Le Barn is the countryside retreat that’s become a favourite weekend escape for city dwellers fleeing the throng of the French capital.
Less than two hours from Gare D’Austerlitz in Paris, on the short train ride to Le Barn the houses thin, replaced with the fields and trees of the French countryside.
Located on a 500-acre estate within the Rabouillet Forest and shared with France’s famous holistic horsemanship school, La Cense, this is a relaxed yet refined escape that exudes the casual warmth of spending time at a friend’s country home (with the service and hospitality of a cosy boutique hotel).
The Vibe
In the middle of the Haute Vallée Chevreuse Regional Natural Park, Le Barn is steeped in bucolic bliss, surrounded by rolling fields, woods and rivers, and with views of horses grazing in their paddocks from every room. The main building is home to a cosy lounge with a wood-burning stove, sofa nooks to curl up in, board games, and stacks of books on everything country life – from the art of wood-turning to French cookery. It’s deliciously informal, yet elegantly so.
The Rooms
Le Barn’s 73 rooms – designed by Paris and New York-based architect Antoine Ricardou – are spread across four buildings, two of which are barns, with Classic, Superior and Deluxe rooms. Then there are two suites and three dorms sleeping six to eight people. Balconies and terraces open onto the surrounding paddocks and forest, and interiors are simple, yet warm and inviting. Inspired by the French countryside, they’re filled with natural wood and textiles, American Shaker-style furniture and artwork collected from flea markets. Our Deluxe room was drenched in sunlight, with views of horses from every window and the only sound the gentle rustle of leaves.
The Food + Drink
In the main building, Le Barn’s restaurant is spread across three rooms and delivers a daily changing, seasonal, farm-to-table menu. Where possible, produce is sourced from the hotel’s vegetable garden alongside local markets and producers. The result is hearty, wholesome dishes like courgette and mushroom cannelloni, poultry terrine, and a risotto of coquillettes pasta with ham and truffled comté. On weekends, a spectacular buffet spread is put on for long, lazy brunches of vibrant salads, juicy grilled prawns and octopus, succulent steaks and indulgent desserts. Breakfast is a typically continental affair with plenty of ham and cheese, crusty bread, pastries, and hot dishes like eggs and bacon. It’s easygoing and help-yourself, and if the weather plays ball, best eaten on the terrace with a pot of coffee.
The Little Extras
If you’re looking to escape the city for a nature-filled weekend stay, you’ll be pleased to know that Le Barn doesn’t enforce a strict check-out time on Sunday, so you’re free to enjoy a leisurely morning at your own pace; it’s part of the hotel’s ethos to afford its guests total freedom and relaxation during their stay. Take the time to enjoy breakfast and explore the hotel grounds before heading back home.
And don’t forget to pack your swimsuit. As well as wild swimming spots for a refreshing dip, Le Barn’s spa is home to a trio of Nordic baths. A relaxing hammam and sauna are the perfect way to spend a chilly afternoon, while its treatment rooms offer a small but perfectly formed menu of Ayurvedic, Thai and Shiatsu treatments.
The To-Do List
This is a property committed to the guest experience with a weekly changing programme of activities, both outdoors and in. Relaxation is the name of the game, found in yoga classes, wild swimming, horse riding, photography workshops, campfires, pétanque, Pilates and more.
Pick up a walking-trail map and a pair of wellies from reception, or borrow a bicycle (pedal or e-bike) to explore further afield. Find a spot near the boating pond to sit, breathe and enjoy the peace – or take the resident rowboat out for a turn about the lily pads.
Le Barn’s most unique offering brings guests on a horse-whispering journey, said to be a grounding experience to calm the brain and nervous system. The two-and-a-half hour experience includes a one-on-one meeting with your horse, where you’ll be guided by an expert in ethology to explore the silent communication secrets of horse whispering – an intrinsically calming experience for both horse and human.
All image credit: Le Barn
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