Les Échasses
Scandinavian-minimalist meets Japanese calm. Wood-burning stoves, swinging egg chairs on private terraces over water, curated vinyl playlists on iPads connected to Sonos speakers. Quiet is the main amenity. No lobby. No crowds. The whole place holds a maximum of 22 guests.
Dinner at Le Comptoir books out fast — reserve before you arrive, ideally when you book your room
Why It Matters
One of the very few properties in France where every unit literally floats on stilts above a lake, built from chemical-free untreated wood by local Basque artisans. Listed in the Michelin Guide, Tablet Hotels, and Relais du Silence. The restaurant grows much of its own food on-site — vegetables from the permaculture garden, honey from the estate's beehives, fish from Capbreton market.
Seven stilted wooden modges perched over a private lake in the Landes pine forest — that's the whole concept here, and it's a striking one. Founded by Claire and Thomas Aubanelle, who traded city life to build something completely their own, Les Échasses sits on a 4-hectare estate about 15 minutes from Hossegor. The architecture is the work of three Basque creatives: architect Patrick Arotcharen, landscape architect Marti Franch, and designer Jean-Louis Iratzoki — and it shows. Raw untreated wood, glass walls facing the water, and zero visual noise.
Where You'll Stay
4 room types available
Family Lodge
From EUR400 / nightThe only unit that accepts children under 15. Set on its own private plot at the edge of the pine forest, not directly over the lake. Spans 100 m² across a master bedroom, a children's room with four bunk-style beds, a living/dining area, and a fully equipped kitchen. Has its own private terrace with outdoor garden furniture. Contemporary furniture mixed with vintage Basque pieces (Alki). Wood-burning stove, walk-in shower, fiber WiFi, iPad+Sonos, children's book collection. Minimum 2 adults + up to 4 children.
Master double + 4 children's beds · 100 sqm
La Grange
From EUR600 / nightA separate barn space on the estate, available for multi-night bookings. Minimum 3-night stay. Available April through November only. Limited details published; contact the hotel for specifications and tailored programs.
M0 – The Suite
From EUR350 / nightThe flagship accommodation. Same stilted-lake setting as the Modges but 60% bigger at 80 m². Has a proper separate lounge with wide benches facing the water, a dressing room, and a bathroom that includes both a standalone bathtub and a walk-in shower. The 2×2m bed is framed by a huge bay window. Same iPad/Sonos/Aesop setup as the Modges. Designed for two adults only.
King (2×2m) · 80 sqmModge
From EUR250 / nightSeven of these, each floating on stilts above the lake. At 50 m² they're compact but seriously thought through — 2×2m king bed, wood-burning stove, walk-in shower, private terrace with a hanging egg chair over the water. Floor-to-ceiling glass brings the lake right into the room. iPad connected to fiber with curated playlists, Aesop toiletries, Sonos speakers, minibar with artisanal sodas and espresso machine using Bayonne-roasted coffee. Adults only (15+).
King (2×2m) · 50 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
1 venue on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Partner vélo-livré.com delivers bikes of your choice directly to the hotel — classic, electric, fat bikes or mountain bikes. Dedicated cycling paths connect the estate to the beaches at Seignosse, Hossegor, and Capbreton. The Vélodyssée coastal route and the Scandibérique inland route are accessible.
Spain is 35 minutes away. San Sebastián hosts one of the world's leading jazz festivals and ten Michelin-starred restaurants. Bilbao's Guggenheim is about 90 minutes. The hotel can advise on routes and contacts.
The hotel has privileged partnerships with three nearby courses: Hossegor, Seignosse, and Moliets. Each has a distinct character — one technical, one physically demanding, one partly on dunes with ocean views. All three are playable in three consecutive half-days. Golf bag and shoe lockers available on-site.
Multiple high-quality riding centers within the southern Landes are accessible via the hotel's partner network. Trails run through preserved forest and in some cases reach within a few hundred meters of the sea.
Guests can explore the estate's permaculture vegetable garden, fruit orchard, and on-site beehives — all of which supply the restaurant. A genuinely rare farm-to-table experience at a hotel of this category.
Les Échasses can organize surf lessons, equipment rental, surf school recommendations, and daily conditions briefings for the breaks around Hossegor, Seignosse, and Capbreton. Legendary spots like La Gravière, La Piste, and Les Estagnots are a short drive away.
The hotel will help select itineraries ranging from family-friendly walks to challenging routes through the Pyrenean foothills, Basque coast cliffs, and the valleys of Chalosse, Béarn, and Gers — all within an hour by car.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
The hotel offers tailored incentive and business programs. Contact for customized estimates. Not suitable for large groups.
Fiber-optic WiFi available throughout the property and in all rooms.
On-site vegetable garden, fruit orchard, and beehives producing honey used in the restaurant and available at breakfast.
Curated book selection available both in rooms (on connected iPads) and in physical form. Children's books in the Family Lodge.
Outdoor pergola area with hanging/suspended armchairs for relaxing.
Strictly non-smoking on all areas of the estate, indoors and outdoors.
Open-air pool surrounded by pine trees. Includes a shallow end suitable for children in the Family Lodge.
Dedicated storage lockers for golf bags and shoes on the estate.
On-site car park, free of charge. No reservation required.
Fast electric vehicle charging available on-site. Must be arranged through reception.
BUILD YOUR LES ÉCHASSES PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
Start Planning