The spirit of La Folie Barbizon: an artistic vision with two voices

Nestled between forest and village, La Folie Barbizon is not simply a hotel, but rather a place to live, conceived as an artistic family home.

Just an hour from Paris, La Folie Barbizon is a confidential 21-room retreat in the legendary village of Barbizon, the birthplace of pre-impressionism. This unique place embodies a bohemian spirit, sensitive and free, driven by two women with complementary visions: Marion Collard, interior designer, and Sarah Valente, artistic director. Together, they have reinvented the hotel industry as a place for self-expression, combining nature, design and contemporary creation.

An artist’s home open to nature

At La Folie Barbizon, people come to sleep, but also to be inspired, to share and to create. The surrounding nature – the rocks of Fontainebleau, the forest trails – feeds this creative energy. And in the lounges, on the terrace, in the bedrooms, you’ll feel that rare blend of intimacy and invention that makes every stay a sensitive interlude.

Marion Collard: the poetry of materials

Marion Collard has conceived every detail as a sensory narrative. From recycled floor tiles to stained-glass windows made from eggplant peelings, everything here evokes a nature that invites itself indoors. The rooms are decorated with antique furniture and bespoke creations. The intention is clear: to preserve the soul of the place while breathing new life into it.

“When you enter La Folie, it’s the forest that greets you, as if it had crossed the threshold with you.” – Marion Collard

Sarah Valente: art as narrative thread

Artistic director Sarah Valente has orchestrated an immersive staging. Her inspiration comes from the forest and is nurtured by the Greenline Foundation, which links art and ecology. Each room in the hotel becomes a chapter in a visual tale, punctuated by bespoke artworks. Sarah’s itinerary transforms the site into a poetic treasure hunt, rooted in the history of Barbizon.

“I like to create immersive worlds where the work dialogues with the place, to generate a real atmosphere.” – Sarah Valente

Practical information: HÔTEL LA FOLIE BARBIZON

5, Grande Rue, 77630 Barbizon
Reception open 24/24h
[email protected]
01 89 56 67 00