luxury hotel: it’s a residence with soul, a place steeped in history and poetry, where the Italian art of living takes on its full dimension. A Relais & Châteaux member, this former 19th-century patrician villa seems straight out of a novel: ochre facades covered with Virginia creeper, cypress-shaded terraces, discreet fountains and contemporary sculptures punctuating the gardens.
I had the privilege of staying in the sublime Contadi Suite, suspended high above the hills. Inside, old-fashioned charm meets classic elegance: antique parquet flooring, silk curtains and a panoramic bathroom with a breathtaking view of the vineyards as far as the eye can see.
L’Albereta embodies a rare form of understated luxury, romantic and cultured, where every detail is designed to nourish the senses and soothe the spirit. We come here to celebrate love, to reconnect with ourselves, or simply to savor the authentic dolce vita that makes Northern Italy so charming.
The hotel is surrounded by numerous vineyards that can be explored on foot. It’s a rural landscape in the immediate vicinity of the hotel, but Lake Iseo is only a 10-minute drive away, and from here you can admire the start of the Alps. I went there at sunset and found the lake magnificent. The small town of Iseo also has its charm.
The best of the Chenot method in a bucolic setting
L’Albereta has been home to “Espace Chenot” for some twenty years, and around 50 people work there on a permanent basis, with regular visits from 8 different doctors. In other words, there’s a great deal of expertise here when it comes to the Chenot method and its famous detox.
L’Espace Chenot is a two-storey medi-spa in the basement of the hotel. The first basement includes the reception and massage rooms, while the lower floor features the fitness room, recently renovated indoor pool, sauna and hydrotherapy treatments. It was here that I was able to test a detox cure aimed at strengthening the immune system, the body’s defenses and its repair mechanisms. This effective detox helps flush out toxins and recharge batteries.
One of the great advantages of the Albereta cures is its flexibility in terms of duration. At the Chenot Palace Weggis in Switzerland, the minimum stay for a detox cure is 7 nights, whereas here you can come for 3 or 4 nights if you wish. The beauty of Italy is soothing, even in the relative austerity of a spa treatment!
Medical monitoring
As soon as you arrive, you’ll be given a small binder that will follow you throughout your care, like a health record. A detailed health and lifestyle questionnaire must be completed. This binder enables the doctor to write down his recommendations and the therapists to follow the doctor’s indications, adapted to the patient’s profile.
The initial medical consultation is with a doctor who has been trained in the Chenot method, using a blend of Western and Chinese medical knowledge.
Discuss medical history, measure weight, blood pressure, etc. The foundations have been laid. Perhaps even more surprising is the use of a bioenergetic measuring machine to determine energy imbalances for each organ in the body.
Personally, I really enjoyed this first consultation. The Asyra Pro machine was able to identify certain weaknesses in my body, and the doctor was able to give me very pertinent advice enabling me to tackle fundamental problems, by prescribing probiotics for the immune system, and glutamine, reputed for its beneficial action on the intestinal wall.
The morning ritual: the hydrotherapy cure
Each day begins with a one-hour hydrotherapy session, a must for the Chenot method: 20 minutes of hydro-aromatherapy, then 30 minutes of phyto-fangotherapy, followed by a hydrojet rinse.
Hydro-aromatherapy is a precious blend of essential oils added to bath water. Adjustment of water temperature and pressure is used to bring about alternating vasodilation and vasoconstriction of the capillaries. Phyto-fangotherapy is the second stage of the hydro-energetic cure. A body wrap of white and green clay, minerals, microalgae and pure essential oils is applied to the skin. It’s pleasant, detoxifying and terribly relaxing.
Finally, thehydrojet is a kind of shower using a jet of hot then cold water at high pressure, directed by the therapist from a distance, to cleanse the clay that has stuck to the body. It’s like a garden hose rinse of sorts, except the hose is huge! It also firms and tones the skin while stimulating blood circulation. What I can tell you is that it wakes you up!
Chenot method massages
I was lucky enough to be taken in hand byone of the best Chenot therapists, Porzia Giliberti, for most of my treatments, starting with the “Chenot Detox Massage”. This detoxifying body massage is always used at the beginning of Chenot programs to prepare for the following steps.
This massage uses a combination of manual techniques and a device connected to suction cups, in an undulating movement that accelerates the drainage of body fluids. This facilitates the elimination of toxins and stimulates cell regeneration. For my part, I found the treatment very pleasant.
I then tried energetic massagesaimed at to soothe the body and clarify the flow of energy in the meridians. Using suction cups once again, this massage facilitates the circulation of energy, the lymphatic system and blood flow, for an energizing effect. Efficient.
