Holidays in the mountains are often synonymous with disconnection and escape. For a cocooning stay out of time and close to nature, why not opt for a night (or two) in a bubble, a pod, a barrel or even a groomer? From the Alps to the Pyrenees, via the Vosges and the Jura Mountains, here is our selection of unusual accommodation to try out as a couple, with family or friends. A change of scenery guaranteed!
A snow groomer converted into a hotel room in La Plagne, Tarentaise
Who had this crazy idea... one day to install a top-of-the-range suite in a snow groomer? It is in Bellecôte, in the heart of the ski area of La Plagne, in the Alps, that we discover this groomer nicknamed "Over the Moon": a fully equipped double room, a bathroom with a bubble bath, all with beautiful bay windows offering an unobstructed view of the surrounding peaks. After the visit of this unusual accommodation, the driver drives the groomer up to the top of the Arpette at an altitude of 2400 metres before leaving on a snow scooter to leave you alone in the world, with a bottle of chilled champagne to be enjoyed in moderation: an unforgettable evening in perspective!
A hobbit's house at La Bresse in the Vosges
Looking for an escape? Head for the resort of La Bresse, in the Vosges mountains, for a magical and fantastic trip to the land of Middle Earth! Within the Bol d'Air adventure park, which skilfully mixes tree climbing, tyrolean traverse and unusual accommodation, there is a hut dug into the mountain with a green roof that looks like the hobbit houses imagined by the author of The Lord of the Rings. Raw wood, bark, stones, warm blankets, a wood stove and cosy sofas make the interior of this atypical house an experience in itself.
At the summit of the Pic du Midi, like a scientist
Here you are at the summit of the Pic du Midi de Bigorre, at an altitude of 2,876 metres, which owes its fame to the astronomical observatory that tops it. As the day draws to a close, take the cable car: the observatory is yours for the night! From the terrace, you can watch the sun set over the Pyrenean peaks. Then head to the restaurant for dinner before taking part in an evening of stargazing with astronomers. You will go to bed full of emotions in a sober room, but with a magical view of the mountains! 27 lucky people are welcomed per night. Getting close to the Pyrenean sky is something you have to earn and requires patience. Reservations are open two years in advance (open for 2025).
A pod accessible on snowshoes at La Pierre Saint Martin, in the Pyrenees
Close to the Pescamou piste and with a view of the largest lapiaz in Europe, in the Pyrenean resort of La Pierre Saint Martin, two unusual accommodations are hidden among the hooked pines. Atipic Lodge offers two pods heated by wood-burning stoves (Black Rock and Spoutnik) designed with a view to preserving nature and minimising their impact on the environment. After a snowshoe walk at nightfall, relax in an outdoor bath heated to 38°C (with a wood stove) before enjoying a good meal with a Pyrenean flavour. A truly original evening!
A hut with a spa in the Jura
What if you spent a night in a top-of-the-range cabin perched in the trees of the Jura forest, 6 metres above the ground? Head for the lake region in the Jura for an exceptional stay. Just a few metres from the Cascades du Hérisson, in a 3 hectare park, two luxury cabins with spa are hidden away, enough to recharge your batteries after a hike to the Bonlieu lake or a day's skiing in the Rousses resort. Unusual accommodation in the middle of nature with a large terrace and the comfort of a hotel room. To make your stay even more enjoyable, special services are offered: massage in the cabin, meal delivery (to be assembled with a pulley) with an assortment of local products, rose petals on your arrival, accompanied by candles, mignardises and Jura sparkling wine... The evening promises to be romantic! *Seasonal opening from 9 February 2024 *
Spend a romantic night in a cabin with spa (Cabanes du Hérisson)
A transparent bubble facing Mont Blanc in Combloux, near Megève
Imagine, here you are as a couple, comfortably installed in a bubble in the middle of nature with a panoramic view of Mont Blanc. With a welcome aperitif and appetizers, a gourmet dinner prepared by the chef, massages and 2-hour wellness treatments, rose petals on the bed on your arrival and even a barrel organ concert, Nuit Nature is a chic and idyllic cocoon for a romantic night or an unforgettable stay with family or friends in Combloux, near Megève in the Alps. Two bubbles are available for booking, for two or six people.
A barrel in the heart of an equestrian gîte in the Jura
Close to the cross-country ski trails, away from a small Jura village and in the middle of a horse farm, La Barrique des 4 saisons is a (truly) atypical accommodation halfway between a barrel and a caravan that can accommodate up to five people for the night. Another accommodation called "La Ruche" is dedicated to couples. At an altitude of 600 metres, this strange barrel is ideally located. In winter, you can put on snowshoes and go for a walk or plan a day of cross-country skiing in the Les Gentianes resort in Morbier. A little further on, you can reach the resorts of Les Rousses and Métabief. And on the way back from the slopes, in the barrel, you can enjoy a raclette... or a Mont d'Or, of course!
A wooden chalet in the Southern Alps
At the gateway to the Ecrins National Park in the Southern Alps, Vallouise is one of the pretty and authentic mountain villages with timeless charm. So why not stop off to stroll through the narrow streets and spend the night in a wooden chalet at the Huttopia campsite ? Unusual accommodation heated by a wood stove and equipped with terraces offering a magnificent view of the snow-covered peaks. Puy Saint-Vincent, one of the nearest ski resorts, can be reached in just 10 minutes by shuttle service. Cross-country skiers can enjoy the 30 kilometres of trails at Pelvoux-Vallouise while taking time to admire the beauty of the landscape.
Sleeping in a Huttopia wooden chalet in a village in the Pays des Ecrins
Recommendations and advice:
Whichever mountain range you choose, the mountains offer magical, unspoilt landscapes where you can recharge your batteries. By choosing human-scale accommodation such as those recommended in this article, you're not only choosing quality, you're also actively helping to preserve these natural areas. Don't hesitate to extend your action by prioritising the consumption of local, seasonal products. You'll enjoy authentic flavours and reasonable prices, while helping to protect this magnificent environment.
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By Caroline Revol-Maurel
Journalist passionate about wild nature, travel and rock. As happy to write about bearded vultures as Lou Reed. Often accompanied by my two best critics, my daughters.
