Somewhere for the weekend

SIMPLE PLEASURES

CLOCKWISE, FROM LEFT Gourmet food is served in La Serre; the hotel feels beautifully remote; there’s plenty of outdoor space to explore; the decor is designed in harmony with nature

Somewhere for the weekend

LE BARN Rambouillet, France

This rambling, comfortably stylish countryside retreat is the perfect place to unplug

Head southwest from

central Paris, and in little short of an hour you’ll find yourself approaching the sprawling Rambouillet forest –a wooded region home to deer, wild boar, and, curiously, wallabies.

Despite being just a hop, skip and jump from the city, the area feels gloriously off-grid, which has made it catnip for city dwellers looking for some free-range roaming. Where do they stay? Le Barn, a smart, hip, new country hideaway combining rural tranquillity with stylish boutique hotel credentials. For the horsey among us, riding in the deep woods is a uniquely enchanting experience and horse whispering classes provide something a little different from your local stables. Guided cycling tours showcase the best of the landscape, and indulgent Nordic baths provide that hit of total relaxation. La Serre restaurant serves exactly what you want in this part of the world: simple, seasonal menus with produce from its kitchen garden and local farms.

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