Les Hortensias du Lac: a luxury surf lodge spirit

Introduction

A mythical address in Hossegor since the 1950s, Les Hortensias du Lac has just undergone a complete makeover under the leadership of Frédéric Biousse and Guillaume Foucher, the charismatic owners of the Domaines de Fontenille collection. This collection boasts several "houses", each with their own character. After celebrating the Mediterranean with Domaine de Fontenille in Provence, Les Bords de Mer in Marseille, Les Deux Fincas Santa Ponsa and Torre Vella in Menorca, let's head for the Atlantic! The latter opus, inaugurated in June 2019, has 4 stars. Stamped Relais&Châteaux, it features 19 rooms and 6 suites, some with terraces or balconies. I like the choice of a luminous white colour highlighting the Art Deco architecture of the villa with its vaulted ceilings, rounded windows and bay windows, all punctuated with dark green woodwork. A few nods to the East Coast of the United States are invited, such as the Adirondack armchairs redesigned by local craftsmen and the surfboards wisely aligned.

In the rooms, the refined decoration imposes natural materials: white panelled walls, light wood floors, sisal carpets... Well done: the furniture has a slightly 50s look, to underline the hotel's origins.

As for the restaurant, it is housed in a vast new building, all glass and wood, overlooking the lake and extended by a terrace: a guaranteed view! At the piano, the Marseilles chef Philippe Moreno comes from Gérald Passédat's Petit Nice, 3 Michelin stars: quite a programme! As you can imagine, the menu here is resolutely marine with products arriving straight from the Capbreton fish market. It also celebrates local recipes: chicken from the Landes roasted in hay, foie gras, pan-fried chipiron sautéed with garlic and chorizo. At lunch, along the sumptuous swimming pool with its sparkling emerald-green mosaic, you can enjoy tapas, starters, platters of cold meats and cheeses.

To get rid of all those agapes, apart from surfing, nothing beats a little paddle session or a bike ride. Classic or electric, they are available to guests and the Landes forest is a nice playground!

Last but not least: the spa. Wearing the colours of the L:A Bruket brand, it displays, on 450 m2, blonde stone, light wood and sand-coloured ceramics. The choice of this brand of care, an exclusivity in France, is not a coincidence: it comes straight from Vasberg, a famous Swedish surf spot. Natural products from the marine ecosystem, such as seaweed, sea salts and medicinal herbs are developed there. On the map, you can pick up without hesitation the "Retour d'Escapade" treatment, nothing like it after a day of surfing or paddling. As you can see, Les Hortensias du Lac is a great spot for sportsmen and women, but also for those who love good food and relaxation.

Les Hortensias du Lac

1578 Avenue du Tour du Lac - 40150 Hossegor