Consolación

The first challenge is to find the Hotel Consolación. Even though it is not too far from Barcelona, it inhabits a different world. Situated close to the village of Monroyo, it lies at an elevation of 850 metres above sea level in the heart of the Matarraña region. With only 400 inhabitants, the village can be difficult to pinpoint on a map. We headed in the general direction of the nearest major town, La Fresneda, and took it from there. We found ourselves in lovely countryside and natural landscapes surrounded by pine forests, and groves of almond and olive. 

There is certainly no mistaking the Consolación once you arrive! A rather grand old stone building nestles among the hills and rocks, and beside it is a series of cubes. These, we were to find, were boxes of delight! First, we checked in to the main building and were welcomed with a refreshing cup of tea. We looked around the house before setting off for our cube and discovered the library. It has stone walls, high ceilings and an antique Chesterfield sofa drawn up to a massive open fireplace with a roaring fire. We knew where we would be heading for an after-dinner nightcap!

The place is small, with only 10 cubes, one room in the old chapel and one Nordic room.  The cubes are set into the hillside, carefully angled to be virtually invisible from each other once you are inside, but making the most of the spectacular view spread out into the valley and the mountains beyond. Each has its own glass front, bringing the outside in to the living space, and a private balcony, also transparent so that nothing impedes the view. You really feel isolated in all that peace and tranquillity, and as though the view is there for you alone! 

We approached our cube via a path winding through sweet smells of rosemary and thyme. Inside, total modern comforts reign! Muted colours of slate grey and some splashes of purple decorated the balcony and inside, rich stone and wood take a background position and bow to the superior vibrant green of the great outdoors. In our bathroom, the bath was sunk right into the rock of the floor, and we had the quality of towels, linen and L’Occitane toiletries from that you might expect in a five-star establishment.

By dinner time we were already feeling the benefits of relaxing as Mother Nature intended, in sight of the mountains and woods, with not another soul to be seen. We reached the restaurant by passing through the kitchen, which is open all hours and there are always refreshments and snacks on offer – another sign of the hotel’s unexpected, unusual and casually relaxed approach! The restaurant is in an old converted barn. It is dedicated to using seasonal and local produce as far as possible, and maybe it was the fresh air and relaxation, but we honestly thought the food was among the best we had ever had. And that’s saying something!

Between gentle country walks on trails with maps provided by the hotel, relaxing by the pool which seems to grow naturally out of a hollow in the rocks, eating in that fabulous restaurant and just letting our tensions ease away in contemplation of the view and the stars at night … it was heaven in a box! We returned, like my colleague, feeling fabulous, and certain to return to the Consolación, our very own box of delights.