So how good is this place? At around $330 per night, it isn't cheap. But if you're looking for a…read moreplace to get away from it all and enjoy the gorgeous French countryside, it doesn't get much better than La Colline du Colombier. La Colline is the brainchild of Michel Troisgros and his wife, Marie Troisgros. Indeed, Troisgros' 3-star Michelin restaurant is in the nearby town of Roanne and La Colline itself has a high-end bistro on the premises.
My wife and I arrived in a small, European car that quickly zipped up the preceding hill and wound down the driveway toward the farmhouse, I couldn't stop smiling. It was absolutely gorgeous. If you don't believe me, just look at La Colline's website. It is as good as advertised. Stepping out of the car, we were quickly ushered to our Cadole, a structure that is both futuristic and old-fashioned. Again, it is difficult to explain, but the idea of the cadole is like a teepee or a yurt, but in this instance, is huge and has all the modern amenities. Our cadole had its own private garden with a giant appletree shading us.
Before I go on, the place is not without a fault, though I embarrassed to complain, as the cadole is located on a working farm. There are flies EVERYWHERE. And, well, there are flies everywhere on a farm. Our cadole had a ridiculous amount of flies when it when we arrived, likely the result of someone leaving the door open for too long earlier in the day. On the downside, no nap upon arrival. On the upside, hunting flies is kind of fun, even if my wife did get a bit annoyed.
Anyways, moving on to the amenities, this place has them all. On the food front, you are set. your mini-fridge is stocked with a half bottle of rose wine, fresh eggs, bottled water, cheese, butter etc. Additionally, the farm's baker has provided you with fresh-baked croissants, pain chocolat, and other various and sundry items. This alone is worth the price of admission. And while you're noshing on your freshly baked goods? Listen to some jazz music. No TV here (we're relaxing. C'mon!), so enjoy Troisgros' CD collection and put your feet up. Want to get outside? Find one of the deck chairs on the observation platform and watch the cows come in from pasture. This isn't your typical B&B
And that's the thing. This B&B doesn't have kitschy decorations and nasty bedspread. Instead, it simply displays good taste and lets you relax. For a honeymoon, what more could you ask for when trying to get away from it all and relax with your partner.
