Our Stay at Philippe Papadimitriou's Place
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Our Stay at Philippe Papadimitriou's Place |
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Good spirits, creativity, and a healthy philosophy are at the service of a flourishing enterprise. If you thought you had exhausted all the charms and advantages of accommodations during your hikes in France and have yet to discover L'Etoile, well, think again. If, like us, your travels bring you there, be prepared to revise your expectations. Whether you arrive by car or by train, you will receive a warm welcome and experience something you won’t soon forget.
Philippe Papadimitriou, the master of the house, seems to have been born under a lucky star. This makes it clear why he couldn’t have chosen a better name for his guesthouse. From the very start, this tall man knows how to put you at ease, without pretense, with warmth and naturalness. In him, maternal Belgian common sense and wisdom blend perfectly with the cheerfulness, creativity, and a hint of exuberance from his Greek paternal heritage—a successful fusion that shields him from narrow-mindedness and fuels his curiosity and openness. Initially, nothing destined him to settle in this mountainous corner, on the border of Lozère and Ardèche.
And yet, after many adventures, one of which led him to California as a gold prospector, our globetrotter discovered, while crossing the Cévennes on horseback along the ancient Roman road, the Régordane (GR®700), an old vacation hotel nestled on the banks of the Allier River, in a shaded park at a place called La Bastide-Puylaurent. From that moment on, he had only one thing on his mind: to gather the funds needed to purchase this old hotel and get to work on restoring it and developing its activities.
But Philippe hasn’t entirely given up his taste for travel and adventure. In this age of the "global village," with a keen interest in electronic communication and driven by his entrepreneurial spirit, he has created a network of exchanges among innkeepers, which he continues to expand. This allows him to travel off-season and discover other hospitality practices, people, and cultures. My husband and I were particularly delighted to meet, during our stay at L'Etoile, a Mexican family from Oaxaca, with whom we formed a friendly bond. This is a beautiful testimony to the international reach of this establishment and the spirit of openness that its owner has instilled.
The amazing week we spent there allowed us to enjoy the healthy and varied pleasures offered by this hiker's crossroads, La Bastide-Puylaurent, while also getting to know this extraordinary character, who is, all at once, a modern and dynamic entrepreneur, a tireless worker, a welcoming host, a philosopher who casually reflects on the world and humanity, an imaginative and exceptional cook, an entertainer, and a captivating musician.
Philippe has thought of everything, planned everything, organized everything: every guest arriving at L'Etoile is assured of a warm welcome, a comfortable room, a relaxing setting, and abundant information to help them choose and succeed in their hikes or engage in other activities the region offers. But the greatest pleasure is found in the evening, at the meal awaiting you after a long day of walking, at the communal table that Philippe has turned into a high point of conviviality and wholesome gastronomy. It is here that his culinary skill and sense of organization reach their peak.
The meal, crafted by him from start to finish (his homemade bread alone is worth the trip), satisfies both in quality and quantity, pleasing gourmets, food lovers, and hearty eaters alike. In short, at Philippe’s, you feel at ease, you discuss everything freely and openly, you enjoy the scenery and tranquility, sitting under the large linden tree in the park by the river, and when the time comes to leave, you promise yourself to return and relive this successful experience. But where true admiration sets in is when you realize that this wonderfully functioning hotel business is entirely run by one man. Philippe handles everything, from A to Z: financial management, maintenance, supplies, cooking, and so on.
Of course, he occasionally hosts an intern to train in the hotel business, and I could see how well he integrates them into the community of hikers. Some of these hikers, including my husband who was already familiar with the place, can testify: they have seen P.P. host up to sixty guests at his communal table, all while maintaining a sense of calm, good humor, and joy! This detail speaks volumes about his organizational skills, management ability, and tremendous work capacity, but also about his philosophy of life, which is based on wisdom and optimism.
This led me to wonder about the key to L'Etoile’s success. The convivial atmosphere, the availability, the delicious cuisine, the pleasant decor, the variety of hiking and recreational activities—all of these factors have contributed to its reputation, of course.
But there’s something else, a "plus" that I personally have rarely found elsewhere. It lies in this: between Philippe and each hiker, there forms an implicit and immediate pact, requiring no words, which naturally establishes itself. Both parties feel equally involved in the smooth running of the guesthouse. A well-understood reciprocity, where each benefits, seemingly inspired by the saying, “to receive, you must know how to give.” This is likely what creates a human relationship far superior to the usual client-innkeeper interaction.
Thanks to a special gift for interpersonal relations and a well-honed communication skill, Philippe offers his guests the chance to participate in the adventure he has embarked on, while also drawing on his own energy to manage various situations, such as times of high demand, all while maintaining a climate of relaxation and good humor. Each person, in their own way and to their ability, contributes to the smooth running of L'Etoile and especially to that of its communal table, which is its crowning glory.
Personally, I believe that it’s partly on this solidarity-based and tacit agreement between the two parties that this great success rests. This is how Philippe Papadimitriou has managed to create a harmonious symbiosis between his ideal of fraternity and the demands of a business from which he derives his only income—a way of harmonizing his dual Greek and Belgian cultures in his own unique way. By Sol Villacèque
Former resort hotel with a garden on the banks of the Allier River, L'Etoile Guesthouse is located in La Bastide-Puylaurent, between Lozère, Ardèche, and the Cévennes in the mountains of southern France. At the crossroads of the GR®7, GR®70 Stevenson Trail, GR®72, GR®700 Regordane Way (St Gilles), GR®470 Sources and Gorges of the Allier, GRP® Cévenol, Montagne Ardéchoise, Margeride, and many day loop hikes. Ideal for a relaxing and hiking stay.
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