XXL investments, colossal works, "method to promote disease prevention"... What we know about the future fasting center in Roquefort-les-Pins
Gaëlle Arama /[email protected] Published on 09/09/2025 at 05:15, updated on 09/09/2025 at 05:15
Construction of the Buchinger Côte d'Azur Center has begun.
It is at the top of the Vignefranquet hill in Roquefort-les-Pins, on a 42-hectare site, that this luxury establishment dedicated to therapeutic fasting should open at the beginning of 2029, after three years of colossal work.
After two initial establishments, on the shores of Lake Constance in Germany in 1953 and Marbella in Spain since 1973, the German family group Buchinger-Wilhelmi will now open a third clinic-hotel. It will invest 150 million euros in France, more specifically on the Côte d'Azur. Thus, perpetuating an entrepreneurial and holistic adventure initiated in 1920 by Dr. Otto Buchinger (1878-1966).
Why the Côte d'Azur? "We believe in European culture. A large part of our clientele is French. Our site is located in an ideal region with spectacular light all year round, with a strategic location close to the airport," says Léonard Wilhelmi, director of the German site and head of development, the 4th generation of the Buchinger saga.
The ambition? To offer stays of between 7 and 28 days that combine luxury accommodation and comprehensive medical support, all in a heavenly setting. Not yet announced, the high rates are expected to be similar to those of the Marbella site. That's 4,500 euros for a ten-day fasting stay in a standard room and around 6,500 euros in a superior room. Nearly 6,000 aficionados of sixty nationalities visit the Buchinger centers each year, employing more than 500 people.
Four villas with swimming poolIn Roquefort-les-Pins, the project includes 91 rooms and suites, and four villas with pools. A total of 16,000 m² of floor space features spaces dedicated to well-being: a 25-meter outdoor pool, three indoor pools, a spa, sauna, fitness center, meditation center, and more. There's also a hair salon, a cinema, a conference room, and a vegetable garden. This haven dedicated to fitness boasts 212 attentive staff, including a medical team of 25 professionals. This translates to a ratio of two employees per guest. After leaving your vehicle in the 138-space parking lot, you'll travel by electric cart between the buildings, which feature green roofs for optimal integration into the site. The Nice-based architectural firm Gomis et Associés designed this XXL, cascading program, which is demanding in terms of environmental protection. "We are aiming for the BDM (Mediterranean Sustainable Building) gold medal; it will be the first hotel in France to have one. Our project includes 400m² of photovoltaic panels and 300m² of climatic wells. "
With this in mind, the materials extracted from the construction site—earth and stone—will be reused as floors, walls, and landscaping. Italian firm Matteo Thun & Partners will be responsible for the interior design, and Atelier François Navarro for the landscaping. "A Buchinger stay is always a return to nature. A contemporary place that inspires," says Léonard Wilhelmi. For the body, but also the mind...
Leonard Wilhelmi, 38, has been director of the Lake Constance Clinic since 2019. He explains more about the method used at the fasting center.
How did the Buchinger method come about?
My great-grandfather, Otto Buchinger, was a young doctor in the Imperial Navy when he sought to treat his debilitating rheumatoid arthritis. Finding no suitable solution in the medicine of his time, he turned to fasting. A 19-day fast saved his life and served as the basis for the Buchinger Method. We have the most comprehensive century of experience in this field in the world.
How is fasting good for your health?
One of the pillars of good health is fasting. It has benefits for blood pressure, diabetes, and chronic fatigue. It's a physiological regeneration program. Fasting allows for deep cleansing of cells and tissues, while reducing the overall inflammatory process. After fasting, you feel clarity of thought, energy, and emotional balance.
What is the process of a therapeutic fasting retreat?
Each guest is first treated by a medical team composed of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, and therapists to develop a personalized program. The Buchinger fast is a ten-day treatment and begins with a dietary reduction that prepares the body. Then, it's 250 calories per day with juices, herbal teas, broths, and supplements before gradually resuming eating. Weight loss is achieved, but that's not the goal. The idea is to promote disease prevention with the idea of longevity.
Scientific medicine?
Everything we do has a scientific basis. Our treatment and prevention centers are also research centers. We work closely with universities such as La Charité in Berlin, King's College London, and institutions such as the CNRS in Strasbourg, Creatis, Milan, and others. An in-house team of four research specialists regularly conducts and publishes studies on the safety and effectiveness of the Buchinger Method, which has become a model of integrative medicine. We will bring a unique offering in longevity medicine to the Côte d'Azur.
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