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Whether for a weekend holiday or extended vacation, in terms of accommodations, the French have always preferred staying in hotels.
The fault no doubt lay with lodgings and British styled Bed&Breakfasts considered far too spartan. However, the tide has turned, and we are now accustomed to seeing guesthouses that can provide comfortable accommodations coupled with luxurious charm and proximity.
Two guesthouses off the beaten path:
Comptoir d’Aubrac
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Les + :
Fans of fine decor will certainly get an eyeful, especially since some of the pieces are also available at the Comptoir's boutique.
Price :
around € 200 per night for a double room.
Address:
Comptoir d’Aubrac
12470 Saint Chély d’Aubrac
Contact:
Tel. : 05 65 48 78 84
www.catherinepainvin.com
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La Mongolie ? No. The plains of the Caucasus ? Neither. The region of Aubrac ? Yes indeed ! Owner and established designer decorator Catherine Painvin has set up camp in this seemingly lost little place in the heart of France. Fascinated by the steppes of central Asia, Catherine has brought home a wealth of objects from her visits in Mongol tribes; the daybeds, Tibetan statues, solid silver candlesticks are just some of the many exotic treasures she has blended with impeccably good taste with antique furniture and other objects recovered here and there.
The rooms here are all different : in the Crystal Blue, sheep mesh has been transformed into a stunning canopy decorated with crystals falling from the ceiling. In the bathroom, a pile of stones encircles two bathtubs surrounded by a pine forest.
Chic yet shocking, luxurious yet surprising, th decor at Comptoir d’Aubrac is as unclassifiable as it is poetic.
An interior designer by trade, the hostess has let loose all of her raving passion and expression. Guests can even sleep in a decor taken right out of the set of the film « Out of Africa », have tea in an Indian atmosphere, and then breakfast in a Scottish salon. The warmly decorated, well arrayed interiors contrast with the rugedness of the landscape, and it feels so good to curl up near the fireplace, be it winter or summer, and relax dreamily alongside the changing glow of the candles.
Comptoir Saint Hilaire
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Les + :
An exuberant and imaginative decor, with service that is rare for a B&B.
Prices :
around € 250 per night for a suite.
Address:
Comptoir Saint-Hilaire
Mas de la Rouquette
30560 Saint-Hilaire de Brethmas
Contact :
Tél. : 04 46 30 82 65
www.comptoir-saint-hilaire.com
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Although she's not the owner here, Catherine Painvin has left her mark on another ultra luxury deco guesthouse, situated just a few kilometres from Alès.
On a hilltop overlooking the surrounding landscape, the Comptoir Saint-Hilaire is housed in an ancient 16th century sheepfold.
Impressive dry stone walls remain of the original building, but the interior designer's passage has radically transformed the scene here. A decor paying homage to Anduze bamboo, or the lights of the Tierra del Fuego, a room fulll of sand, or wood... entering into one of the suites here is akin to discovering a unique universe.
Outdoor spaces are simply superb, and even if the region provides numerous possibilities for all sorts of outings and discoveries, it's difficult to tear yourself away from the comfort for the pool and the delicious cuisine of Hattab and Roberto, the house's two hosts. This is a truly exceptional location you don't really want to recommend to too many people, for fear of no longer having it available to yourself !
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