Between the Villa and us, a story of love at first sight
It all began in 2005, when we fell in love with this magnificent building from the 1900’s while cycling through the narrow streets of Taussat, saying to ourselves “now this is exactly the kind of place we would own if we had the chance”. Unbenounced to us, our dream was spoken into reality because a few days later we had a chance encounter and were told the very same property was not even up for sale yet but looking for a buyer… a few weeks later and La Tosca was ours: Marc, a native of the region whose roots and family are right here; Karin, a Dutchwoman who fell in love with this unspoilt region, and our two daughters, Céline and Inès.
Finding a place in Taussat made all the more sense as we used to spend our holidays in the next town - Andernos-les-Bains with Marc's parents, so that our daughters could spend time with their grandparents.
Preserving these links was all the more important as, at the same time, we had traveled a lot, always curious about other horizons, cultures to discover and lessons that the world was generously giving us.
In particular, we had lived in Asia, learning from the many philosophies of life we encountered there. It was these different influences, as well as our passion for exploring ways of living in more harmony with ourselves and those around us, the beautiful experiences of transformation and the resources of joy and sharing that we can bring to others, that fuelled our project.
Here, we were going to be able to put down roots and share all that we had received in the course of our explorations. We wanted to give life to a place that would reflect our values and our commitment to the environment, sharing and connecting with others and transformation through traveling, and a space that
would also be open to art, beauty and poetry.
Yuliæn, a holistic wellness space close to the seaside town of Arcachon
Welcome to (y)our sanctuary! We have long dreamed of a place where as soon as you walk onto the land, you feel and experience a sense of peace and awe, a sense of connection with the environment around you, a sense of a deeper connection to yourself. Our dream is to continue to create a space dedicated to nourishing your body, mind and soul…
For this purpose we created “Yuliæn”, a brand dedicated to hosting & co-creating exceptional experiences with partnered practitioners, to bring you one of a kind profound, transformational and joyful moments. An ongoing development where we host different kinds of workshops, classes and retreats… From meditation and yoga classes, to tea ceremonies, nature bathing and art therapy workshops…
Nourishment and Nature
at the heart of our philosophy
Villa La Tosca's unique setting, with its blend of marine plants and seascapes, and its sublime sense of calm and serenity, is the ideal place to come to replenish yourself and refill your cup. Our aim is to embrace our guests with an inviting and warm welcome, ensuring that your stay here provides you with many moments of relaxation and reconnection.
Our philosophy is a desire to pass on everything that has nourished us throughout our years of travels and adventures, connecting with many people from all walks of life. This desire drives the energy that circulates at Villa La Tosca, so that those who come here can experience something unique and different.
We wanted to give life to a place that would also be open to art, healing, beauty and poetry
Villa La Tosca: the rebirth of a jewel of seaside architecture in the South West of France
We entrusted the renovation project to the architect Yves Collet, whose work on Les Sources de Caudalie we had greatly appreciated. Villa La Tosca was built in 1903, in a remarkable style characteristic of the Italian-influenced Atlantic coast, so the supervision of the Architecte des Bâtiments de France was essential. We wanted to take an approach that was above all respectful of the superb building and its original materials, and that highlighted its volumes, its elegance and its unique character.
The renovation took almost three years, and we are delighted to have been able to make our contribution to preserving the unique heritage of the Belles de Taussat.
The surrounding land was generous, with an abundance of trees and plants. We took advantage of this, creating a vast garden ideal for meditation or interludes of rest, and imagining the ecological swimming pool as a 'bathing pond/river', with a liner that blends in with the vegetation.