Imagine a house tucked away at the end of a path, where the village gives way to the forest. You can hear the whisper of leaves, the song of birds, and, in the distance, the cheerful hum of a lively conversation on the terrace. Welcome to La Folie Barbizon — more than a hotel, it is a country house where you feel instantly at home.
At La Folie Barbizon, time flows gently between long conversations, artistic creations, and escapes into the natural world. The nearby forest beckons for endless walks while the famous rocks of Fontainebleau, just a stone’s throw away, call out to adventurous souls to climb.
Located just an hour from Paris, in the legendary village of Barbizon — the birthplace of the pre-Impressionist movement — this intimate haven has evolved into a 21-room, 4-star hotel, gaining in comfort and elegance while retaining its bohemian and artistic soul.
Before it was a hotel, La Folie Barbizon was, first and foremost, a place of encounters.
Founded by Lionel Bensemoun — a visionary entrepreneur and an iconic figure of Parisian nightlife — it was born in 2020 as an artist residency, a laboratory of ideas where conviviality comes naturally and everyone finds their place. Lionel imagined it as his own home, a gathering place for friends where exchanges and creations emerge organically.
This haven attracts creatives from all over the world — artists, designers, musicians, and writers come together here, sharing their visions and finding endless inspiration in the surrounding natural beauty. Meals often stretch into impromptu evenings, children play in the garden while lively conversations unfold, projects take shape, and the world is reinvented as the hours pass.
This joyful energy is Barbizon’s life-force, reconnecting it with the village’s long tradition as a haven for painters seeking freedom and authentic landscapes. Gustave Courbet, Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, and Jean-François Millet once made it their home, capturing the raw beauty and light of the surrounding nature.
Today, La Folie Barbizon continues this legacy, transforming each stay into a vibrant and unique experience.
Nicolas Saltiel. A Defining Encounter
Then came the desire to open this enchanted haven to a wider audience without altering its essence. In 2023, Nicolas Saltiel joined the adventure, bringing his expertise in hospitality and visionary talent. As the founder of Chapitre Six, a company specialising in the development and management of innovative living spaces, he infused the project with fresh momentum.
His role proved decisive: he provided the drive needed to help the project take flight. La Folie Barbizon evolved into a hotel offering 21 unique rooms, each conceived as a true work of art.
The magic happened from the very first conversations. As Lionel Bensemoun recalls, “Nicolas told me, ‘I’m interested — but only if you stay on board.’ It was exactly what I wanted to hear.” These powerful words reflect their shared desire to preserve the spirit of the place while opening it up to new perspectives, far from the standardised codes of traditional hospitality. Together, they envisioned a space that feels both intimate and welcoming, where every detail tells its own story.
The Signature of Marion Collard
Behind every corner of La Folie Barbizon lies the keen eye of Marion Collard. More than an interior architect, she is a magician who works with light, materials, and objects to create a unique space. “I approached this project with great care,” she confides. “I didn’t want to impose a vision, but rather accompany what was already there — to preserve the soul of the place and the memories it holds.”
She envisioned a house that retains the spirit of friends and artists, reimagining the hotel as a three-dimensional canvas — floors, walls, and ceilings — so they could tell their stories through materials, colours, and techniques.
From the recycled terracotta tile floors designed by the Studio to the colourful stained-glass windows crafted from eggplant peels that softly filter the light into the bathrooms, each detail is an invitation to a dialogue between past and present, adding an unexpected and poetic touch.
Marion designed the restaurant’s furniture and handpicked unique pieces for each room, giving every space its own identity, much like in a family home where rooms are affectionately named by their colours. “I loved the idea of the yellow room, the blue room, the cherry room,” she explains.
She wanted nature to take its rightful place at the heart of La Folie Barbizon, to weave its way into every corner of the house, much like the floral carpet, an archival design from the Château de Fontainebleau, reimagined in colour by the Studio. It now adorns the corridors, adding a poetic touch to the decor.
“I imagined that when you leave the garden, you dive into the forest. And when you step into La Folie, it’s the forest that welcomes you, as if it had crossed the threshold with you.”
The Artistic Direction of Sarah Valente
The story of La Folie Barbizon could not have continued without Sarah Valente. Her involvement became self-evident when Lionel Bensemoun and Nicolas Saltiel discovered Casa Franca — a hybrid artist’s house created by Sarah in the heart of Paris’ 18th arrondissement.
