Repère Sauvage

A forest, meadows, a pond, high forests, valleys, a manor house, and cabins... Of the 42 hectares that make up this estate in the Perche Vendômois (meaning the southernmost part of the Perche region), only 15 have been dedicated to Repère Sauvage's operations, with the rest being forest, managed as sustainably as possible. In other words, it's an enormous playground, both for those staying in the manor house (a former 19th-century hunting lodge) and those who prefer the lodges (set slightly above ground level on screw piles to minimize their impact on the environment). Designed by the architectural firm Jaams and Gwenaelle Girard for the interior architecture, the spaces play on clever indoor/outdoor features, letting in light and allowing the eye to wander. Custom-made furniture, rounded shapes, and muted colors contrast with bolder flat tones, creating just the right amount of visual interest. It's like a paradise for children, thanks in particular to Bas les Murs (workshops for growing up with nature) and Michpocha (HQ for curious children in Paris's 17th arrondissement), which have come up with a whole host of dedicated activities. Add to that a menu designed by chef Arnaud Domette, who has returned to his birthplace, and you have the perfect combination for not disconnecting, but reconnecting.