Our hotel ideas for a nature weekend

1. Loire Valley Lodges, a nature weekend just two hours from Paris

For a weekend away from it all, just 250 km from Paris, head for the Loire Valley. Discover Loire Valley Lodges, a unique hotel concept that since 2020 has enabled nature lovers to sleep in a luxury treehouse perched 4 meters above the ground. The 18 lodges that make up this unusual hotel offer guaranteed 5-star comfort, and so many opportunities to discover an arty world, as each cabin has been decorated by an international contemporary artist: Jon One, Charlélie Couture, Carolina Ritzler...

The Loire Valley Lodges estate stretches over 300 hectares of private forest, offering you the chance to enjoy unspoilt nature and reconnect with your instincts. The owner, Anne-Caroline Frey, is passionate about sylvotherapy (an alternative medicine that encourages a symbiotic relationship between man and the forest, and whose virtues with regard to stress and anxiety are well established), and wishes to extend this interest to her residents. For example, guided meditation sessions are organized in the woods, and guests can enjoy multi-sensory in-room massages using essential oils derived from the same forest essences.

Staying at Loire Valley Lodges also means enjoying a digital detox without wi-fi or in-room TV, for the ultimate in disconnection - although wi-fi is still available in public areas. And to live up to the motto "A healthy mind in a healthy body", the nature hotel offers a wide range of sporting activities, from dynamic walks in the forest to more or less active swimming in the heated pool, not forgetting the bike rides we provide free of charge.

On the gastronomic front, nature is once again the watchword. Restaurant Ardent's chef, Thomas Besnault, works with unusual flavors and products that couldn't be more local. His oils are homemade from the brambles, lichens and pines of the surrounding forest. One example is a venison tartare with watercress mayonnaise, topped with a brunoise of red onion and a spoonful of caviar for salt and iodine..

Loire Valley Lodges
18 lodges, prices from 352 euros per night
Allée de la Duporterie, 37320 Esvres

2. Domaine de la Bretesche, a nature weekend in Brittany

At the gateway to Brittany, just a stone's throw from a château reflected in a mirror of water like the setting for a fairytale saga, Domaine de la Bretesche offers a bucolic retreat. The true life of a contemporary châtelain. Perfect as much for an introspective interlude as for a breath of fresh air with your tribe, where every detail of the surrounding nature feeds the romantic reveries of young and old alike. Here, the 15th-century flirts unabashedly with the hushed comfort of Relais & Châteaux-stamped outbuildings, haloed by five stars.

Metamorphosed into rooms, suites and villas (located in the hotel's main building, in the former sheepfold or in the elegant "Régisseur" and "Tilleul" residences) these nests, whatever their category, offer wake-up calls with a view of the golf course or the slate roofs of the Cour Carrée and its century-old lime tree. The atmosphere? That of a highly accomplished family home, where tapestries, bed linen and decorative details convey a certain idea of the countryside in haute couture.

The tone is set right from breakfast, savored in bed or on the Montaigu's white tablecloths, as the mist rises over the pond and reveals the château's towers. At lunchtime or after dark, the cuisine, under the leadership of chef Filipe Silvestre, plays the local score and magnifies the Breton terroir. The highlight? A permaculture vegetable garden whose fruits and vegetables are sublimated for graphic plates, echoing the clean lines of the landscape.

Because La Bretesche is more than just a setting: it's an open-air playground. Golfers can play the 18 holes that wind their way through water and undergrowth, walkers can wander along the estate's paths, and the more contemplative can sit on the terrace and simply watch the light glide over the stones.

The spa, in partnership with Omnisens and Cinq Mondes, nestled in one of the wings, extends this timeless interlude. Before or after a treatment, a dip in the pool or a massage, the glass roof, bathed in light, offers a place to let go.

The feeling when you leave? The impression of having daydreamed, of having inhabited a film set without ever being relegated to the role of extra. Here, architecture, nature and service make up a story in which each visitor becomes, for the duration of a stay, the main character.

Domaine de la Bretesche
36 keys, prices from 301 euros per night
Domaine de la Bretesche, 44780 Missillac
Information and reservations

3. Domaine de Primard, nature weekend in Normandy

A member of Relais & Châteaux and the Norman jewel in the Domaines de Fontenille collection, Domaine de Primard embodies elegance and refinement just an hour from Paris. In the Eure-et-Loire region, nestled in the heart of a verdant park, this hotel, where to escape for a nature weekend, has taken up residence in a sublime 18th-century manor house surrounded by a 40-hectare park, and offers a unique, immersive experience in an exceptional bucolic setting.