Her approach — blending art and nature — resonated deeply with the spirit of the place, as did the Greenline Foundation, which is dedicated to protecting forests through art and is based at Casa Franca. “I love creating immersive worlds where one moves beyond the purely aesthetic dimension of the work to enter a narrative fully intertwined with a place and its history — to create a truly unique atmosphere,” explains Sarah.
Captivated by her vision, Nicolas and Lionel entrusted her with the artistic direction of La Folie Barbizon, giving her carte blanche to develop a one-of-a-kind concept — weaving together storytelling, bespoke works of art, and an experiential journey.
With the support of the Greenline Foundation team, Sarah carefully selected the artists and orchestrated this creative dance, breathing new life into the place in harmony with its spirit.
A Classique Room at Folie Barbizon ©Adel Slimane Fecih
Throughout the hotel, she has crafted a pathway of unique works that unfold the narrative of The Tale of Barbizon, with each room and signature space contributing to the story — from the torches by Marine Breynaert to the monumental library and reception desk by Victor de Rossi, to Paul Créange’s organic light installation that brings to life the UV terrazzo she designed herself. A story told as a treasure hunt.
The Tale of Barbizon
To give La Folie Barbizon an even stronger identity, Sarah Valente imagined a tale inspired by the village and its natural and artistic heritage. The Tale of Barbizon traces an odyssey through time, embodied by several central characters, with each chapter unfolding in a different era, all of which have left their mark on the village’s history.
The story begins in ancient times when the spirits of nature take form in the world and set off on “the great adventure of life.” They journey through the Neolithic era and the Middle Ages, encountering the kings of Fontainebleau and the painters of Barbizon, and discover their battles to protect nature and the unique richness of their environment.
This narrative serves as the guiding thread for the hotel’s artistic direction. Each resident artist draws inspiration from it, creating works that enrich this mythology and invite visitors to immerse themselves in the world of La Folie.
Sarah explains, “The works exhibited at La Folie Barbizon are woven into the imagination of the tale. They are either its continuation or its point of departure.” Thus, the artworks are far more than decoration — they tell a story and raise awareness of the nature that surrounds them.
In Situ Creations
At La Folie Barbizon, art lies at the heart of the project. Around twenty artists from diverse disciplines answered Sarah Valente’s invitation to invest in each room and communal space, transforming the hotel into a living, ever-evolving work of art.
The artists drew inspiration from The Tale of Barbizon, written by Sarah Valente, to create unique installations. From Victor De Rossi’s sculpted headboards to Ugo Schildge’s narrative tables to the ceramics of Cyril Debon and Théophile Stern, each creation contributes to a collective harmony while bearing the distinctive signature of its creator.
This alchemy between art and space gives rise to a universe where every room tells its own story, offering guests an experience that is both aesthetic and narrative.
It was in close collaboration with Studio Marion Collard that Sarah Valente envisioned each artist’s contribution, ensuring that the creations unfold in perfect harmony with the interior architecture. This fertile dialogue between art and architecture is especially evident in the restaurant, where the space itself becomes a work of art — from the sky ceiling, imagined by Studio Marion Collard and brought to life by Mathias Kiss, to the mural fresco by Papier Boulettes, inspired by the landscapes of Théodore Rousseau and flowing around the fireplace.
Antoine Carbone by Sonia Sieff.
Artist Residencies
The artist residency is the soul of La Folie Barbizon – deeply connected to the village’s artistic heritage and designed to offer visitors a truly immersive experience. Each participating artist spent around a month at La Folie, absorbing the spirit of the place to create works that have become an integral part of the hotel, enriching its eclectic and distinctive style.
Additional residencies and artistic collaborations are planned for the future, ensuring that La Folie Barbizon remains a space in constant evolution, continually nourished by creativity.
An Immersive Program Blending Art and Nature
In line with the artistic direction, Sarah Valente and Greenline Foundation have been invited to design an original program for La Folie Barbizon — one that celebrates both art and the forest, nurturing knowledge and artistic expression. Each weekend, guided by the rhythm of the seasons, a chosen theme will inspire a selection of three activities — educational, artistic, and playful — for guests to enjoy.
