Our opinion on La Folie Barbizon: an arty, committed hotel that reenchants the Parisian countryside

The pitch

Located in the legendary village of Barbizon - the cradle of Impressionism - La Folie Barbizon has become, under the joint impetus of Nicolas Saltiel (Hotels Chapitre Six) and Lionel Bensemoun (founder of Le Baron and La Villa Lena in Tuscany, among others), a one-of-a-kind hotel residence. This singular house combines a charming hotel, a creative space and an ecological project. 21 rooms and suites, all different, created hand-in-hand with contemporary artists, locavore vegetarian cuisine, a cultural program in motion... Welcome to a world apart, an ideal place for a weekend close to Paris, where you can take the time to slow down, discover and dream.

How's the hotel?

At La Folie Barbizon, you're not entering a traditional 4-star hotel, but a living, creative home, where every object and every space tells a story. The tone is set as soon as you step onto the front porch: Max Coulon's sculpted figures welcome you, like an invitation. In the common areas, more than 50 works of art in situ, antique furniture, revisited woodwork, woven tapestries, light installations, fluorescent or phosphorescent paintings: every detail contributes to the poetic, sensory atmosphere of the place.

The bar is clad in dark wood, the stained-glass windows separating the bedrooms from the bathrooms are made from eggplant peelings, the painted ceilings and walls evoke fairytale skies...There's something of a Villa Noailles about this atypical hybrid venue. Sarah Valente's artistic direction brings together ecology, art and heritage, design objects and antique furniture that were never meant to meet, with rare accuracy. Dine in front of a mural by Papier Boulettes, stroll in the garden designed by Estelle Marandon, attend a concert, share a meal at the grande tablée or a devine drink at the bar. Far from the standardized luxury hotel, La Folie Barbizon invents a new art of living: sensory, artistic and conscious, but still festive!

And the bedrooms?

Each of the 21 rooms and suites has its own identity and palette. Some have been decorated by artists in residence, others by Marion Collard, but all share the same spirit: natural materials, handmade details, plant or forest references, and real comfort. We sleep in cosy beds, wake up under luminous mobiles, read under floral frescoes, dream in front of hand-dyed curtains obscuring the landscape to better showcase forest motifs.

Some rooms are duplexes (like the "Suite aux Etoiles", featuring Andrey Zouari's fluorescent paintings), while others open onto the garden or the village rooftops. Special mention goes to the "Chambre aux Coquillages", the prestige suite designed by Marion Collard, and the unexpected "Suite du Chevalier". In each bathroom, glazed ceramic creations add a poetic finishing touch. The overall feeling? That of an adorable guest house, both artistic and lived-in. An undeniable success and already one of France's finest boutique hotels.

The room to book?

A junior suite upstairs, to enjoy the calm, the through-light and the murals... and then come back to sleep at La Folie Barbizon, planning your weekends in the country in advance so you can try out all the rooms one after the other!

Earthly and spiritual nourishment?

At La Folie Barbizon, the cuisine is a natural extension of the spirit of the place: local and plant-based. At the helm is young chef Éric Fava, formerly of Paris restaurants L'Ambroisie and Le George. In the evenings, you can enjoy a single course served at the large table, just like at home, while at weekends, a short menu celebrates local produce, with vegetables from the garden, fresh herbs and mature cheeses. On weekdays, the wine and tapas bar extends the experience in a convivial atmosphere, open to locals too.

This is not yet a full-fledged spa, but a vision of well-being that moves away from traditional codes to offer a more intuitive approach rooted in nature, from September 2025. At the far end of the garden, a hut will house a massage room bathed in light, where you can book a tailor-made treatment, accompanied by a homemade infusion. A Nordic bath completes the outdoor experience, for relaxation in contact with the elements. In fine weather, yoga, breathing and meditation sessions can be organized in the heart of the garden. Luxury without pomp, an invitation to slow down.

Good to know?

Every weekend, a different theme sets the tone: botanical walks, art workshops, ceramics, yoga, lectures or concerts. The program is designed to appeal to all ages - even children. The restaurant regularly changes its menu and welcomes guest chefs for culinary residencies. This autumn sees the launch of the Guilde des Arts et Forêts, an ambitious project bringing together artists, scientists and conservationists.

5 things we love about La Folie Barbizon

• The vibrant design, with its mix of antiques, contemporary art and committed art,
• The generous, plant-based, locavore cuisine, offering everything you could possibly want to eat in summer,
• The suites, all unique, sometimes imagined as children's works of art, to live and dream in cheerfulness and color,
• The forest, just a 2-minute walk away, which runs alongside the hotel's popular pétanque court,
• The community spirit: sharing a drink, an idea, a moment with friends.

In the region, for the weekend

• A plethora of things to do around Barbizon.
• In the forest adjoining Folie Barbizon, the "Elephant painters' trail" begins, offering walks around the Millet-Rousseau medallion, set in stone, or the Barbizon Elephant, a fine example of the forest's rocky bestiary.
• A 20-minute drive away, you can take a dip in the Loing at Grez-sur-Loing, just under the village's medieval bridge (picnic and swimming spot)
• In Barbizon, the Musée Départemental des Peintres de Barbizon is well worth a visit
• Just a stone's throw away, the château and gardens of Fontainebleau are waiting to be explored.