Rooms and suites are available in 12 categories, from the superior room to the signature suite. Their uncluttered decor in soft, natural tones creates a soothing, elegant atmosphere. The materials and thoughtful design harmonize comfort and modernity, while respecting the old-world charm of the country residence. Every living space, whether an intimate bedroom or a spacious suite, is designed to offer a breathtaking view of the lush gardens, designed in the late 20th-century by Jacques Wirtz, the Tuileries' landscape designer, and labeled a "Remarkable Garden". The gently flowing Eure, paddocks, surrounding forest, rose beds and shady walkways... The setting is conducive to nature's escape and reverie.

Gastronomy at Domaine de Primard is a true ode to nature, with Bistrot Martin, its bistronomic restaurant offering gourmet, seasonal recipes. Situated alongside the orchard, it offers dishes inspired by the local terroir, to be enjoyed in complete conviviality. In fine weather, a superb swimming pool and several terraces invite you to share moments of idleness under the apple and cherry trees, while the Saturday barbecue becomes a must for savoring carefully selected meats. Winter also has its charms at the Domaine: on Friday and Saturday evenings, join us at the Table d'Hôtes du Château for a gourmet raclette around a large shared table (€75 per person)!

Housed in the former kitchen of the house on the Eure river, the guest table of Domaine de Primard offers an exclusive culinary experience all year round around the period fireplace and La Cornue stove. For lunch and dinner, up to 14 guests can enjoy a menu in an intimate atmosphere that evokes the family spirit of yesteryear. You can even enjoy gourmet workshops led by chefs in this old-fashioned kitchen!

Domaine de Primard also has a number of areas where you can enjoy a relaxing weekend in nature. The main bar, located on the first floor of the Maison sur l'Eure, offers a wide selection of cocktails, wines and champagnes, to be enjoyed in the adjoining lounges or on the terrace overlooking the river. The rose garden greenhouse, transformed into a winter garden, offers a unique setting for intimate breakfasts, lunches or dinners.

The Susanne Kaufmann spa, housed in the former wood shed, is a wellness sanctuary spread over two levels. It features a sensory area with sauna and jacuzzi, as well as massage and fitness rooms. Treatments use natural cosmetics from the brand renowned for its formulas rich in active plant ingredients and comfortable textures.

Domaine de Primard's permaculture vegetable garden, with its raised wooden tubs and flower beds, produces vegetables and flowers for the estate, while educating visitors about the wonders of nature. Environmentally-friendly crops and endemic fauna further enrich the unique experience offered by the ideal hotel for a nature weekend.

Domaine de Primard
39 keys, prices from 213 euros per night
16 Route départementale, 28260 Guainville

4. Les Hautes Mers, nature weekend on Ile d'Yeu

On Ile d'Yeu, near Port-Joinville, Les Hautes Mers is the perfect place to reconnect with the wild beauty of the island. With its whitewashed facades and tiled roofs, typical of Vendée architecture, Les Hautes Mers blends perfectly into the island landscape, which is best explored by bike, provided by the hotel for a successful nature weekend. Unless, of course, you'd prefer to laze by the pool overlooking the ocean.

The seaside hotel has 25 rooms and suites, divided into nine categories. Most rooms have balconies or private gardens, and the majority offer direct ocean views. The interior design is inspired by the marine theme, with natural, pastel hues and a focus on blue, creating a serene, cosy and relaxing atmosphere.

The Vent Debout restaurant, run by Chef Christophe Vauthier, offers invigorating bistro-style cuisine, with a focus on seafood. Inspired by the flavors of his childhood, the chef concocts simple, authentic dishes featuring freshly caught Fromentine oysters, sea bass and sea bream, lobster and clams. The emphasis is on precise cooking and marine flavor combinations, in a friendly atmosphere with colorful tables and a magnificent view of the sea.

