Un hameau de tranquillité à 15 minutes de Paris

In the 19th century, Camille Corot's desire to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life prompted him to take advantage of the pastoral setting of Ville-d'Avray. Situated 5 minutes from Versailles, the pretty Ile-de-France town and its 2 ponds inspired numerous paintings by the pioneer of Impressionism. 150 years later, this source of inspiration gives its name to a 4-star establishment: Les Etangs de Corot. An address combining art, gastronomy and well-being for a timeless interlude just a quarter of an hour from the capital.

Luxury, calm and pleasure near Versailles

With its 2 regional nature parks and 67 Departmental Sensitive Natural Areas, the Hauts-de-Seine is the green lung of the Ile-de-France region. So it's hardly surprising that, in the mid-19th century, artists in search of nature took advantage of the development of the region's railroads to escape the consequences of the industrial revolution in the cities.

Among them was Camille Corot: initially attracted by the forest of Fontainebleau bordering the charming town of Barbizon, he gradually distanced himself from this cradle of modern painting and his predecessors (Jean François Millet, Théodore Rousseau...) by staying regularly in Ville-d'Avray, where his father owned a country house.

While other painters (Claude Monet, Paul Huet) and numerous writers (Honoré de Balzac, Jean Rostand, Boris Vian) were also seduced by this unspoiled environment, it was the 2 ponds in particular that the pioneer of plein-airism immortalized.

Long the property of the town's lords, these stretches of water, with their fish prized by Parisian merchants since the Middle Ages, contributed to the town's development and can now be seen, thanks to the painter who was made an Officer of the Legion of Honor in 1867, on some fifteen canvases hung on the walls of prestigious museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the National Museum of Fine Arts in Argentina and the Marmottan Monet Museum in Paris.

Today, the 4-star hotel Les Etangs de Corot awaits you on the banks of this natural site.

The perfect escape for an afternoon or a weekend

This luxury hotel near Versailles has been part of a protected bucolic environment since September 1936. A hamlet of greenery that can be fully appreciated in this hotel, restaurant(s) and spa.

A Michelin-starred restaurant
Le Corot's menu is inspired by the local produce of the Ile-de-France region, with chef Rémi Chambard sourcing most of his ingredients from market gardeners, livestock farmers, fishermen and winemakers in neighboring towns. His country-style cuisine includes mushrooms and herbs from the King's kitchen garden in Versailles.

In his recipes, which combine freshness, lightness and - the least you can do when you bear the name of a great painter - aestheticism, the Michelin-starred chef also highlights watercress from Méréville, sorrel from Belleville and, for desserts, apples from the Molien orchard or brioche from Nanterre. All these ingredients are at the heart of refined, gourmet dishes to be enjoyed in a bright room with a view of the open kitchen: perfect for admiring the kitchen artists at work.

A spa in the heart of nature
Feel like going green? Visit the Bains de Corot: sauna, private whirlpool baths with a relaxing view over the ponds, treatments and massages for solo or duo use, outdoor Jacuzzi for a breath of fresh air while enjoying the surrounding nature...

Whether you want to relax after a visit to the Château de Versailles or escape the hustle and bustle of city life for an afternoon or a weekend, disconnection is guaranteed just a stone's throw from Paris!

Spacious rooms with inspiring decor
As part of the Relais & Châteaux network, Les Etangs de Corot offers 42 rooms and suites to immerse yourself in a setting that has been appreciated for two centuries by artists vacationing in Ville-d'Avray.

Bearing names conducive to creativity (sketch, watercolor, artist's studio, the water collection...), they all overlook the forest or the ponds.

Warmly and authentically decorated, with attics or terraces, they are all equipped with private bathrooms (with bath or walk-in shower), air conditioning and top-of-the-range bedding.

A level of comfort that Camille Corot would surely have appreciated in his nearby family home. In the absence of modern conveniences, perhaps it was already lined with his paintings and dressed in green, blue and ochre tones, as here? In any case, a modern-day painter could well find inspiration here.

An impressionist-style guinguette
A listed 19th-century guinguette, Les Paillotes is the origin of the establishment that gradually became Les Etangs de Corot. In summer, the hotel-restaurant-spa revives its past by offering cocktails on its waterside terrace, featuring (among other things) old-fashioned spirits.

To accompany your tasting experience, finger food is also on offer, as well as live music every Friday evening, so that you can fully appreciate the convivial atmosphere of the place during fine weather.

A festive trip back to the days of artistic bohemia (Renoir and his famous Moulin de la Galette immortalized the atmosphere of these first open-air cafés) to enjoy with family or friends.

A large terrace where you can enjoy the light so appreciated by Corot
With direct access to the garden terrace, Le Café des artistes is the other gourmet address not to be missed at Etangs de Corot, whether for lunch with colleagues or dinner with friends.

Also created by chef Rémi Chambard, the bistronomic menu (always based on local produce) includes a starter of marinated salmon gravlax, Isigny cream, pink berries and blinis, followed by a melt-in-the-mouth poultry dish, cajun-spiced coconut milk and seasonal vegetables.

Family-run and tasty, the cuisine of this second restaurant is best enjoyed outdoors, its soothing setting stimulating the appetite and the desire for culinary discoveries such as, for those with a sweet tooth, a meringue flower, strawberries and strawberry sorbet.

The establishment is exceptional, and its interior and exterior
settings took us on a journey. The welcome was unbelievable,
and the staff were attentive from start to finish.

Rosa, cliente en Juillet 2024

And if you're just passing through, the establishment also boasts a Bar/Tearoom where you can sip a house cocktail or share a delicious seasonal tea-time in a cosy atmosphere.

Extending your getaway

While the 2 ponds and their landscaped surroundings are under the protection of the French Ministry of Culture, they are not the only treasures to be seen in the region.

Ville-d'Avray borders Sèvres and its historic Cité de la Céramique. It also borders the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, another great natural site that has been awarded the Jardin Remarkable label and is home to the Pavillon de Breteuil.

And of course, this commune of over 200 hectares of forest borders on the Château de Versailles, which you can visit in complete tranquillity by staying at Etangs de Corot.

Its concierge service will enable you to order a cab to go, like Chef Rémi Chambard, for a bit of foraging in the Potager du Roi or, after a stroll through the former apartments of Louis XIV, book a well-deserved treatment in its spa.

Ready for a break from the stress of the city? Whether you're looking for a sunny afternoon with the family or an extended weekend with your loved ones, visit the Etangs de Corot site.

Enjoy your stay!

Valérie from Comme des Français

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To extend your artistic journey in Ile de France