Unplug at Farouche, a Micro Cabin Hotel Hidden In Québec’s Countryside

From my bed in an A-frame cabin, I can see the snowy top of Québec’s Mont Tremblant, home to a massive ski resort of the same name. Snow fell all night. Even as the sun rises in the periwinkle sky, temps hover near negative 10° F. A quiet click signals that the gas fireplace is kicking on, breathing warmth into the small space. Good thing the coffee maker is nearby. I burrow deeper into the sheets. This is exactly the kind of simple luxury I imagined during my two nights at Farouche, a remote eco-resort in the Laurentian Mountains.

Husband-and-wife team Jonathan Casaubon and Geneviève Côté opened the architecturally adorable nature shelters in July 2022 on a sliver of their 100-acre wooded property. My cabin—named “La Tuque,” the French-Canadian word for winter hat—is one of seven connected by footpaths to the outdoor center with hot tub, and the lodge with bathrooms and a farm bar. Across the road is a Nordic farm, where, during the summer months, the hospitable couple stays busy growing cabbage, beets, carrots, and more produce to feed guests.

The entire premises was blanketed in several feet of snow when I visited in late February, but I was told that once the snow melts by May, they host group dinners there—the kind with an extended table in a field of wildflowers. I’ll add it to my list of reasons to return.

If this sounds up your alley as well, read on for our full review of Farouche.

Farouche Review: What You Can Expect

“Farouche” originates from an Old French word that means “living outside.” Though the resort’s cabins shelter you from the storm, like, say several feet of fresh snow, they also immerse you in nature. From the road, you can see the cedar shingled, peaked eaves of the resort’s seven A-frames through the trees. But the heart of the property is the main building—which is part kitchen and café, part dining room and lounge, and part general store. Let’s call it the “lodge.”

Either Casaubon, Côté, or a member of their friendly staff welcomes you into the space with a “bonjour.” At the terrazzo bartop, they’ll probably offer you a matcha or cappuccino with a splash of maple syrup, the French-Canadian way of sweetening any drink. Whether the sun is shining, natural light floods in through the giant picture windows that face Mont Tremblant. A wood stove sits at the center of the room, and the cathedral ceilings stretch to a mezzanine.

Though communal, it’s also a considerate and quiet place to curl up, read, play chess, and enjoy a meal from the kitchen. The aprés-ski-style menu includes a veggie burger, cod fritters, country-style potatoes, charcuterie boards, and warm maple donuts.

In the general store, gifts, cheeses, wines, and sundries from the farm and other local producers fill the shelves. (The jars of marinated sea asparagus and spruce tips intrigued me most.)

From the lodge, paths lead to the nearby Devil’s River and the outdoor center, where a red cedar Nordic-style hot tub spills steam from the second-story balcony. In summer, you can rent paddleboards from the shack below. In winter, strap on snowshoes for a romp through the barren, frosted woods.

All buildings were designed by Atelier L’Abri, a Montreal-based architecture office, to leave the lowest impact possible on the surrounding environment. Minimalist in aesthetics and in materials, the structures are built from locally-sourced eastern white cedar and hemlock.

Farouche Accommodations

Though close in proximity, the seven A-frames still offer privacy. Each has its own deck, grill, Adirondack chairs, and string lights. Inside, a king bed takes up most of the compact floor plan, but there’s also enough room for a sofa, mini fridge, and gas fireplace. The cabins are designed for two people but can accommodate two adults and young children—and dogs!—if requested.

One detail that’s good to know in advance: The resort's four bathrooms are located a short walk away from the cabins. Premium huts get a private bathroom, and standard huts get a shared bathroom. This could be a dealbreaker for some, especially those prone to midnight loo visits. But the small, heated bathrooms are so cozy, you’ll hardly mind the chilly walk.

Internet is available in the lodge but doesn’t reach the cabins, at least for now. If you happen to ask for the Wi-Fi, Casaubon and Côté will encourage you to unplug and relax instead.

What to See and Do Around Farouche

Snow falls from October to May in the Laurentians region, leaving only four months of summertime. The local’s secret to surviving the long, brutal winters? Nordic spas.

Only 25 minutes from Farouche, Scandinave Spa Mont-Tremblant straddles the Devil’s River, where only those brave enough plunge into the icy waters. Spend all day cycling between the river and cool pools, hot thermal baths, saunas and steam rooms, and rest areas.

In the late 1800s, Scandinavians introduced Nordic skiing to Canada, and in fact, the Laurentians are known as the birthplace of cross-country skiing in North America. Newspapers reported that a man named A. Birch traveled on Norwegian snowshoes the distance between Montreal and Québec in 1879, as documented by the Laurentian Ski Museum.

Accordingly, the area has an abundance of trails for both snowshoeing and skinny skiing, such as in Mont Tremblant National Park. At the park’s Discovery Center, comfy chairs encircle a fireplace, and friendly rangers staff the store. Paths of varying distances leave from the center, some of which lead to backcountry huts that you can reserve in winter or summer.

Despite the short growing season, Québec’s culinary scene is making its mark. The first MICHELIN guide to Québec comes out later this year, and my bets are on another farm restaurant called Maison de Soma getting kudos. The splurge-worthy menu is based on what they grow—if they can’t grow it, they don’t use it—leaving lots of room for experimentation. I felt nourished after a day of snowshoeing by the spongy focaccia bread soaked in green onion oil.

To stay at Farouche, rates start at about $110 on weekdays and increase to $320 on weekends.