Just a 15-minute bike ride from the hotel, the picturesque port of La Meule is a must-see destination. This port, located on the south side of the island, is surrounded by hills and perfectly embodies the soul of Ile d'Yeu. The Bar de la Meule, with its walls adorned with photographs and marine engravings, offers a warm, authentic atmosphere. Here, too, dishes feature fish and seafood such as scallop carpaccio and tuna tartare, as well as local condiments such as risotto with salicornia. A delight for gourmets after a stroll to the chapel overlooking the village. In fine weather, the terrace extends along the beach, opposite the famous fishermen's huts.

Les Hautes Mers
25 keys, prices from 216 euros per night
27 rue Pierre Henry, 85350 Ile d'Yeu

5. Le Barn, Île-de-France

Located in the heart of the Parc Naturel Régional de la Haute Vallée de Chevreuse, Le Barn is a haven of peace just 45 minutes from Paris. This multifunctional Île-de-France estate includes a restaurant, a permaculture vegetable garden, a wellness area and a hotel, created by two enthusiasts of the great outdoors and horse-riding, as witnessed by the nearby Haras de la Cense. Le Barn's rooms and suites, divided between two typical renovated buildings, offer total immersion in nature. The classic, superior and deluxe rooms are distinguished by their views over the surrounding meadows and forests, with exposed beams and private balconies, while the suites, notably the larger Le Barn Suite, look out over the paddocks from their terraces.

Here, the chef uses seasonal ingredients from the kitchen garden or regional producers. Meals are served around large wooden tables or under a beautiful glass roof, for greater conviviality. The bar, with its large sofas and central stove, is a gathering place where you can share a coffee, a glass of wine or a cocktail, extending the experience to the Winter Garden or the large terrace.

The wellness area includes sauna, hammam, Nordic bath and various types of massage. Bikes are available for exploring the forest, rowing boats for sailing on the pond, and ponies for rides with the kids. A variety of activities, from pétanque and ping-pong to gardening workshops and yoga classes, ensure there's never a dull moment. An original and ever-changing program enriches every weekend, offering moments of relaxation and conviviality all year round.

Le Barn
73 keys, prices from 213 euros per night
Moulin de Brétigny, 78830 Bonnelles

6. Le 6717 Nature Hôtel & Spa, nature weekend in Alsace

Anchored in Ottrott, on the Route des Vins d'Alsace, the 6717 hotel nestles between the trees between Strasbourg and Colmar. Spread over a six-hectare estate on the Alsatian side of the Vosges mountains, the spa hotel in Alsace has benefited from major expansion work and now offers 35 rooms and suites. Some, ranging in size from 42 to 90 m², offer total relaxation thanks to their private spa area. For example, the Impériale Spa luxury suite features a hammam shower and Jacuzzi on its panoramic terrace overlooking nature.

On the dining front, La Table du 6717, run by Audrey Stippich and Régis Dell, boasts creative, seasonal cuisine. Le Garden, with its bright dining room and shaded terrace, offers a refined culinary experience, supported by a wine cellar with over 250 references.

More than just a hotel for a weekend in nature, the spa's focus is on well-being, with an indoor pool, Jacuzzi, saunas, hammam and a variety of treatments. The Pool Garden Spa, with outdoor pool and rooftop Jacuzzi, completes the offer, creating a space of absolute relaxation.

6717 Nature Hotel & Spa
35 keys, prices from 162 euros per night
17 route de Klingenthal, 67530 Ottrott

5. Souki Lodges & Spa, nature weekends in the South of France

In the Hérault region of France, Souki Lodges offer a unique retreat for a nature weekend, nestled at the foot of the majestic Pic de Vissou, and close to the charming village of Cabrières, with its picturesque lanes, fountain and ruins of its old castle. These two lodges, perched several meters above the ground, blend into a serene setting between garrigue and vineyards. Furnished in a contemporary style, they offer total privacy and a breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside. Comfort is everywhere, from the king-size bed to the bathroom with rain shower, bathtub and Japanese toilet. But the real centerpiece is undoubtedly the 60 m² terrace, with its outdoor kitchen and private pool, where you can blend in with the lush vegetation.

For dinner, guests have several options: pre-book the services of chefs Gilles and Fabien, prepared with organic and local ingredients, or request the services of a Michelin-starred chef. Breakfast, which is included, is served on the private terrace, but if required, a picnic basket can be prepared on request.

Souki Lodges & Spa
2 lodges, each for 2 people, prices from 796 euros per night
Chemin des Caraygnasses, 34800 Cabrières