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 Étangs de Corot today, and the hotel bears their influence to this day — its three suites are named Impressionniste, Barbizon, and Atelier d’Artistes.

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 lavish spa-like bathrooms with Phytomer products.

Meanwhile Les Bains de Corot offers as thorough a spa experience as you could ask for. A gastronomic restaurant, Restaurant Le Corot, is a large part of the hotel’s appeal, and it’s joined by a bistro, Le Café des Artistes, as well as a pair of bars and a tearoom. All this, in an atmosphere of rural tranquility, mere minutes from the city....