HOTEL OF THE MONTH
At the heart of peace TEXT: PIERRE ANTOINE ZAHND | PHOTOS: LE DOMAINE HAUT JARDIN
Even in the world of high-end hostelry, Le Domaine Haut Jardin is one of a kind. Conceived by the Masson family in the verdant Vosges version, it consists of individual wooden chalets, elegantly sheltered from the outside world and equipped with state-of-theart Jacuzzis, hammams, and saunas. Over the years, it has developed out of a personal project into a small-scale village-hostel, with peace and tranquility at its core. Le Haut Jardin was born out of a dream chalet first imagined by Agnès Masson, who is behind the charming concept of a wooden village made up of personal88 | Issue 72 | December 2019
ly designed chalets. A mother of three children with a busy professional life, Agnès did occasionally wish for the quiet and tranquility that an active household cannot guarantee. Determined to have a place that she could call her haven of peace, she drew the plans for several chalets, which now make up the Domaine du Haut Jardin. To maximise this peaceful atmosphere, all chalets are independent and furnished with a private balcony. This unique project has become particularly dear to the three Masson children, who were raised at the Domaine and have been very closely involved in its success, later bringing their own skill sets to the table.
Known as the ‘Pearls of the Haut Jardin’, the chalets themselves are separated from the Auberge by a spacious garden. They were all built using ‘noble’ materials, relying on natural components like wood and stone, but each chalet was conceived individually, with a particular character in mind. The spacious Suite, created for comfort and serenity, contains a relaxing, muted decor as well as a wooden spa with Himalayan salts. Built as a duplex, the Rondin mirrors the atmosphere of a comfortable forest cabin, and its capacity of up to five adults makes it ideal for a family or a group of friends. For couples on a romantic getaway, the Cupidon features a heart-