In Auvergne, the volcanic region in the centre of France, a former mine site has been transformed into an eco-tourism heaven. All material, food and even the architects are locally sourced.

Season 1 - Episode 4: Le Bois Basalte (France)

‘Le Bois Basalte’ (the basalt wood) project was born from the meeting between an exceptional site between Chaîne-des-Puys and the Combrailles region and four young architects, Mathilde Richard, Lise Valet, Julien Peltier et Sébastien Gardarin.

Guided by the desire to come back “to the country” after a few years of peregrination, it is with billhooks, saws, hammers in hand and a smile on their lips, that they launched this ambitious project: build cabins by investing in a small piece of nature perched at an altitude of 900m! And now to share the fruit of our labour with people eager for calm, the unusual and simple pleasures!

English subtitles available (use YouTube subtitles option).

The first intention was to offer fun and original spaces. And since the playing field is dear to the architects, they made sure that the constructions had the least possible impact on it. The cabins are part of the landscape. Wood predominates: it is present as a bio-based construction material, but also as a source of renewable energy, and an essential component of the landscape.

Why call the project le Bois Basalte? Bois or wood refers to the construction material and the wooded environment of the favorite land. Basalte or basalt, echoes the history and the heritage from Auvergne. This volcanic rock is like an emblem of the chain of puys and its 80 volcanoes classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. It is also very representative of the tourist accommodation hamlet where takes place on the site of the former basalt quarry of La Roche Sauterre.

Cabane Olivine

The site offers three ‘Cabanes Olivine’ (4 PAX), 4 ‘Cabanes Latite’ (2 PAX) and the ‘Concasseur’, a 80sqm community building with the only Wi-Fi signal. A sauna and Norwegian bath are there to help you relaxing but do not forget to bring your own toiletries!

Cabane Latite

Tables and benches were made to measure to reduce their bulk. In the large cabins, these pieces slide, just like the hob, under the two plaforms where the beds are. Alcoves are closed by pulling a curtain (with a surprising starry sky)…

Perched at an altitude of 900 m, the basalt wood offers breathtaking views of the Chaîne des Puys, the Sancy massif and the Forez mountains. The unusual vacation site is also directly linked to the Sauterre source of natural water and surrounded beech, cherry, ash and holly trees.