L'échappée Belle

Poet Robert Frost wrote in his poem The Road Not Taken: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled”.

If you want to follow Frost's lead and stay somewhere different than the typical quaint B&Bs and cookie-cutter hotels, then book yourself into ultra-contemporary L’échappée Belle, where you will literally find yourself in a wood full of elegant leafy trees and plant fronds.

Everything about the hotel silently screams ‘nature’ in a bid to bring the outdoors, indoors. An air of serenity greets you as wind your way past tree trunks and entire walls covered in photos of forests. The calming natural colours of greens and browns are complemented by splashes of bright red in the form of lampshades, chairs and plant pots. As John Keats once wrote: “The poetry of the Earth is never dead”.

Rooms also flaunt the tranquillity of the natural world with large format images of silver birches, grassy pathways and tangles of branches, creating a Zen-like space where guests can relax and unwind. Bathrooms meanwhile are both subtle and sophisticated, mirroring the environment with their natural tones and muted shades. And with just 25 rooms and two suites in total, you can ensure that it’s intimate too. It may be all about getting back to nature here, but you’ll still find all the latest technology including LCD TVs, air conditioning and free Wi-Fi, as well as the luxury of added soundproofing.

During the day, step back in time by heading outside your hotel and exploring charming L’Isle Jourdain with its imposing churches, fascinating bell museum and excellent access to the great outdoors. Spend your time hiking, riding or biking through the picturesque countryside or get active on the nearby lake with sports such as water-skiing, wakeboarding and fishing. Those who like their sports on dry land can also play golf and tennis, located very close to the hotel. You can also hike part of the famous pilgrim route – Saint Jacques de Compostela (better known as the Camino de Santiago or Way of St James), which passes through the town.

Back at your accommodation, you’ll definitely need to refuel after all that exercise and you’ll find no better in town than the hotel’s very own restaurant. A far cry from the medieval styles of L'Isle Jourdain, it’s a fun and contemporary space that oozes style and sophistication with its chic décor in wood and cherry red and wide glass windows that look out onto a green leafy courtyard. Here, the menu designed by two star Michelin Chef Bernard Bach combines local French ingredients with an innovative and modern twist. Dishes include grilled aubergine with goat’s cheese and whipped cream wrapped in flaky pastry and pork rib fondue of sweet bell peppers and tomatoes.

For drinks and snacks there’s also the hotel's stylish bar and tearoom decorated in natural tones of slate, beige and charcoal and surrounded by images of spindly silver birches. When the weather’s good you can also enjoy a drink outside in the open-air patio – a relaxing green space that’s both quiet and serene.

So if you want somewhere that’s different to your usual accommodation and somewhere that’s just that little bit special, you’ll find that L'échappée Belle definitely doesn’t disappoint.

As Frost wrote: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-- I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference”.