Les Prés d’Eugénie is a pastoral oasis in southwest France that marries 3-Michelin-starred gastronomy with an ethos of health and sustainability. Tucked in the village of Eugénie-les-Bains (famed for its healing thermal springs), this 19th-century estate turned Palace hotel is a passion project of chef Michel Guérard and his wife Christine. The property’s 8 hectares of parks and kitchen gardens are managed as a natural sanctuary: no chemical pesticides are used (gardeners rely on ladybugs, nettle purin, and other organic remedies), and composted kitchen peelings enrich the soil. Walking through the grounds, you’ll discover hedgerows and wild corners deliberately left to shelter birds, hedgehogs, frogs, and even wild orchids – a few stakes mark spots where a protected orchid species now blooms each spring, thanks to the estate’s nurturing approach. The hotel’s three restaurants exemplify sustainable fine dining. In the flagship dining room, Michel Guérard’s cuisine has embraced a farm-to-table “naturalist” approach long before it was trendy: many herbs and edible flowers on your plate are picked each morning from the on-site garden, and vegetables come from an organic farm in nearby Gers that has supplied the Guérards since 1978. Menus change constantly to respect what’s in season – the chefs even print new menus every few days to adapt to nature’s rhythm, strictly avoiding out-of-season produce or long-haul ingredients. There’s an entirely vegetarian tasting menu available, showcasing that haute cuisine can be green and delectable. Meats and poultry are sourced from humane local farms in Chalosse and the Pyrénées, with an emphasis on quality and fair trade (the hotel works directly with small breeders and butchers). In line with their wellness philosophy, the kitchen also strives for zero waste: leftovers are repurposed for staff meals, and even Nespresso capsules were banished in favor of bulk coffee and espresso beans to cut waste. The “Ferme Thermale” spa is fed by natural hot spring water and offers treatments using organic plant-based products, including herbs from the garden. It was built within former farm buildings using local stone and reclaimed wood, and its design encourages connection to nature – think open-air hydrotherapy baths and massages in a garden pavilion. Impressively, in 2023 Les Prés d’Eugénie’s L’Occitane spa became the first in the world to achieve Ecocert’s Sustainable Spa certification, underscoring its global leadership in wellness sustainability. The recent renovations also added geothermal heating/cooling for the entire property, drastically cutting fossil fuel use, and the hotel has installed 12 EV charging stations for guests arriving with electric cars. To reduce paper, nearly all guest information and bookings have gone digital. And despite being a temple of indulgence, the ethos is one of balance – aligning with the Guérards’ philosophy that true luxury should never be at the expense of nature or one’s well-being. Les Prés d’Eugénie feels like a step back to a gentler era: you might stroll under ancient oaks, breathe in rosemary-scented air, take a tea made from garden herbs, and savor healthful “cuisine minceur” that somehow tastes sinfully good – all while knowing that every aspect of your stay, from the linen sheets to the soup in your bowl, has been handled with conscience and care.