Philippe and his beautiful holiday home in La Bastide
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Philippe and his beautiful holiday home in La Bastide |
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In my place, there are no clients, only partners. Philippe Papadimitriou and his "Etoile" offer a different atmosphere; you feel at home. He welcomes you simply in a spacious place that puts you at ease right away. He does not see himself as a "merchant," but rather as a passionate "developer" convinced that he possesses his goldmine, which he has always felt and has been developing maturely since 1991. Year after year, he has refined his project and concept to foster a rich and generous exchange with his guests.
Open during the summer season, from June to September, Philippe is a true ship captain, and he often compares his guest house to a cruise ship that he embarks on for this journey. A trip he invites you to share, to board for a stopover or a stay. Then, he regains his freedom for travels and to take time to discover other ideas and treasures of life. A constructive complementary period that allows him to restart the following season in great shape.
We are here, just a stone's throw from the station and the Stevenson path, by the banks of the Allier, in the former family pension Ranc or the old Hôtel du Parc. This holiday hotel from the 30s contributed to the success of La Bastide-Puylaurent during the thriving era of "baths." The thermal station "Chaîne du Soleil" is still in operation in Saint-Laurent-les-Bains, on the side of Ardèche.
At that time, wealthy families left the stifling heat of Marseille, Nîmes, and the Côte d'Azur to breathe the fresh air of La Bastide at an altitude of 1024 meters. For leisure, one would go trout fishing in the pond or river, visit and picnic at the abbey of Notre-Dame-des-Neiges, and search for mushrooms in the undergrowth. It was the golden age! La Bastide-Puylaurent was not short of work as the construction of dams in the area was booming. These large projects employed hundreds of workers, engineers, etc., and all these people ate and slept in the village. The train also brought prosperity to the region; crowded, "Le Cévenol," which connected Paris to Marseille, always stopped at La Bastide-Saint-Laurent-les-Bains when all these travelers were hungry. Philippe's neighbor told him how his family would prepare sandwiches early in the morning to sell through the train window with each passing. Those were good times... and he added: "One season, one house"...
Philippe has also been part of the Stevenson Path association. "It was too commercial for me... my niche is the atmosphere of a guest house." A Belgian accent steeped in dark beer. A very international atmosphere and a family-style, balanced cuisine.
A welcoming entrance hall opens onto a wide staircase painted white. A lush veranda where you can sit to enjoy the last rays of the sun before the meal. Philippe offers a choice between rooms with or without private bathrooms, but residents often prefer the comfort and privacy of rooms overlooking the park and the Allier River. You can also leave your car in his private park during your journey on the GR®70. He also has plenty of interesting information in his booklet, which can be found in each room. Ideal for reading with a good Belgian abbey beer in a lounge chair in the garden... Many circular hikes around La Bastide are available in his office in the form of leaflets.
Son of a Greek father (freelance journalist) and a Belgian mother, Philippe Papadimitriou is a worldly man, creative and innovative. In the evening, near the fire, he takes his guitar and sings "Hotel California" or ballads of gold seekers. At the piano, he can also improvise for an hour in the large dining room. He does not appear to work 14 hours a day between breakfast, cleaning, laundry, dinner, etc. For him, the difficulty of work is primarily psychological; "you just have to get organized," he says. "By offering traditional hospitality, you do not allow people to give of themselves. The table d'hôte, the piano, the space, the fireplace, and simplicity; it's precisely to allow giving of one's wealth and to be able to exchange." It is beautiful like this, the Stevenson Path... by Pierre Fayolle
Former holiday hotel with a garden along the Allier, L'Etoile Guest House is located in La Bastide-Puylaurent between Lozere, Ardeche, and the Cevennes in the mountains of Southern France. At the crossroads of GR®7, GR®70 Stevenson Path, GR®72, GR®700 Regordane Way, GR®470 Allier River springs and gorges, GRP® Cevenol, Ardechoise Mountains, Margeride. Numerous loop trails for hiking and one-day biking excursions. Ideal for a relaxing and hiking getaway.
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