In Barbizon, the legendary painters’ village on the edge of the Fontainebleau forest in Seine-et-Marne, La Folie Barbizon is reborn with panache. A hotel, an artistic residence and a locavore restaurant, this unique hybrid place weaves a subtle link between past and present. We set out to discover this unique place where each room, linked to an artist, now tells its own story.
Nestled on the edge of the Fontainebleau forest in the charming artist village of Barbizon, La Folie Barbizon reopens its doors after several months of transformation. Conceived by Lionel Bensemoun as an artists’ residence in 2020, the house has now become a 4-star, 21-room hotel, redesigned in keeping with its bohemian spirit. This hybrid place continues to blend encounters, creation and hospitality, in a warm and vibrant atmosphere. Just an hour from Paris, we set out to re-discover this country house, which is sure to appeal to lovers of nature, art and exchange. We come here to disconnect, to create, to treat ourselves or simply to enjoy the inspiring calm of Barbizon.
The establishment retains the bohemian spirit of its beginnings: an artists’ residence born under the impetus of Lionel Bensemoun. At his side, Nicolas Saltiel gives the project a refined hotel structure, without altering its essence. The atmosphere is free and joyful. The rooms, conceived as works of art in their own right, are staged by designer Marion Collard and inhabited by the creations of twenty artists in residence.
Each room is signed by an artist, and several artists have collaborated on the various elements that make up the room. An artistic narrative, imagined by Sarah Valente, runs through the whole: “Le Conte de Barbizon” (The Barbizon Tale) is a thread that runs from the reception to the bedrooms, from the garden to the library. Marion also designed a room, while Sarah illuminated the performance hall.
We love Victor de Rossi‘s woodwork, Théophile Stern ‘s ceramics inspired by the equestrian history of Fontainebleau, Pauline Guerrier ‘s woven mural to capture our childlike souls, the slightly mad rooms by the Pangea duo, andAntoine Carbonne ‘s shimmering world in the rest room.
La Folie Barbizon is also a restaurant where the cuisine of chef Éric Fava comes to the fore. Heir to a local tradition and having worked in some of the finest Michelin-starred establishments, he offers refined yet accessible everyday cuisine. Inspired by local produce and the seasons, he composes clear, generous dishes: vegetables from the neighboring kitchen garden, meats from nearby farms, herbs picked just a stone’s throw away.
Plates are designed to be shared, in a family spirit. Please note that the restaurant is only open for lunch on Fridays and weekends. During the week, we offer a wine list and tapas to share. On the weekend menu, some suggestions change according to harvests and arrivals. On weekdays, the wine and tapas bar focuses on conviviality, with small plates to nibble on, often plant-based, always local. Don’t forget to make a reservation, as the restaurant is quickly snapped up.
The table opens out onto a garden where biodiversity takes pride of place. Designed by Estelle Marandon, this wild space combines flower meadows, melliferous plants and an educational vegetable garden. It is also home to in situ works of art, like so many sensitive milestones in this immersive journey.
Here, everything responds to each other. From the design of the furniture, the frescoes and sculptures, to the stained-glass windows made from eggplant peelings: every detail is in dialogue with the history of the place and the forest that surrounds it. A stationery store, a painting salon and even a signature perfume add to this sensory immersion.
La Folie Barbizon is more than just a hotel. It’s a place of life and transmission, where every weekend offers activities – ceramic workshops, botanical walks, exhibitions, concerts – for young and old. A place to slow down, observe and create.
An artistic resource, a forest refuge, a bucolic table: La Folie Barbizon offers us a new form of hospitality where beauty is not shown, but experienced. In the past, you didn’t know where to look, so much art was present in every corner of the building. Today, that’s still the case, but we’ve gained a beautiful harmony from the floor to the fabrics to the walls. The artists’ works are showcased to their best advantage, and you can enjoy both the atmosphere, teeming with creativity, and the sense of disconnection offered by this unique place.
This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please mention it in the comments.
