Committed here and abroad
Lou Calen is first and foremost a project based on sharing and goodwill. With its roots firmly set in the village where the original hotel was created, the project is determined to revive and share the history and Provençal culture of Cotignac.
Its goal is to contribute to the economic and cultural development of the village to benefit the Cotignac community as a whole.
Sustainable development
Wishing to function in harmony with the land it dwells within, Lou Calen is fully committed to reducing its impact on the environment. The hotel estate is developing an eco-responsible approach in all of its establishments (hotel, restaurants, bars) across all three hectares of rich nature. This lasting commitment means that Lou Calen’s teams will always come together to innovate and find new alternative solutions for best practice in this area.
The Jardin Secret restaurant has been awarded a Michelin Green Star for its work towards eco-responsible cuisine. Labelled as a “Committed Restaurant” to all things green, the restaurant and its team are thrilled to be part of a modern approach that favours economical shortcuts and fights against industrial waste.
In order to better accelerate the ecological movement in Provence, Lou Calen has joined the “Convention of Pro-Climate Businesses“, and is steadily involved in the work around a sustainable economic model that respects all living things.
Bringing art to rural areas
In 2015, the NGO « Cotignac Côté Culture » opened the La Falaise Art Center in Cotignac. Situated in the heart of the village and connected to the hotel, it presents exhibitions which are open to all artistic disciplines including painting, sculpture, photography and more modern forms of expression. Visitors of all ages are welcome to discover the works of recognized or emerging artists, which is not often accessible in remote villages.
In addition to the art exhibitions, the Art Centre also hosts concerts and conferences, and supports other local cultural events both within and beyond its walls.
Heritage Projects
Lou Calen supports heritage preservation projects such as the restoration of two historic monuments in Cotignac : the Saint Martin Chapel (built in 1174) and the two Saracen Watchtowers (from the 12th century).
Baraka Community Partnerships Charity
Baraka Community Partnerships is a small UK-based charity, founded in 2007, that currently operates in Zambia and Laos.
Baraka firmly believes that the long-term route out of poverty is through education. Approximately 80% of its raised funds are focused on improving educational infrastructure and resources for rural communities and their children.
The charity also has healthcare, water and sanitation initiatives.