Les Étangs de Corot Ville-d’Avray, Hauts-de-Seine
It is hard to believe that this stunning property, in the commune of Ville d’Avray, is only 20 minutes from central Paris. Yet, the hotel offers a haven of tranquillity in a landscape that has attracted artists and writers since the 19th century.
The forests and small lakes were a particular inspiration for the painter Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot – after whom the hotel is named – and the Impressionists. Owner Alice Tourbier has recreated the bucolic atmosphere of the grounds by decorating each of the 43 rooms with a subtle mix of shapes, soft lighting and natural colours.
Budding artists can take part in a three-hour painting class on the banks of the ponds on Sunday mornings, while gourmets can participate in wine tastings with matching food, and more active guests can play a round of golf on the surrounding courses.
In the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Corot, young chef Rerni Chambard creates dishes that are light, fresh and beautifully presented. The dining room has beautiful views over the garden and the ponds, while trophies on the walls reflect the forest’s history as a hunting ground.
In the underground vaults, the Café des Artistes offers simpler, bistro dishes with a wide selection of wines by the glass. For the ultimate relaxing experience, a Caudalie spa provides treatments with grape-based products.
La Maison Sur La Sorgue, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Vaucluse
Set in a 17th-century townhouse just off the main square in the antiques hub of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, this boutique hotel is perfectly placed for anyone interested in the Provençal town’s waterside brocantes. There are four individually decorated en-suite rooms, filled with objects that owners and globetrotters Frederic and Marie-Claude have brought back from their travels. This tranquil hotel is also home to a small art gallery and shop where guests can buy objects collected by the owners and listen to regular talks by artists.
Le Manoir Des Impressionistes, Honfleur, Calvados
Tucked away on a wooded hillside overlooking the Seine estuary, this 18th-century manor house offers ten charming rooms with either garden or sea views, each individually decorated to reflect the tranquillity of the property. Several artists are known to have come to this elevated spot to paint the stunning landscape, especially the sunsets over the estuary.
Facing the sea and the setting sun, the restaurant serves delicate dishes that celebrate the Impressionist movement, with aesthetic presentations and the use of local, fresh ingredients, including vegetables from the property’s garden. On the walls are works by Fernand Herbo, who enjoyed painting at the manor and dancing at parties during the 1950s.
The spa, located within the old farmhouse, offers massages, facials and beauty treatments, which can be enjoyed while you gaze out over the the sea. Honfleur’s beach is on the doorstep and the town centre is just minutes away.
La Maison du Frêne, Vence, Alpes-Maritimes
This guesthouse in the quaint town of Vence, just inland from the Côte d’Azur, is an art-lover’s paradise thanks to the wonderful private collection of works and original art books on display. The four bedrooms are spacious and decorated in warming colours that make the property feel like a home from home. The hotel has a privileged location, in a quiet street in the heart of the hilltop town close to the numerous art galleries and with picture-perfect views over the town and the surrounding countryside.
