Les Orangeries is a pioneer in eco-conscious hospitality – in fact, it was the very first hotel in France to receive the European Ecolabel back in 2006. Housed in a beautifully restored 18th-century manor in Poitou, this 15-room boutique hotel effortlessly blends old-world charm with cutting-edge sustainability. The vision of owner-architect Françoise Brouard is evident everywhere: from the solar panels tucked discreetly on rooftops to the natural swimming pool in the gardens (filtered by plants, with no chemicals) that invites summer guests for a dip. The rooms are elegant yet healthy by design – paints and furnishings are eco-certified non-toxic, beds are dressed in organic cotton linens, and windows are double-glazed for energy efficiency. Heating and cooling are managed by a geothermal system beneath the property, drastically reducing energy use. Les Orangeries’ commitment to the environment is perhaps most deliciously expressed in its cuisine. The on-site organic restaurant helped set the bar for sustainable dining in France, earning a top rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association. Chef David Royer’s menus are seasonal and locally sourced, with many ingredients harvested from the hotel’s own certified-organic potager garden. Think homemade bread, eggs from a nearby farm, heirloom vegetables, and goat cheese from just down the road. Guests dine under the ancient lime tree on the terrace, savoring dishes that are as kind to the planet as they are to the palate. The hotel eliminates single-use plastics (you’ll find glass carafes and bulk soap dispensers in rooms instead) and practices rigorous waste sorting and composting. Even the swimming pool is solar-heated and kept clean with minimal water waste. Electric vehicle drivers will find charging stations on-site, and cyclists are welcomed – you can rent an e-bike to explore the surrounding villages and river valleys. Despite these modern green measures, the atmosphere remains one of relaxed countryside elegance: stone walls draped in ivy, terracotta tiles, and orchard gardens alive with birds and butterflies (a testament to chemical-free landscaping). There’s an inviting outdoor 35m swimming pool and plenty of lawn space to play pétanque or just relax. Les Orangeries proves that luxury and sustainability not only coexist, but enhance one another. As a “pioneering responsible tourism” destination, it offers guests an inspiring, feel-good stay – where every soft towel and gourmet meal carries the extra warmth of knowing it was done the right way for people and planet.