Escape the Hustle and Bustle of Paris: Uncover 4 Unexpected Accommodations that Embrace France's Artistic and Rural allure through captivating interiors and picturesque vistas
Design-Conscious Destinations Outside Paris: A Slow Living Vacation Guide
Discover a collection of unique, high-end boutique hotels in France that offer a tranquil escape from the bustling city of Paris. These design-conscious destinations promise a slower pace, immersion in local culture, and a focus on nature, making them ideal for a relaxing vacation.
La Folie Barbizon, Seine-et-Marne
Nestled in the picturesque village of Barbizon, home to less than 2,000 people and praised for its characteristic atmosphere and green, peaceful surroundings, La Folie Barbizon offers a distinctive hotel experience. Originally set up as an artist residency in 2020 by Lionel Bensemoun, the hotel features 21 rooms, each curated by a trailblazing group of artists. The bar and restaurant are expected to showcase a Mediterranean extravaganza.
PAPOTTE, Burgundy
Located half an hour away from Dijon, PAPOTTE is a collection of four guesthouses in the Burgundy countryside. Each accommodation offers a masterclass in contemporary interior design, with Art Deco, farmhouse style, and modern glamour converging across private and communal areas. The interiors were renovated by Heju studio, a Paris-based design duo, and the project is one of their most noteworthy. PAPOTTE is surrounded by walking, hiking, and cycling trails, swimmable water points, and nearly a thousand meters of fertile vegetable gardens.
Pavillon Southway, Marseille
In the heart of Marseille, Provence, Pavillon Southway offers a slower, more sensitive experience where art, history, and everyday life are intertwined. The hotel was launched in the Mazargue district in 2020 and is a living artistic environment created by Emmanuelle Luciani. It offers two rooms for overnight stays, each a scenography composed of ceramics, frescoes, furniture, and stucco works. Guests can access the rest of the property, which includes a kitchen, two living rooms, an exhibition salon, and a shaded courtyard.
Le Doyenné, Île-de-France
Located in the Château de Saint-Vrain, an hour train ride from Paris, Le Doyenné is a restaurant and hotel transformed into a creative playground by Australian chefs James Henry and Shaun Kelly in 2022. The hotel's interior design is a collaboration between Artistic Director Sarah Valente and interior studio Marion Collard.
Alternative Destinations
For those seeking a change from the more frequented Versailles, the Château de Fontainebleau is often recommended. In the French Riviera, the Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez offers a luxurious stay with a contemporary design inspired by local artistic heritage. The South of France – Provence and Mediterranean Coast region boasts numerous small, charming boutique hotels blending design, romance, and natural beauty. These include Le Splendid Hôtel, Les Roches Blanches, and other quiet properties with pools and spas.
These destinations share similarities with the best Paris hotels in terms of curated design, attention to detail, refined gastronomy, and a tailored guest experience focused on relaxation and immersion in local culture. They provide unique, design-conscious, and tranquil experiences comparable to Parisian luxury hotels but with a stronger emphasis on leisure, nature, and slow-paced enjoyment.
[1] Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez
[3] South of France – Provence and Mediterranean Coast
[5] Le Barn Hotel and Champagne Collery
- In the French Riviera, the Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez offers a luxurious stay with a contemporary design inspired by local artistic heritage, making it an attractive alternative to the more frequented Versailles.
- The South of France – Provence and Mediterranean Coast region boasts numerous small, charming boutique hotels that blend design, romance, and natural beauty, such as Le Splendid Hôtel and Les Roches Blanches.
- These destinations, including the Cheval Blanc Saint-Tropez and the South of France, share similarities with Parisian luxury hotels in their curated design, attention to detail, refined gastronomy, and a tailored guest experience focused on relaxation and immersion in local culture.
- The interiors of PAPOTTE in Burgundy, renovated by Heju studio, showcase a masterclass in contemporary interior design, with Art Deco, farmhouse style, and modern glamour converging across private and communal areas.
- Le Barn Hotel and Champagne Collery, located in the Champagne region, offer a rustic yet chic experience, with their living rooms featuring furniture, mirrors, and decor in keeping with a trendy, lifestyle-focused color scheme.
- In the heart of Marseille, Pavillon Southway is a living artistic environment created by Emmanuelle Luciani, with the hotel's rooms showcasing ceramics, frescoes, furniture, and stucco works.
- The bathrooms of La Folie Barbizon in Seine-et-Marne are adorned with tiles that contribute to the rustic, yet elegant interior design of the hotel, created in collaboration with artists from around the world.