LA PENSÉE SAUVAGE
Today, there is no getting away from the word “detox”, in our everyday life or in the media. It has become a modern mantra, compelling us to slow down in an overloaded world racing ahead at breakneck speed. Here, detox extends beyond the physical realm. Like Lévi-Strauss’s eponymous work, The Savage Mind, La Pensée Sauvage views life as a holistic system that sheds light on humans and their health as a whole. The idea is to disconnect. From our obligations, our phones, our routines. And then learn to reconnect. At a different pace, with a different logic. Little by little, a new path opens up: that of a return to the self, to the essential, to the wild.
At La Pensée Sauvage, the days start early, but gently. A yoga session sets the pace, waking up the muscles and joints of the body to prepare them for the day’s activities. In fact, the core of the programme revolves around hiking. A form of exercise that fully mobilises the entire body, cleansing, stimulating and regenerating it, but that also activates the mind, which becomes lighter with every step, carried by the splendour of the landscapes. Everyone is free to adopt their own pace, between a detox routine based on a delicious, deacidifying diet and fasting for the more committed, but with the same goal: to clear the mind and create the space needed to fill it again, with a better content. No longer with distractions and toxic imperatives, but with a new-found lightness, lasting benefits and a general sense of well-being. Throughout the stay, experienced naturopaths gently guide participants through the programme, while a variety of treatments encourage this process of total reset. These major cleanses then make way for what we too often tend to neglect: our physical and mental balance. Supervised by a dynamic, attentive and caring team, the retreat’s guests benefit from high-quality care and, at the same time, enjoy authentic human encounters with the other members of the group. And that is the secret ingredient that makes this experience so magical and unique. Whether at the Origine centre in the Vercors, or during exceptional stays in Corsica, the Luberon, the Cévennes or Menorca, this immersion in nature is, in a way, a means of reconnecting with our own nature.
M-DETOX, RESET ON THE WILDLEST ISLAND IN THE BALEARICS
Head to Menorca, the unspoilt jewel of the Balearic archipelago, where the sun bathes the tiled roofs of the traditional houses. Among them, Rafal Rubi, a restored ancestral finca, welcomes guests to La Pensée Sauvage. This agroturismo, whose origins date back to the Bronze Age, combines authenticity, energy self-sufficiency, discreet luxury and comfort. Dotted with Talayotic ruins and natural caves, the estate invites guests to discover a fascinating dialogue between ancient history and modernity. Time stands still, and body and mind follow suit. In this Mediterranean retreat, everything is designed to allow you to recharge your batteries: swimming in crystal-clear waters, hiking through changing landscapes, moments of silence. More than just a retreat, M-DETOX is a true inner rebirth, a breath of fresh air that promises a fresh start.
RURAL COOKING WORKSHOPS CULINAIRES AU VERT
There is good news for fans of La Pensée Sauvage and foodies who wish to emulate the inventive cuisine lovingly devised by Boris, its iconic chef: a vegetarian cooking school will be opening its doors next November in the Vercors region. The three-and-a-half-day immersive courses (from Monday lunchtime to Thursday lunchtime) will take place in a warm and welcoming house and teach the basics of a vibrant and healthy cuisine that is accessible to all. Designed as a natural extension of the La Pensée Sauvage universe, this school is earmarked for those who wish to cultivate a taste for better living… through their taste buds. Designed to feel like a home from home, the kitchen replicates everyday conditions. This means that there is no sophisticated equipment to grapple with, just everyday utensils and simple techniques, taught in a clear and methodical way. Each participant gets involved in preparing all the meals for the day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. At the helm is Boris, who passionately shares his expertise, tips and vision of ingredients and methods that respect the body and the environment. The experience continues in the friendly setting: put up at the village inn, the apprentice chefs gather in the communal dining room to share meals, or in the lounge to relax and chat. The workshop evolves in line with the seasons and harvests, and adapts to each person’s dietary preferences, in keeping with its spirit of openness and sharing.
TRAVEL ST TROPEZ
In the heart of old Saint-Tropez, a stone’s throw from the charming little beach of La Ponche, this legendary hotel was completely renovated in 2021 by the Beaumier group. A favourite haunt of artists and intellectuals in the 1950s — patronised by Simone de Beauvoir, Picasso, Bardot, Vian among others— the establishment had a unique spirit, simple yet elegant. To preserve this memory while modernising the premises, interior designer Fabrizio Casiraghi was invited in to rethink the spaces. He has delivered an elegant project that blends in with the local architecture: beamed ceilings, whitewashed walls, travertine floors and discreet wood panelling. The colours are soft – sand, clay and greyish blue – and the materials have been chosen for their authenticity: natural wood, washed linen and handmade ceramics. The 21 rooms and suites have been completely refurbished with understated elegance and a contemporary Mediterranean feel. Some open onto the sea, others onto the narrow streets, but all share the same peaceful atmosphere, halfway between a holiday home and a boutique hotel.
This articulate language also runs through the restaurant. In the bright dining room or on the terrace facing the sea, chef Thomas Danigo serves up a simple, local cuisine with a focus on seasonal produce: grilled fish, market vegetables and fresh herbs. Surfing the same wave of discreet well-being, a spa area has been created on the upper floors. Designed as a cocoon, it offers treatments and massages using La Mer products, renowned for their textures and effectiveness. Everything here invites you to slow down and drop anchor.
At La Ponche, the architecture, décor and service interact without ostentation. A rare, timeless address exuding an unspoilt charm.
THE CONFIDENTS LINES OF THE CAP d’ANTIBES
In 2023, Belgian architect Bernard Dubois put his own distinctive take on the Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel. Reputed for its waterfront location, this address on the Baie des Pêcheurs has reinterpreted luxury from a more architectural, more graphic perspective. Its white concrete façade has become the ultimate manifesto of geometric rigour, the clean lines, raw materials and chiselled volumes conversing with the Mediterranean. On the beach, a carefully choreographed ballet of powder-pink deckchairs and parasols sets a strong visual tone that has become the hotel’s hallmark. The same pink is used on the textiles and signage to create a sober yet emblematic atmosphere, combining limestone, extra-clear glass, heat-treated wood and the play of shadows. An arthouse production with its own distinct vocabulary, awarded the Prix Versailles 2023.
IN THE LINE OF SIGHT INTÉRIEURES ET REGARDS OUVERTS
The 35 rooms and suites reflect the same high standards: natural materials, mineral tones, integrated furnishings, generous windows. Dubois uses a curated language: waxed concrete floors, matte stucco walls, light oak veneers and discreet touches of brushed brass. The architecture takes a back seat to the setting: sliding glass doors, wooden terraces with glass railings, framed views of the sea or pine trees. Some suites even boast rooftop jacuzzis. The experience continues in the common areas, decorated here and there with carefully selected works of art: paintings by Hockney or Mitchell, monumental sculptures by Richard Serra. The overall effect is that of a sober yet powerful scenography. In the gardens, redesigned by Arnaud Casaus, olive trees and grasses play along with the project’s lines: natural, Mediterranean, without superfluity. A hotel conceived to showcase design, revolving around form, material and horizon.
