Les Échasses takes Landes to new heights
A four-star hotel-spa fully committed to sustainable development, Les Échasses combines luxury and nature on a four-hectare site in the Landes forest, fifteen minutes from Hossegor. Spacious and contemporary, the seven "modges" (a term coined by the project's architect, Patrick Arotcharen; Modges are Medium, while Lodges are Large) of Les Échasses are spread out around the lake, offering unparalleled privacy and comfort. Italian-style shower, fireplace and large terrace, the sound of the wind gliding over the water and tickling the surrounding pines: the ecolodge immerses us in a timeless experience.
From €250 per night.
701, route de la Bruyère, 40230 Saubion
Photo credits ©Les Echasses (DR)
Brindos, lake and castle: lodges in the heart of Basque legends
It's said that on the evenings of a full moon, fairy-like women, cloaked in white veils, emerge from every water lily to populate the entire Etang de Brindos in Anglet. They come to listen to a mysterious old lady sitting by the water, who has come to tell them sweet stories. Discover the folklore of the Basque Country at Château de Brindos, in the cocoon lodges. These five-star luxury floating rooms are masterfully decorated and delicately set on the estate's large lake. The best part of the day? Admiring the sunset while soaking in the warmth of a Norwegian bath. A divine, even legendary stay.
From 400 euros per night.
1, allée du Château, 64600 Anglet.
Photo credit ©Gaelle Le Boulicaut (DR)
Îlots de Gruissan, eye-to-eye with the Mediterranean
Les Îlots de Gruissan, a veritable hotel on the water, features thirty-three LodgeBoats in the marina of this Aude town, twenty minutes from Narbonne. Four models are available, some with two bedrooms. Our favorite? The Côté Grand Large, with its unobstructed view of the Chalets beach. In this 28m2 floating home, modern comforts include a refrigerator and fully equipped kitchen. What's more, the LodgeBoat boasts a 19m2 terrace, the ideal place to immerse your eyes in the blue of the Mediterranean.
From 95€ per night.
420, avenue des Quatre Vents, 11430 Gruissan.
Photos ©Les Îlots de Gruissan (DR)
La Maison du pont de l'étang and its natural poetry
This typical Périgord cottage sits on a private island surrounded by trees and greenery. Its terrace on stilts gives you the sensation of literally having your feet in the water, as does the breathtaking view of the pond from your bed. Equipped with an open-air Jacuzzi and Finnish sauna, the house transforms into a cocoon when, in the evening, you decide to light a fire in the wood-burning stove. The atmosphere warms up instantly...
A romantic atmosphere guaranteed for this bucolic stay, in total disconnection. The place is really worth the detour. It's Plume's choice.
From €185 per night
Le Claud, 1911, route de Saint-Martin, 24400 Saint-Laurent-des-Hommes.
Photos (DR)
Le Relais de Chambord, royal on the water
The only hotel on the Domaine national de Chambord, Le Relais is set in the heart of a park covering more than 5440ha. And while the fifty-five rooms and suites all possess a certain charm, we prefer to venture out to La Toue du Relais, a private suite floating on the Cosson canal. On this traditional Loire boat, completely renovated by designer Stefania Di Petrillo, the night becomes magical, especially when preceded by an intimate gourmet dinner served on board the floating jewel. A royal ambience.
From €500 per night
Place Saint-Louis, 41250 Chambord
Photo credits ©Anne-Emmanuelle Thion (DR)
The sound of water: the pond changes
Who hasn't wished, in their youth, to live in a cabin for a night? It's never too late to reconcile with your inner child: treat yourself to a dream getaway two hours from Paris, in the Baie de Somme. It's here thatLe Rivage nestles, a lodge in the form of a wooden cabin, floating on a private pond in the heart of nature. The simple, cosy decor lulls us into a bucolic enchantment, where we can imagine ourselves in search of adventure. A true daydream.
From 194€ per night.
80120 Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont
Cabanes Grands Cépages, or Provence 2.0
What if, in an ultra-connected world, we no longer needed anything or anyone? What if we could live in total autonomy, in a floating cabin forty meters from the shore? The Utopie eco-cabin, which floats among the Cabanes des Grands Cépages in Provence, just twenty minutes from Avignon, has taken up this crazy challenge. Running entirely on electricity generated by solar panels, the cabin is equipped with a bathroom that incorporates a water recovery system treated by floating phytodepuration. This doesn't stop it from being comfortable, quite the contrary, with its large bay windows bathing it in light. Let's make the most of it, it's not every day that the future makes us want to dream.
From €210 per night.
2061, chemin des Pompes, 84700 Sorgues
Photo Credit ©HerveHote (DR)