Innovative therapies
Among the novel experiences I tried out at l’Albereta, NEURAC (NEURomuscular ACtivation) made a particularly strong impression on me. In a physiotherapy room bathed in natural light, suspended from red straps vaguely reminiscent of aerial yoga, I discovered a Norwegian functional rehabilitation system designed to restore muscular balance and relieve chronic pain.
Under the watchful eye of a physiotherapist, I went through a series of seemingly simple yet highly effective movements. The body, which is unstable, must constantly adapt, and the postural muscles are worked in depth. It’s demanding, but without impact, and I came away with a feeling of bodily recentering, as if each vertebra had found its place again.
Another curiosity tested during my stay: the astonishing ABODY Slim Vacutherm machine. Imagine a treadmill whose lower section is enclosed in a bell-shaped capsule. Once inside, the partial vacuum recreates the effects of pressotherapy during exercise.
For around twenty minutes, I walk at a brisk pace, while the negative pressure stimulates blood and lymph circulation in areas prone to fat accumulation – thighs, hips, stomach. The aim: to optimize fat burning and improve your figure.
Finally, I also had the opportunity to test EM Sculpt, a high-intensity muscle electrostimulation treatment that’s getting a lot of buzz in high-tech aesthetic clinics. The device uses focused electromagnetic waves to contract muscles ultra-intensively, up to 20,000 contractions in a 30-minute session.
Lying down, you first feel an amazing pulse, then a deep muscular effort… without having to move. I targeted the abdominals, and I have to say that the next day, the aches and pains were very real, proof that the work had been done in depth. Used in conjunction with a Chenot cure, it’s an impressive tool for sculpting certain areas while respecting the general metabolism.
Anti-ageing and facial regeneration care
One of my favorite treatments was the anti-aging facial. This treatment combines a special massage technique with electrostimulation therapy. The effect takes place at the cellular level, stimulating the skin’s natural defense system and neutralizing free radicals. Skin elasticity and firmness improve, and a lifting effect is achieved.
Thanks to the immediate tightening effect, skin looks visibly rejuvenated, skin texture is improved and signs of skin ageing are reduced. Of course, the treatment ideally needs to be repeated several times to have a lasting effect, but I was delighted with the effects of this first session.
Detox or biolight cooking
Nutrition is one of the key elements of a Chenot cure. During your stay, depending on what the doctor tells you, you will be entitled to the detox menu or the biolight menu, which is more substantial. These two menus comprise three meals a day, with no deviations possible.
Breakfast always includes a portion of fruit and an herbal tea. Lightweight! Those taking the biolight menu can eat yoghurt, bread and jam. Lunch: the starter is fruit-based, followed by a salad and finally a main course featuring wholegrain cereals. Dinner always includes a vegetarian starter and soup, as well as a dish rich in plant proteins. The biolight menu may include meat or fish.
Here are two examples of the menus I sampled. For lunch: Vanilla and almond pudding with passion fruit coulis for starters, polenta with parmesan and pesto for the main course, and a digestive infusion. Evening: Baked pumpkin, leek soup, lentil pate with miso, and herbal tea.
Chenot has devoted many years of scientific research to developing nutritional programs. All dishes are low in calories and acids, and served warm with optimum moisture content. This special diet effectively supports detoxification, revitalization and regeneration of the body. I won’t hide the fact that the portions aren’t huge, but I didn’t suffer too much from following this diet for a few days…
Our feeling
The Chenot detox cure impresses with the quality of its treatments and the seriousness of its scientific approach. It’s all the more enjoyable at l’Albereta because it manages to blend deliciously with a dose of Dolce Vita that only Italians know how to bring.
Luxe Wellness Club
Book a Detox Cure at l’Albereta
Please contact us to find out more about the Chenot cures and the Albereta, and to organize your stay.
Rates: from around 300 euros per night per room, detox cures extra. Depending on the season, you can expect to pay from around 10,000 euros for two people for a full week’s treatment.
Exclusive Luxe Wellness Club benefits :
- A free Chenot facial
- A free Chenot skincare product
- A bouquet of flowers on arrival
- Preferential allocation of the room with the best view
- Room upgrade upon arrival, subject to availability
- Un crédit de 300 CHF pour toute réservation en Suite Junior ou Suite
Contact us by phone to discuss your holiday plans:
from the UK: +44 20 4577 3258
from France on + 33 1 85 73 22 14
from Switzerland: +41 22 501 75 16
from the Emirates: +971 54 583 1623
from the USA: +1 (646) 980 6652
