Les Étangs de Corot

An elegant escape in a pastoral setting midway between Paris and Versailles — it’s not the toughest thing in the world to sell. This was as true for Corot and his Impressionist contemporaries as it is for guests of Les Etangs de Corot today, and the hotel bears their influence to this day, each one of its forty rooms and two suites named for an artist who spent time in Ville-d’Avray.

Not to say it’s a nostalgia trip. Though full of historical elements, the décor here has clearly been assembled with a contemporary eye. And as unthinkable as it may be, even the art-agnostic will find plenty to admire — you don’t need a course in aesthetics to appreciate the value of a stylish bedroom with a view of the gardens and ponds, and Caudalie products in the bathrooms.

That last point could probably bear some elaboration. In its current incarnation Les Etangs de Corot is sister to Les Sources de Caudalie, which, in short, means it’s the most ideal Caudalie spa experience this side of Bordeaux. We imagine twenty minutes’ drive from Paris they’ll do brisk business. Add a pair of restaurants, Le Corot and Le Café des Artistes, and there’s little, if anything, that you’ll find yourself left wanting.

How to get there: If coming via the A13 Motorway Paris to Province, take Exit 5 (Versailles Centre). At the traffic light turn left, crossing the motorway bridge and follow the direction to Versailles. After 2 km on the left, take the direction (Ville d’Avray). If coming from Versailles, take the Avenue de St-Cloud, then Avenue des Etats-Unis, following the direction (Ville d’Avray) slightly to the right. Les Etangs de Corot is at the entrance of the town of Ville d’Avray, on the right.