LUXURY DESTINATION - TROISGROS
Having relocated in the countryside of Ouches 4 years ago, the hotel now offers spacious guest rooms scattered throughout the manor, each designed with the comfort and detail that are typical of Marie-pierre’s style and that recall a real home feeling. It isn’t a luxury hotel, nor the obvious addition to a world-famous restaurant, but rather some guest rooms thought as if they were for friends. Very comfortable ones, of course, but with no ostentation. They are spacious and bright, and their windows look onto the woods, the fields and the different gardens. As do those of the bathrooms, which are imaginatively decorated with bright colors.
Understanding the era
If one trait characterizes the Troisgros family and the generations of chefs it has produced, it is probably their ability to understand and anticipate the times. From one generation to another, it seems that they share this sixth sense. Modernity comes naturally to the family, as does the simplicity that keeps it grounded. Its new members are no different, and today Marie-pierre and Michel operate on the same wavelength. This capacity for adaptation is what prompted the move to Ouches: times have changed since 1930, and the old location in front of a train station not so busy today is not a dream environment. By bringing mental and physical space to each person involved, Ouches created a sense of openness to the outside world and has become the natural culmination of the adventure that began 80 years ago.
Architecture, woods and garden
From an establishment that was necessarily closed in on itself due to its environment, the Troisgros family moved to one that is open to its surroundings. Here,
Troisgros is the only restaurant that sustained through three generations of exceptional chefs and for over 50 years the three Michelin stars. It is one of the most celebrated restaurants in France. The current generation composed of chefs Michel, Cesar and Leo (father and sons) focus its attention on a handful of seasonal ingredients, with the aim of turning something simple into something exceptional.
everything facilitates the exchanges between inside and outside. Ouches recalls an Italian villa: near the Côte Roannaise vineyard, a mansion stands next to a farm, with its own pond, woods and fields. It was important to preserve this peaceful, rural environment. It might have been tempting to emphasize the grander aspects of the mansion, but anyone who knows the Troisgros family and the architect Patrick Bouchain can guess that a castle would not reflect their spirit. The idea behind this project, in fact, was to return to rural roots, working with and understanding what already existed but also injecting it with warmth and modernity. Marie-pierre and Michel have always adopted this spirit, and Patrick brought their vision to life thanks to his ability to put himself in the shoes of clients.
If there is such a thing as “leftover cuisine” (Michel’s love of home cooking is well known), there could also be such a thing as “recycled architecture”, which reuses existing materials. This experimental style of architecture brings a new function to some of the original elements, which is achieved here by removing some materials, adding others, and unifying the whole while making the most of the building’s natural environment. As a result of this approach, the farm has become the more prominent building, containing the kitchens, the restaurant and the reception, while the big house plays a secondary role, housing the guest rooms just as a real home might.
The hotel
La Grande Maison is made up of two buildings next to a square tower where you can see the entire countryside: the manor contains seven rooms and the adjoining house five. On the main floor are three salons reminiscent of a spacious Italian villa, opening onto an upper terrace that looks over a field: breakfast is taken in the morning room, the library is for reading, and the green room is a place to relax. The lower and main floor opens on to a terrace that overlooks the woods. Near the end of the farmhouse on the edge of the garden, next to the old wine press, there are three independent rooms that can be joined to create a sort of family house: this is “la Maison des Kakis”. This also looks onto a small garden that is set back from the rest of the property and has its own private entrance.
Le Central
In 1995, Michel Troisgros and Marie-pierre opened a “cafe-deli” in Roanne. The memory of Italian “salumerie” inspired them in the design of this simple and elegant place where precise cuisine is served. Home recipes and travel memories are the inspirations of this place. It also sells high-quality products discovered during their travels.
La Colline du Colombier
“La Colline du Colombier”, is a place in the countryside entirely dedicated to nature. In the barn stands the restaurant. The ancient farmhouse has been renovated to host guests comfortably. There are also 3 “cadoles”: sort of hut in the shape of a long tunnel, resting on stilts, facing the countryside.