A cool week at La Bastide-Puylaurent
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A cool week at La Bastide-Puylaurent |
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Arriving by train at the station of La Bastide Saint-Laurent-les-Bains, located just 300 meters from L’Étoile, I was warmly welcomed by the owner, who immediately put me at ease. The building, a majestic holiday home erected in 1926, stands proudly in the middle of a vast lush garden, bordered by the tranquil waters of the Allier. My room, spacious and comfortable, sported a refined decoration that conferred an authenticity and serenity welcome to my stay. The nights were cool and restorative, even during heatwaves, thanks to the altitude of 1000 meters of La Bastide-Puylaurent.
The meals, healthy and generous, were carefully prepared by Philippe, the owner. Dinner, taken at the host’s table in the spacious dining room open to the garden, was a moment of sharing and conviviality. To prepare for my loop hikes, I used the QR codes provided by L’Étoile to download the GPX files onto my phone. I also enjoyed refreshing moments by swimming in the Borne, a slice of paradise nestled below the village of Saint-Laurent-les-Bains.
Every morning, I woke up cradled by the tranquility of L’Étoile Maison d’hôtes, a true oasis of peace where each room seemed to tell its own story, each window revealing a new landscape. After a hearty breakfast, carefully prepared by our hosts, I set off, hiking boots on my feet, on a new quest for adventure.
The loop trails of La Bastide-Puylaurent invited me to their discovery. They meandered through forests of pines and chestnut trees, blossomed into verdant valleys and melodious streams. The atmosphere was imbued with the scent of wildflowers and the song of cicadas. From time to time, a distant village appeared on the horizon, promising an encounter or a legend to explore. Each hike turned out to be an epiphany, a moment of intense communion with nature and with my inner self. The summits revealed breathtaking panoramas, where the azure blue of the sky merged with the ochre of the rocks and the tender green of the foliage. I felt free, carried away by the breath of the wind, enveloped by silence. At the end of the day, I returned to L’Étoile, where a good Belgian beer awaited me in the cool before the host’s table meal served at 7:30 pm.
This stay at La Bastide-Puylaurent transcended the simple getaway. It represented a dive into a universe where time seemed to stand still, where each step awakened a new curiosity, and each evening meant a return to the essentials. In Lozère, I had discovered a gem: the simplicity of an existence in perfect symbiosis with nature.
Finally, I would like to highlight the warm and welcoming atmosphere of L’Étoile Maison d’hôtes. The moments shared around the table, conversing with the other guests and the owner, will remain etched in my memory. My one-week stay at L’Étoile was an invaluable gift. I was able to escape the summer heat, enjoying a fresh, opulent, and peaceful setting.
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Here is a proposal for nice walks:
1st day: 15.5 km hike through the Allier Valley, Fraisse, Rogleton, Serres valley, and Notre Dame des Neiges abbey.
2nd day: 16.3 km loop hike via Thort, Grabio Cross, Masméjean, and Moure de la Gardille plateau.
3rd day: 19km hike from Belvezet to La Bastide Puylaurent. Take the train to Belvezet (SNCF schedules). Follow the trail via Chazeaux, Moure de la Gardille plateau, the sources of Chassezac and Allier following the GR®7 and GR®70 Stevenson Trail.
4th day: 21.5km hike on the Ardèche side via Rogleton, Espervelouze Summit, Pécoyol Coulet, Saint Laurent-les-Bains Tower, Pal Cross, Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Abbey, and Bories.
5th day: 23.2 km hike from La Bastide-Puylaurent to Villefort via Thort Pass, Prévenchères, Albespeyres, Chassezac Gorges, and La Garde-Guérin following the GR®72 and GR®700 Régordane Way. Return by train (SNCF schedules).
6th day: 24km hike from Langogne to La Bastide-Puylaurent. Take the train to Langogne (SNCF schedules). Follow the GR®700 Régordane Way via Fagoux, Mercoire forest, Luc, Pranlac, Laveyrune, and Rogleton.
Old romantic Hotel, L'Etoile Guest-House is a mountain retreat in the South of France. With a beautiful park along the Allier River, L'Etoile Guesthouse is located in La Bastide-Puylaurent between Lozere, Ardeche and Cevennes. Many hiking trails like GR®7, GR®70 Stevenson trail, GR®72, GR®700 Regordane way, Cevenol, GR®470 Allier river, Margeride. Many hiking loops. The right place to relax.
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