La Grée des Landes is a pioneering eco-hotel & spa created by the Yves Rocher family in La Gacilly, Brittany – homeland of the famed botanical beauty brand. Opened in 2009 as one of France’s first genuine eco-hotels, it sits on a hill (“grée”) overlooking rolling fields and woodland, built with a profound respect for its environment. The hotel’s architecture is strikingly green: a long vegetated roof covers the main building, insulating it naturally and blending it into the landscape (from above, sheep literally graze on the roof’s grass!). The structure uses local materials like slate and wood, and is designed for energy efficiency – oriented for maximum natural light and passive solar gain, with high-performance insulation that earned it HQE (High Environmental Quality) building certification. Hot water and heating are provided by geothermal energy and wood-pellet boilers, drastically reducing carbon emissions. In fact, La Grée des Landes has virtually no fossil fuel use on-site; it was an early adopter of renewables and even feeds surplus energy back to the grid. The 29 guest rooms are zen-like and free of harmful chemicals – paint, flooring, and fabrics all carefully chosen eco-certified. Each room has a private terrace opening onto wildflower meadows or the eco-pool. Yes, the outdoor swimming pool is natural – filtered entirely by plants and minerals, no chlorine (an uncommon feature at opening, showcasing Yves Rocher’s commitment to gentle methods). The spa Yves Rocher here is integral to the ethos: it offers treatments using 100% organic, biodegradable products (many made just down the road at the Yves Rocher labs with plants from their fields). The spa’s hammam and sauna use solar-heated water, and spa linens are cleaned with eco-friendly detergents. Beyond infrastructure, this hotel invests in living ecosystems: an on-site botanical garden grows aromatic herbs for infusions and spa ingredients, and half of the 10-hectare property is kept as a nature reserve – wetlands and hedgerows for local fauna. Guests can join daily nature walks or gardening workshops to learn about composting, beekeeping (there are several hives producing honey served at breakfast), or the property’s organic vegetable farm. The restaurant, Les Jardins Sauvages, is 100% organic and seasonal – rare in its complete adherence. It was awarded the distinction of a Michelin green star. Chef Gilles Le Gallès crafts creative Breton cuisine using produce from their own gardens and nearby organic farms; even the bread is baked in-house with organic flour. Because of this commitment, the menu changes constantly, and they practice nose-to-tail and root-to-leaf cooking to minimize waste. On certain mornings, you can volunteer to help pick veggies or herbs that will be on your plate by evening. Water management is also exemplary: rainwater is collected for irrigation and toilets, and all wastewater is treated naturally by phyto-purification (plant roots) in a beautiful pond system alive with frogs and dragonflies. La Grée des Landes is deeply woven into the community of La Gacilly – it employs locals, supports local artisans (the boutique sells Brittany-made goods and crafts, not mass-produced souvenirs), and sponsors environmental education in local schools. It’s no surprise this eco-hotel has inspired many others in France. For guests, the experience is both indulgent and enlightening: you might spend the afternoon in a maple-wood lounge chair watching butterflies flit over wild orchids, then enjoy a spa ritual and a dinner of foraged herbs and garden vegetables – knowing every aspect, from building to cuisine, was conceived to “renew our bond with nature”. Tranquil, zesty with plant life, and firmly carbon-conscious, La Grée des Landes encapsulates the Yves Rocher vision of sustainable well-being in the most beautiful way.