“For 24 years I was an interior decorator based in Paris, although I was born in Grézieu-la-Varenne and was keen to return to the Lyon area. When my partner, François Haller’s job brought him to the region, I jumped at the chance to return too. I really wanted to open a bed and breakfast business, and I fell in love with this property – the former town hall of the old village of Saint-Pierre-la-Palud and once an 18^th C coaching inn. My background is in the renovation of old buildings, so I put three years into converting the property into a bed and breakfast which opened at the beginning of 2008. The house has a large 200 m² terrace, a bread oven, a spa with space for six or seven people and a meeting room for up to 22 people, located within the old stables and equipped with WiFi…”.

The address, which features in Marie-Dominique Perrin’s guide to off-the-beaten-track establishments, has quickly become a benchmark for bed and breakfasts. What’s more, Pascale Deboos is keen to work on the business tourism market as her location close to Lyon makes this an ideal alernative – Place Bellecour, right at the centre of the city, is just half an hour away from Saint-Pierre-la-Palud.

“At the end of 2008, we hosted the Lyon tourist office over two days and in June 2009 we organised an evening reception for 50 guests in order to promote La Noue”, recalls the property’s owner. “Unfortunately our investment did not warrant the results. I’m now hoping that with the support of Rhône-Alpes Tourisme I will be more successful in marketing our establishment”. Companies can choose between a single day’s working session or a residential meeting, with accommodation available on site as well as at bed and breakfasts located nearby in Sain-Bel and Lentilly, two neighbouring villages. Pascale Deboos uses a local caterer to provide the meals. She also offers various leisure activities, such as plant-based reflexology, cookery classes and jazz concerts with a buffet meal.

The rates for a one day meeting including lunch and two refreshment breaks start at 69 € (ex VAT) per person. For a business stop-over, including accommodation, dinner, breakfast and access to the spa, the rate is 89 € (ex VAT).

Practical Information
La Noue, in Saint-Pierre-la-Palud (Rhône)
Tel.: 00 33 (0)6 80 35 26 72
pdeboos.lanoue@wanadoo.fr
www.bedandbreakfast-lanoue.com