In the heart of Normandy’s rolling bocage lies L’Étape en Forêt, a refuge that feels like part fairyland, part adventure park. Spread over ten lush hectares, the estate offers more than just places to sleep—it offers portals into forest life, where treehouses, glass bubbles, and stilted lodges merge comfort with wilderness.
Pull up and the first thing you’ll notice is the quiet. The estate is almost entirely pedestrian—no cars buzzing past. Paths wind through ancient hornbeams. The air smells like moss and leaf litter. Everywhere, nature gets the lead role.
Pick your perch. There are treehouses perched nine meters up among lofty branches, each with a spacious fifteen-square‑meter terrace that practically begs you to linger with a cup of tea. Beneath the canopy, bubbles—transparent, intimate—let your star-gazing pulse roam free. Or stay in a lodge on stilts (think elevated wood cabins) or terrace chalets hugging the forest floor—some even with private Nordic spas.
Yes, the spa is a serious draw. Imagine slipping into 40 °C water in the forest night, steam rising, stars overhead. That’s the private Nordic spa. For a soak, it’s hard to top.
Inside the treehouses: clever layouts, warm woods, kitchenettes, cozy living nooks, and sleeping areas. You won’t feel bare bones. This is nature luxury—not flashy, but deeply satisfying. Many of these cabins are built with eco-conscious materials, sustainable techniques, and even options for accessibility. They respect the forest as a cohabitant, not a backdrop.
But L’Étape en Forêt doesn’t just rest on design. If you’re itching to move, there’s accrobranche (tree climbing), giant zip lines, hiking trails, wellness zones, saunas, forest baths. You can climb, fly, sweat, relax, repeat. Families love it, thrill-seekers dig it, people wanting peace? It’s there too.
Dining is farm‑to‑forest style. The estate’s restaurant serves homemade food, regional produce, bar stocks for twilight chats. The ambiance is cozy: wood beams, forest light, gentle murmurs. At night, paths glow softly, the forest hums, and you feel both tucked in and alive.
Staff are known to be warm and helpful—those small gestures make stays linger in memory. Whether you're here with kids, as a couple, or even for a retreat with colleagues who need a break from boardrooms, L’Étape en Forêt seems to have thought of many needs. There's even a conference area if you want your meeting with forest window views.
No, it’s not perfect. On stormy nights, leaves slap windows. Paths get muddied. Bubbles show every dew. But those “imperfections” are part of the deal. They tell you: this is real. Wild, temperamental, beautiful. When you step back into your treehouse, you’ll hear the forest breathe. Maybe it edges your pulse a little slower. You’ll remember that it’s possible to live tucked between branches and stars—luxuriously, gently—if someone builds you the right house.
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