This Summer, go Glamping in France’s Loire Valley

France’s Loire Valley might be popular for its dry white and sparkling wines, but a new resort in the heart of the forest might just make it a choice vacation spot in the country for other reasons. A one-hour train ride from Paris, Loire Valley Lodges is offering visitors an elevated glamping experience in a 740-acre forest.

The lodges at Loire valley lodges are great for glamping
Each of the 18 houses sits on stilts. Image courtesy of Loire Valley Lodges

Opened in July 2020, LVL was a passion project for Anne-Caroline Frey, a former Paris art dealer who set out to create an environment that blends art with the natural world. Each of the lodge’s 18 tree houses (built on stilts) is decorated by a different contemporary artist and has floor-to-ceiling windows for full exposure to the surrounding nature.

A room in one of the houses
Each of the houses was decorated by different contemporary artists. Image courtesy of Loire Valley Lodges

Each tree house has been designed to be a haven of relaxation, with all outfitted with a fully-furnished outdoor terrace and either a hot tub or a sauna. Breakfast is delivered daily and left at the bottom of the stairs in a large wicker basket. When you’re ready to eat, you’ll simply pull on the rope to raise your basket and savour your morning café au lait and croissant en plein air.

A breakfast tray at the Loire Valley Lodges
Enjoy a hearty, freshly-made breakfast every morning surrounded by nature. Image courtesy of Travel and Leisure

Bicycles are available for transporting yourself around the property, and you can seek out one of the intentionally placed benches or chairs to soak up the surroundings and its active wildlife, which includes birds, owls, deer, and the occasional wild boar. There are also vegetable and flower gardens, a glass-enclosed ‘bee house’ for watching the insects make honey, a forest bathing experience led by a local naturalist, and even an opera singer for hire to sing arias in the woods.

The added amenities make glamping at Loire Valley Lodges a true treat
Spend quiet, relaxing evenings in a hot tub or sauna, depending on your lodge. Image courtesy of Loire Valley Lodges

The main lodge, which retains its centuries-old exterior, houses a reception area; a shop with all things art, nature, and wellness; a bar; and a restaurant that serves lunch daily and dinner three nights a week. There’s an inviting pool outside the main lodge, too — perfect for cooling off after a day of touring the nearby villages, chateaus, and wineries.

Overall, Loire Valley Lodges brings a modern twist with creature comforts to nature lovers and glamping enthusiasts in a region that thrives on history. Here, the history lies in the 200-year-old trees.

Source: Travel + Leisure