After more than three decades of closure, the Hôtellerie des Laquets has reopened its doors in the French Pyrenees, reclaiming the title of France's highest hotel at an altitude of 2,620 metres. The property, originally constructed between 1930 and 1933, welcomed its first guests in late September following an extensive renovation.
The hotel is reached by a two-stage cable car journey: first from the village of La Mongie to the summit of the Pic du Midi, then via a private cable car down to the property itself. This unusual access route places guests within the Pic du Midi International Dark Sky Reserve, a designation that makes the location exceptional for stargazing, with unobstructed views of the Milky Way free from light pollution.
A blend of alpine heritage and Nordic minimalism
The renovation preserves the original hotel building, with interiors that reference Pyrenean alpine culture, while a new wing adopts a minimalist Nordic aesthetic. All 16 double rooms offer panoramic mountain views. The hotel's restaurant will be led by chef Stéphane Tournié, who previously earned a Michelin star at Les Jardins de l'Opéra in Toulouse, signalling that the dining experience is intended to match the altitude.
At the summit, visitors can explore the Espace Expériences du Pic du Midi to learn about the observatory's scientific work, before attending an immersive planetarium show ahead of the evening's natural spectacle. A 12-metre footbridge extending into the mountainscape provides a dramatic vantage point for photographs.
The Hôtellerie des Laquets surpasses the Refuge de Solaise in the Alps, which sits at 2,551 metres, to become France's highest hotel. Across Europe, the highest hotel remains the Glacier Hotel Grawand in Val Senales, South Tyrol, Italy, at 3,212 metres.
The reopening reflects a broader trend in European travel toward distinctive, high-altitude experiences. As travel trends shift toward unusual stays, properties that combine remoteness with comfort are attracting growing interest. For France, the project also underscores the continued appeal of the Pyrenees as a year-round destination, complementing the country's better-known Alpine resorts.
While the hotel's launch is a cultural and tourism milestone, it arrives amid a period of economic and political turbulence in France. The government has been grappling with concerns over public debt and pressure to meet climate targets, issues that inevitably shape the context for any new venture. Yet the Hôtellerie des Laquets offers a reminder that France's natural heritage remains a powerful asset, capable of drawing visitors to even the most remote corners of the country.
For those willing to make the journey, the reward is a rare combination: scientific history, alpine culture, and a night sky largely untouched by artificial light. It is, quite literally, a room with a view — and one that few other hotels in Europe can match.
