Lunéville. “Laeti’s Ecolodge”: eco-friendly, natural accommodation just a stone’s throw from Lunéville town center

The Laplaza family, Laetitia, Pascal, and their daughter, arrived in Lunéville nine years ago. The couple then built their beautiful house. Since the land was quite large, Laetitia, on maternity leave, had the idea of building an eco-lodge behind the house. "I wanted to build a gîte, but it had to be in harmony with nature," she explains. The family is very involved in environmental protection on a daily basis.

“An eco-lodge was perfect, a sort of wooden cabin at the bottom of the garden,” she continues. “What’s more, after some research, I saw that this type of accommodation didn’t exist in the area,” she confides. “So there was a vacancy.”

The word ecolodge is borrowed from our Anglo-Saxon neighbors and has gradually become part of the French tourism landscape. According to the English definition, this type of tourist accommodation is designed to have a minimal impact on the environment in which it is located. The main principles are therefore respect for the environment and raising traveler awareness.

After a few administrative steps, the "Laeti's Ecolodge" project became a reality. Just like their home, it was Pascal, the family's handyman, who built it from the ground up. Made entirely of wood, it consists of a single room with a sleeping area, a lounge area, an open bathroom, and a dry toilet. It is completely energy-sufficient thanks to its photovoltaic panels.

"For water, we would have liked to collect rainwater, but it's forbidden, which is a shame," she admits. Laetitia was entirely responsible for the harmonious and warm decor. The small terrace opens onto the outdoors, allowing you to enjoy nature when the weather permits.

The ecolodge can accommodate two adults and one toddler. There is no kitchen. Laetitia serves breakfast made with local produce. She makes a point of sorting and respecting the grounds. The fairly large grounds could accommodate another ecolodge, but the Laplaza family prefers to have just one. "We chose quality over quantity," she says. This choice protects her clientele, who generally want to enjoy the peace and quiet of this little corner of nature just minutes from downtown Lunéville.