A night above the clouds is now possible in France. The Hôtellerie des Laquets, perched 2,620 metres up on the Pic du Midi in the Pyrenees, reopened in late September after more than three decades shut — reclaiming its place as the highest hotel in the country.
The property isn't new. It was built between 1930 and 1933 as a base for visitors to the mountaintop observatory, then fell silent for over 30 years. The renovation keeps the original building, with interiors that nod to Pyrenean alpine culture, while a new wing goes for stripped-back Nordic minimalism. There are 16 double rooms, every one with panoramic mountain views.
Getting there is part of the experience. Guests ride the cable car from the ski village of La Mongie to the Pic du Midi summit, then transfer to a private cable car down to the hotel itself.
Food is a serious draw too. The restaurant serves a menu from chef Stéphane Tournié, who holds a Michelin star from Les Jardins de l'Opéra in Toulouse. A spa with sauna and steam rooms opens in December.
The real selling point, though, may be the night sky. The hotel sits inside the Pic du Midi International Dark Sky Reserve, so with zero light pollution you get unobstructed views of the Milky Way from your bedroom. At the summit, the Espace Expériences explains the science behind the famous observatory, there's a planetarium for a warm-up show, and a 12-metre footbridge juts out into the void for photos.
For context on the altitude bragging rights: the previous French record-holder was the Refuge de Solaise in the Alps at 2,551 metres, while Europe's highest hotel remains the Glacier Hotel Grawand in Italy's South Tyrol at 3,212 metres. Either way, at 2,620 metres the Laquets is far above anywhere you'd casually stay, so expect thin air, cold nights and big rewards.
Who's it for? Stargazers and astrophotography fans, obviously — this is about as good as European night skies get without camping. It also suits hikers wanting a head start on high Pyrenean trails, and anyone after a genuinely unusual night away with Michelin-level dining attached. Note that the location above La Mongie makes it a natural add-on to a skiing or summer walking trip in the Hautes-Pyrénées, and the small room count means early booking is wise.
