Situated between Le Mans and Tours, this chic and vibrant B&B set in an old manor of the Louvois region features modern art, role-playing games, fine food and the collective consular passion of its very colourful proprietors. A gorgeous get-away.

Terrorism, war, economic crises and ecological disasters: it sometimes seems that there’s no escaping darkness and calamity these days. Light, playfulness and pleasure are urgently required!

Why not beat a retreat and join ‘Pascalux’ and ‘Philippéon’ in Le Consulat de la Boirie?Hosts P&P welcome guests year ‘round to their exceptional B&B replete with fantasy and humour for an unforgettable sojourn in St. Georges de la Couée, in the French département of the Sarthe.

The hosts are more than simple entrepreneurs. In the year 2000, Philippéon, a cultural heritage specialist, bought this 15C building which had been a commandery and a private manor before becoming rundown and heading for ruin. Philippéon immediately began his long and remarkable restoration of the site. In 2003, Le Consulat de la Boirie project was approved by the Fondation du Patrimoine – France’s National Trust. During this period, his partner Pascalux left behind his job in insurance and took up the noble art of cooking; their first guests arrived soon thereafter. Philippéon and Pascalux are modern art and design collectors with a great love for old stones, fine food and murder parties. They have gone so far as to set up a general protocol in order to offer their guests a welcome worthy of an ambassador.

For indeed, La Boirie is a consulate, and if PascaluxandPhilippéon have decided to transform their seven-hectare property into an ‘independent micro-nation’ and more particularly a ‘Consulate’, it is to provide an escape from the above-mentioned global perils. The self-proclaimed consuls based their choice on their admiration for the Napoleonic period of French history called ‘The Consulate’ (1799-1804) which, they explain, led to ‘the pacification of the country and the protection of its arts and sciences.’ A tip of the hat to history and Bonaparte’s three consuls: a third gentleman has joined the original duo. Sébastiel (de la Boirie, of course) is in charge of reception.

Hospitality is truly a fine art in this timeless establishment. Each evocatively named room - ‘Asie Lazy’, ‘Pompadour Flash’, ‘ChromoZone’, ‘TheDispensaire’ - is a small haven of comfort, luxury and delightful details, such as the twinkling pathway that leads from the door of your room to your bed.

Art, design and photography reviews and good books are at your disposal. A self-published catalogue gives guests an overview of Pascalux and Philippéon’s private art collection. The dishes concocted by the Consulat’s head cook are savoury and inventive, and in season the heated outdoor pool beckons. No need to spell it out: Le Consulat de la Boirie is a unique establishment and one of the finest B&Bs that France has to offer.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Consulat de la Boirie

Chemin de la Boirie

72150 Saint-Georges-de-la-Couée

Tel : (33) 02 43 79 17 25 (landline)

Tel: (33) 06 12 33 57 64 (mobile)

http://www.consulat-boirie.com/

consulatdelaboirie@gmail.com

From € 124/£ 103 per night, (delectable!) breakfast included

St. Georges de la Couée is approximately 41 km/25 miles south-east of Le Mans.

Information about visiting the region

http://www.tourism.sarthe.com/