L'Etoile

Old romantic Hotel in France

Hotel Ranc or Hotel du Parc

Built in 1926, l'Hotel du Parc experienced its great era in 30s when the rich families were coming from Cannes, Nice and Marseille to enjoy the fresh and healthy air of La Bastide-Puylaurent at the altitude of 1024m. Escape the summer heat of the Cote d'Azur and take the direct train "Le Cevenol" onto this first station in Lozere mountains. Fish the trout in Allier River, pick up the mushrooms in the woods surrounding the Abbey of Notre Dame des Neiges and walk in this unique village reminding the authenticity of summer residences, family hotels and stylish week-end houses of wealthy years.

The architecture of the old Hotel Ranc is really well conceived; stylish, spacious, pleasant, luminous, airy, comfortable and with a magnificent park heading to the Allier River, the limit between the department of Lozere (Languedoc-Roussillon) and Ardeche (Rhone-Alpes), joining further North the Loire River. The Allier River springs at about 14 km at the top of Moure de la Gardille near Chasserades on the border line of the water divide. The GR7 pass by the spring before leading up to Cevennes and the Pyrenees.

Since 1991, Philippe Papadimitriou has been sailing in the adventure of converting the hotel into a comfortable guesthouse. Hikers come in a large number to discover the region on trails GR7, GR72, GR70 Stevenson Trail, GR700 Regordane way, the Margeride, Roujanel, Montagne Ardechoise, Tanargue and Cevenol hiking circuits.

It’s an ideal spot for a relaxing stay; a number of short hikes and biking tours and many interesting sites to discover such as the medieval village of La Garde-Guerin, Notre Dame des Neiges Abbey, the fortified village of Pradelles, the spa of St Laurent les Bains, Thines, Puylaurent, Loubaresse, Montselgues, les Vans, Le Puy en Velay. Borne river and the Gorges of Chassezac are also paradisiacal places for swimming.

The atmosphere in L'Etoile is restful, relaxing and homey. A piano tube, blaze in the fireplace, a good Belgian beer, the smell of homemade bread and a few comfortable basket chairs for the discussion or reading. Unless you are charmed by the lovely weather and you sit in the park in the lime tree shadow and listen to the Allier River song. In the evening, a large veranda allows you to savor the last sunbeams before the dinner. Meals are served jointly "en tables d'hotes" around 7h30pm and breakfast from 7h30am to 9h30am.