A countryside weekend by the water

Etangs De Corot

How about filling up on good vibes for a green getaway just 20 minutes from Paris? Nestled just behind the Saint-Cloud estate , the Do It Team has unearthed Les Étangs de Corot , a 4-star hotel for less than €200 a night to escape to the water's edge without overloading its carbon footprint. Spa , hiking , jacuzzi , starred table : GO!

A country house at the gates of Paris

Direction Ville-d'Avray ! Accessible by a line L from Saint-Lazare , Les Étangs de Corot surprises: on one side the road that leads to Versailles , on the other, the forest of Fausses-Reposes and the famous ponds that inspired the brushes by Camille Corot .

The building acts as a spatio-temporal portal between the city and nature: as soon as you cross the entrance to the Relais et Châteaux, completely revamped by the Breton architect Christophe Bachmann - creator of Olivier Roellinger's shops and guest houses -, the urban stress is just a distant memory.

Gone is the old-fashioned atmosphere of the hunting lodge: the former landmark of the Impressionists now cultivates a cozy country house spirit. The 42 rooms offer, for the most part, a breathtaking view of the ponds, with a front row seat to admire the swans parading. They have all been given a makeover thanks to superb panoramic wallpapers by Pierre Frey or Ananbô .

Well-being stopover

Guaranteed wow effect with the jacuzzis open to the outside, located under the famous wooden straw huts, a 19th century listed monument , which turn into a guinguette as soon as the fine weather arrives. These private salons, which can be reserved in advance, are one of the great novelties of the spa which showcases the expertise of Phytomer and Kos Paris treatments . We love the city detox ritual that combines facial treatment and ultra-relaxing massage (2 hours, €250).

Also note: bicycles available to discover the surrounding nature, to go to Versailles or to the Manufacture de Sèvres . Unless you prefer a beautiful walk in the forest, without forgetting the yoga retreats that are regularly offered. Stay tuned!

Epicurean and locavore parenthesis

Last strong point and not least: the gastronomy! In the new version of Les Etangs de Corot , the Café des artistes and its succulent bistronomic market cuisine has a large terrace opening onto the interior garden and a room bathed in light. An ideal bucolic decor for (breakfast)!

In the evening, stroll through the Ile-de-France region at the starred restaurant Le Corot which offers a kitchen open to the dining room in variations of cream tones with the most beautiful effect. Behind the marble counter, chef Rémi Chambard and his crew play a flawless score: Avray tart with mushrooms from the Clos du Roi (95), poultry stuffing, onions and agastache from the Potager du Roi (78), trout candied, scallops cooked twice, sweetbreads and mustard seeds from Pommery (77)... Who would have thought that a getaway so close to Paris would be so poetic and exotic?

Rooms from €135, €197 with a view of the ponds. Le Corot menus: €95 (lunch, weekdays), €130, €165.

 

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