Malbuisson, France
A three-generation family hotel on the wild shores of Lac Saint-Point, with a Cinq Mondes spa, 16 suites, and three restaurants devoted to Comtois tradition.
Sixteen suites face Lac Saint-Point, France's third largest natural lake. The water stretches six kilometres through the Haut-Doubs valley, and the hotel sits right on its shore in the village of Malbuisson. Morning light crosses the lake and fills the rooms. The 300-square-metre Cinq Mondes spa opens directly onto the same view.
Fernand Chauvin, a horse-dealer from Les Grangettes, bought the original Hotel Le Lac in 1949. Three generations later, his family runs three restaurants and a 4-star lakeside complex completed in 2017. Comfort and modernity sit alongside wild natural spaces. The pace here is unhurried, shaped by cheese traditions, farm cooking, and the quiet rhythm of the lake.
No structured on-site activity programme is documented. The hotel's setting on Lac Saint-Point places walking paths and the lakeshore within immediate reach. Guests shape their own days at their own pace.
Explore additional experiences in the surrounding area.
Route length: 13.7km loopEstimated time: 3hLoop routeRéserve Naturelle Nationale du Lac de Remoray is a protected natural reserve established in 1980, designated as a class 4 protected area. It offers a preserved natural habitat ideal for nature watching and enjoying peaceful outdoor activities in a safeguarded environment.
Route length: 3.2km loopEstimated time: 42minLoop routeRéserve naturelle de la Seigne des Barbouilllons is a protected regional nature reserve classified under protection class 4. It is designated as a leisure nature reserve, offering opportunities for visitors to observe local flora and fauna while enjoying outdoor activities.
Straight-line distance from hotel: 11 km directThis location is a regional natural reserve protecting peat bogs, designated as a protected area with leisure and tourism support. It focuses on preserving natural habitats and biodiversity within the reserve boundary.
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Straight-line distance from hotel: 50 m directSeason: Summer and winterThe hotel says guests can enjoy water activities on Lake Saint-Point, including sailing, catamaran, pedalo, and a solar cruise boat tour around the lake. It also points to nearby walking and mountain-bike trails, and in winter to Nordic skiing and alpine skiing. These are destination activities the hotel highlights for guests rather than in-house amenities.
Area sceneryRoute length: 8.6km loopEstimated time: 2hLoop routeLac de Bouverans et marais du Varot is a protected area managed by the Communauté de communes du Plateau de Frasne et du Val du Dru. It is classified under protection class 5, highlighting its importance for nature conservation. Visitors can enjoy experiencing diverse natural environments including the lake and its surrounding marshlands.
Area sceneryRoute length: 48km routeEstimated time: 3.5hRoute du Jura is a 48 km bicycle route stage 5 from Fleurier to Vallorbe, part of the national cycle network (ncn). It is also known as Jura-Route, Jura Route, Route du Jura, or percorso del Giura in different languages, operated by Veloland Schweiz.
Area sceneryRoute length: 3.5km loopEstimated time: 47minLoop routeRéserve biologique dirigée de la Grand'Côte is a protected nature reserve established in 1977. It holds a protection class 4 status under the designation 'Réserve biologique dirigée'. This area is dedicated to the conservation of natural habitats and biodiversity.
Area sceneryStraight-line distance from hotel: 13 km directLe Suchet is a natural peak with an elevation of 1588 meters. It is recognized as a viewpoint, offering scenic views of the surrounding area. The site also features a man-made survey point, indicating its use for geographical measurements. Access is not wheelchair-friendly.
Route length: 0.2km loopEstimated time: 2minLoop routePiscine Georges Cuinet is a sports centre dedicated to swimming. It is located in a building in Pontarlier and has an associated website for more information.
Route length: 17.9km loopEstimated time: 1.5hLoop routeBoucle 22 is a 17.9 km roundtrip bicycle route designed for families starting and ending at Cerniébaud. The route has an ascent of 212 meters and is part of a local cycle network.
Three restaurants share the Chauvin family complex in Malbuisson, each with a distinct character. Restaurant Le Lac serves gourmet cuisine in a Louis XVI-style dining room overlooking the water. Restaurant du Fromage, open since 1994, fills a hand-carved wooden interior with fondue, raclette, and tartiflette, the essential Comtois cheese dishes. Restaurant a la Ferme occupies a renovated farm building and has served traditional local cuisine since 1999.
Breakfast arrives as a full buffet, with pastries, French baguette, cold meats, soft-boiled eggs, fruit salad, and local cheese. In-room breakfast is available with pastries reserved the evening before.
The Cinq Mondes spa covers 300 square metres inside the hotel, facing Lac Saint-Point. A 5-by-11-metre indoor pool has a massaging jet and two swan-neck water jets. The 50-square-metre sun lounge looks directly over the lake. Turkish baths and a sauna sit alongside a relaxation room with heated seats and a tea area.
Spa access is included for all hotel guests. Beauty therapist treatments use Cinq Mondes and TooFruit products, booked by phone. The spa opens daily from nine in the morning until eight in the evening. Everything points toward the water outside.
Malbuisson holds a Station Verte designation, a French label recognising villages that balance tourism with respect for natural and human heritage. The hotel sits within this framework, on the shore of a protected natural lake.
Two electric vehicle and hybrid car charging points are available on site. The property's low-density footprint, 16 suites along the lakeshore, keeps its presence modest relative to the landscape it occupies.
Les Rives Sauvages – Hôtel du Lac et Spa offers 5 accommodation types.
Double Suite
Suite with 1 separate bedroom and a lounge area, decorated in modern style with pastel and sand-pink tones. All suites include lake views from a patio or balcony.
Double Suite with Extra Bed Option
One of 3 double suites (1 separate bedroom, lounge area) with the option of an extra bed for 2 additional people in the lounge area.
Family Suite
Suite with 2 separate bedrooms and a lounge area, accommodating up to 4 people, with lake views from a patio or balcony.
Family Suite with Extra Bed Option
One of 3 family suites (2 separate bedrooms, lounge area) with the option of an extra bed for 2 additional people in the lounge area, accommodating up to 6 people.
PMR Suite (Reduced Mobility)
One accessible room adapted for persons with reduced mobility (PMR).
Sixteen suites on the wild shores of Lac Saint-Point. Spa, lake views, and three Comtois restaurants, all from one family since 1949.
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