Tucked in the Loire-et-Cher in France, Repère Sauvage sits on the grounds of Fort Girard, once the stronghold of César de Vendôme, son of Henri IV and Gabrielle d’Estrées. From 1851 to 1940, the property was bought and sold, the fort was demolished leaving only its entry gate in tact, and the site was later converted into a training center for young cabinetmakers. In 1960 it became a hotel and restaurant, but it wasn’t until 2020 that Paris-based founders Capucine Châtelier and Caroline Costagliola Condy took it over. Drawn by the wildness of the surrounding forest and the presence of the historic Manoir de la Forêt, they worked with JAAMS Architecture and designer Gwenaëlle Girard to reimagine the 42-hectare estate as a nature-led retreat, which opened this past spring.
Set within the forest are 20 newly built Wild Houses—cabins ranging from 20 to 40 square meters, each designed as an elemental counterpart to the manor. Insulated with local straw and built in collaboration with regional artisans, the cabins open directly to the woods, their terraces extending living space into landscape. The result is modern take on the country retreat—pared back, immersive, and extending the story of the land into a new chapter.
Photography by Nolwenn Pernin for Repère Sauvage.
For more forested retreats, see our posts:
- In Harmoni: A Low-Impact Summerhouse in Rural Vollerup, Denmark
- Les Bains Gardians: White Horses and “Conscious Hedonism” in France’s Camargue
- The Promise of Rest: A New Rural Retreat in the Cévennes
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
Join the conversation