"In my place, there are no clients, only partners." Through his guest house L'Étoile, Philippe Papadimitriou cultivates a unique atmosphere where everyone immediately feels at home. The welcome is characterized by genuine simplicity, within spacious surroundings that instantly invite relaxation. Far from considering himself a mere merchant, Philippe sees himself more as a passionate creator. Convinced of the unique potential of this place, he has shaped it with maturity since 1991. Over the years, he has continuously refined his concept to prioritize authentic and generous exchanges with his visitors.
Open during the summer season, from June to September, L'Étoile is like a ship of which Philippe is the captain. He invites you to embark on this journey, whether for a quick stopover or a longer stay. Come winter, he regains his freedom to travel, gather new inspiration, and savor life's other treasures. This rejuvenating break allows him to tackle the following season with renewed energy.
The house stands just a stone's throw from the train station and the legendary Stevenson Trail, right on the banks of the Allier River. It occupies the walls of the former Ranc family boarding house, once known as the Hôtel du Parc. This 1930s holiday hotel greatly contributed to the renown of La Bastide-Puylaurent during the golden age of thermal baths. Today, the Chaîne Thermale du Soleil spa resort is still active in neighboring Saint-Laurent-les-Bains, on the Ardèche side.
During the Belle Époque, wealthy families fled the stifling heat of Marseille, Nîmes, or the French Riviera to breathe the invigorating mountain air of La Bastide, perched at an altitude of 1,024 meters. Leisure activities revolved around trout fishing, picnics at the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges abbey, or gathering mushrooms in the woods. It was a prosperous era when La Bastide-Puylaurent also benefited from the bustling construction of nearby dams. These colossal projects attracted hundreds of workers and engineers, who all ate and lodged in the village. The railway also brought its share of prosperity: the famous "Le Cévenol" train, packed on its journey from Paris to Marseille, always stopped at La Bastide at mealtimes. A neighbor once told Philippe how, at the crack of dawn, his family would prepare sandwiches to sell on the fly through the train windows. "Those were the good times..." he would recount, adding with a mischievous smile: "One season paid for a whole house!"
Formerly a member of the Stevenson Trail association, Philippe preferred to step away to maintain his independence. "It had become too commercial for my taste. My true niche is the atmospheric guest house," he explains. With his Belgian accent and warm humor, he maintains a highly international atmosphere every day, enhanced by wholesome, family-style cooking.
The entrance opens onto a welcoming hall featuring a wide, white-painted wooden staircase. A lush veranda provides a bright space to enjoy the last rays of the sun before dinner. While Philippe offers rooms with or without private bathrooms, guests often favor those offering a peaceful view of the park and the river. It is even possible for hikers to leave their vehicles safely in the property's private parking lot while trekking the GR®70. Each room includes a booklet packed with local information—ideal reading for a quiet afternoon in a garden lounge chair, accompanied by a good Belgian abbey beer... For walking enthusiasts, numerous detailed route sheets for circular hikes are available free of charge in his office.
Born to a Greek freelance journalist father and a Belgian mother, Philippe is a man of the world, both creative and innovative. When evening falls and the fire crackles in the hearth, he sometimes picks up his guitar to play Hotel California or old gold-miner ballads. He also loves to improvise long melodies on the piano in the majestic dining room. Despite his fourteen-hour days—paced by breakfasts, cleaning, laundry, and the evening meal—he never seems to struggle with the workload. For him, the fatigue of work is primarily psychological: "You just have to be well organized," he confides. "In traditional hospitality, people are not always allowed to truly express themselves. The shared table, the piano, the open space, the fireplace, and the surrounding simplicity are there precisely to encourage everyone to share their inner wealth and engage in meaningful exchange." That, too, is the true magic of the Stevenson Trail. (Based on a text by Pierre Fayolle).