Elevated contemporary cabins in lush forest land in French Loire Valley

Loire Valley Lodges / Esvres / Centre-Val de Loire / France

I don’t know what is it with tree houses but they sure bring out the inner child in me. I have stayed in a couple of hotels where the rooms are cabins built on stilts, placing you inline with the tree tops. It is impossible not think of childhood tree houses. Either ones you had or the ones you dreamt of, or saw in the movies but never got. If this dream is still very much alive, I know a place for you, Loire Valley Lodges in central France.

This ”hotel” is located in a forest in the lush Loire Valley, a mere 2 hour drive from Paris. There are 18 suites, or cabins to choose from, each is designed by a contemporary artist. What they all have in common is that they are standing on tall stilts, and they are placed with enough space between them to make you feel like there are no neighbors.

Since I love yellow, it was an easy choice for me, when I saw the cabin called Yellow Shelter. The artist responsible for creating the look of this cabin is called Aurele, inspired by the color of the sun. Attached to the cabin is a 25 square meter terrace where we had our own jacuzzi. This was also the perfect spot to enjoy our breakfast, which is delivered to the cabin in the morning. A beautiful start of the day, to sit and enjoy the gentle rustling of the trees and the birds singing.

This is the kind of hotel you really don’t leave after you’ve checked in. There is absolutely no reason to do so. Next to the main building there is a large pool, a sauna and a cold plunge pool. You’ll find two on-site restaurant, one Michelin starred and the other a little more relaxed. So both your inner child and your adult self will enjoy staying at Loire Valley Lodges.

At the back of the reception/restaurant building there is a beautiful terrace, facing the pool and the garden.

In the reception we found a replica of our elevated cabin.

Never ever checked into a hotel where I received a walkie talkie and a flashlight with the room key.

We were escorted in style in this pimped up golf cart to our cabin in the woods.

Where you least expect it when walking (or being driven) around the premises there is contemporary art pieces. This was my favorite.

We have arrived at our cabin, called Yellow Shelter.

I love the reflection of the forest in the massive window.

These tiles were the reason why I chose this cabin. Love yellow!

My favorite spot is this one. The bench built around this huge oak tree.

An aperitif, sitting under the tree, before dinner.

We had dinner at Asperatus, one of two on-site restaurants, which serves food inspired by Eastern Mediterranean.

Sun is setting over the Loire Valley Lodges.

M is enjoying a calm morning with a cup of coffee waiting for breakfast to be delivered.

Breakfast is ordered the evening before and delivered in a basket that you hoist up.

This croissant-like product was so delicious. Still warm from the oven.

RG inside info

This place is perfect if you…

…are into the idea of staying in a grown-up version of a tree house, located in the lush forest of the Loire Valley. A tree house with all mod-cons and where you have a pool and sauna, including not one, but two restaurants a short walk from your digs. If you like this idea, you will love staying at this place.

My favorite thing about this place…

…is the secludedness of this ”hotel”. When you are in your ”room” it feels like you are all alone in some remote cabin, even though there are 18 similar cabins just like yours, placed on different spots in the forest. I also have to mention the way that breakfast is served. The cabins are built on tall stilts, and the breakfast is delivered in a basket that you hoist up, to enjoy in the privacy of your cabin or like we did, on our terrace.

What not to miss when staying here…

…is to have dinner in one of the on-site restaurant. We had dinner at Asperatus which is the more laid back of the two on-site restaurants, where more or less everything is cooked in the wood-fired outdoor kitchen.

If you like this hotel you might also like:

Trekronå / Ogna, Norway

Trakt Forest Retreat / Småland, Sweden

Les Cabanes de Rensiwez / Wallonia, Belgium

48° Nord / Alsace, France

Bolder / Lysefjorden, Norway