The French treehouse that offers the perfect digital detox — plus 3 other bucolic offline retreats
The French treehouse that offers the perfect digital detox — plus 3 other bucolic offline retreats
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For centuries, the Loire Valley has been the chosen destination of French elites seeking tranquility and bliss. The kings and aristocrats of the Ancient Regime frequented the area, turning it into a playground of grandeur and opulence which is also blessed with bucolic charm. This is the place where regal chateaus meets rustic natural beauty. Where Hygge, the quality of coziness and comfort, merges with Waldeinsamkeit, the feeling of sublime and spiritual solitude in the woods.
It is in that tradition that Loire Valley Lodges, a treehouse hotel nestled in the valley’s enchanting forest, has been born. For those seeking a break from all the hustle and bustle of city life and some recuperation from the New Year energy slump, it is a perfect place for a peaceful, homely winter getaway.
The hotel comprises 18 modern Nordic-style treehouses, engulfed by 300 hectares of its own private woodland. From Paris, it is a one to two hour train to the city of Tours and a 30 minute drive; alternately, it’s a three hour drive from the French capital. It is also a stone’s throw away from some of France’s most astonishing attractions, such as the Château de Chenonceau, a UNESCO World Heritage site which guests at the lodge can even reach by bike.
The first sights upon arriving at this hidden gem are the towering oak and chestnut trees that surround visitors at all times, like a green impenetrable wall that block out all the noise of the outside world. After driving through long paths of this arboreal shelter, a pastoral barn awaits in the middle of the forest. This cosy abode serves as the hotel's lobby and reception, as well as its concept store, where guests can purchase a wide selection of artworks and wellness products that invoke the property’s lush natural setting.