Experiences to Share as a Family
For Adults: A Cultural and Artistic Immersion
Throughout the year, La Folie Barbizon offers a rich and ever-evolving program that invites discovery and creativity. Immersive exhibitions, artistic workshops, intimate concerts, and guided botanical walks mark the changing seasons, transforming each stay into an inspiring experience.
Whether to contemplate, experiment, or exchange, each activity offers a timeless interlude in harmony with both art and nature.
For Children: Adventures Through the Seasons
The youngest guests are not forgotten — a program designed to spark their imagination and sense of exploration awaits them. Forest foraging, gardening workshops, treasure hunts, film screenings, and ceramics workshops offer fun and discovery through nature and the arts. In this enchanting setting, each activity becomes a playful and enriching experience to be shared as a family.
The dining space at the property. ©Adel Slimane Fecih.
A Locavore and Purpose-Driven Cuisine
The cuisine at La Folie Barbizon celebrates the land and the flavours of the season. At the helm of the kitchen, young chef Éric Fava brings his talent and generosity to every dish he creates.
Trained in some of the finest Michelin-starred establishments — Le George, L’Ambroisie, Au Trou Gascon, Le Pergolèse — and heir to the culinary tradition of the family-owned Hostellerie du Bas Bréau in Barbizon, he offers a style of cooking that is familial, convivial, and accessible to all — designed to be shared.
Cuisine from the heart: simple, precise, and perfectly aligned with the spirit of the house. By nature, the restaurant is deeply rooted in locavore principles, highlighting local harvests and fostering partnerships with regional artisans. More than just a restaurant, it is a lively gathering place — one that enriches the hotel experience and attracts both visitors and the local community alike.
A Garden that Celebrates Biodiversity
The garden at La Folie Barbizon, designed by landscape architect Estelle Marandon, is deeply in tune with the spirit of the place, blending a wild, natural aesthetic. In an ecological approach, the project prioritises the preservation of existing ecosystems while selecting plants that promote biodiversity.
A small educational space, complete with a vegetable garden and a pollinator-friendly planting bed, has been incorporated, offering opportunities for engaging workshops on nature and environmental awareness.
Naturally, artworks take centre stage in this garden as well, engaging in dialogue with the natural surroundings and enriching the overall experience. This sensory and educational environment invites visitors to explore the richness of the living world in a setting that is both harmonious and inspiring.
André’s Visual Identity
It was André Saraiva, creator of the iconic character MR. A, who designed the first logo for La Folie Barbizon and contributed to its reinterpretation. He reimagined the logo while preserving its original spirit, marking the beginning of a new chapter.
A Swedish artist born in Paris, André revolutionised street art with exhibitions around the world and founded both Le Baron and Hôtel Amour — always viewing each project as an extension of his artistic universe, infused with the playful spirit of MR.A.
The Boutique – An Invitation to Creativity
Housed within Victor De Rossi’s grand library, the boutique at La Folie Barbizon offers a carefully curated selection of artistic stationery — notebooks, watercolours, and exclusive objects. Designed as an invitation to imagination, it encourages both young and old to explore their creative spirit. Among its treasures are in-house editions, including colouring books, tales inspired by Barbizon, and a captivating story about the hotel’s birth.
The Painting Salon
A space for temporary exhibitions, the Painting Salon showcases contemporary artists throughout the year. It is an intimate setting where the artworks evolve with the seasons, inviting discovery and dialogue.
A Signature Fragrance
Created by Alexandre Makhloufi, the signature fragrance of La Folie Barbizon captures the spirit of the place and the magic of the surrounding forest. Its notes of buchu, eucalyptus, Atlas cedar, cypress, moss, patchouli, and incense create a vibrant, woody trail—evoking strolls beneath the trees. Diffused throughout the hotel and available as a candle, this fragrance becomes a sensory imprint, extending the experience well beyond the stay.
Accommodation and Prices:
- Twenty Rooms, including three suites — each one signed by an artist
- Four Classic Rooms: From €160
- Four Deluxe Rooms: From €200
- Six Executive Rooms: From €230
- Four Junior Suites: From €300
- Three Suites: From €350
One restaurant, its bar, an event space, a wellness area, a massage room, a Nordic bath, and a garden featuring an artist’s cabin.
For more information on La Folie Barbizon, please visit https://www.lafoliebarbizon.com/.
Lead image and below: Folie Barbizon ©Adel Slimane Fecih.
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