Surrounded by 25,000 hectares of forest, the lodge feels miles from anywhere, though Paris is only an hour away. The setting's all about space and quiet long walks or horse rides through the trees, the sound of rare birds, the occasional deer darting across the path. You can spend a day bouldering among the forest's rocky outcrops, then head to a nearby market for cheese, honey, and whatever's in season. The area's dotted with handsome châteaux and small, ridiculously pretty villages that seem frozen in time. Back at the lodge, there's a tennis court and a pool if you want to stay put or cool off, or you can just sit outside and listen to the woods settling in for the evening. It's the sort of place that makes doing very little feel like exactly enough