L'Ovella Negra, a wellness centre free of gadgets

On the eve of the most atypical Christmas, I can remember and very close to the end of a year that will be remembered by all of us, I am aware of the difficulty of celebrating major reunions.I have decided to see the good side of all this, and I have thought that this situation also gives me the opportunity to gain quality time, avoiding social compromises that I don't feel like attending. If well planned, it can be the perfect time to enjoy a quiet Christmas, surrounded only by the people closest to me. It's not about not celebrating, but about celebrating in a different way, and why not do it in the heart of nature?

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With the idea of finding a refuge in the mountains, I reach Andorra and its Incles valley, the most beautiful in the Pyrenees region. There, next to the river at the end of the valley, is L´Ovella Negra. As its name suggests, this is a very special place. An old hostel located in the midst of glacial beauty between the villages of El Tarter and Canillo, a place where you can appreciate the intimate, reconquer the sober and find yourself in harmony with nature. Authentic raw luxury, that is, recovering the simple.

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The magnificent location of this old refuge allows it to be transformed in every season with different experiences depending on the time of year. In winter, when the weather makes it almost inaccessible, it provides a unique calm, where the warmth of its interior is one of the most pleasant sensations, where you can enjoy the freedom of doing nothing. 

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The project and decoration are the work of Prisca Llagostera, promoter and partner of this project, who wanted to transfer to this place the sensation she experienced back in 2007 during a trip to Patagonia. Thus, warmth and comfort are the basis on which this lodge is based. In connection with the authenticity of the mountains.

On the ground floor, with a welcoming porch to enjoy both in summer and winter, there is a large open-plan living room, where everything is set around a suspended fireplace.

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Comfortable velvet, leather and wool sofas, cosy corners, a dining room with long wooden tables, a bar complete the rest of the space. Noble materials and delicate lighting, candles and fire do the rest. Wood, stone and metal are the main elements that dress the atmosphere, with a decoration based on few basic items.

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On the same floor is one of its restaurants, known as the cantina, where you can enjoy delicious food, simple dishes with a mountain touch. Its chef Sergi Simó prepares dishes based on seasonal ingredients. I recommend the sautéed artichokes with slices of ham and quail eggs and, for the more carnivorous, the low-temperature lamb terrine. If you like hunting, this is the restaurant to try the venison stew.

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And I say one because outside, while the sun is shining, there is a wooden hut known as "el chiringuito". An obligatory stop after a walk where you can have lunch. Cheerful in summer with splendid views of the valley, this Summer Pop-up is filled with life not only by the guests, but also by the people who come to spend the day in this magical location with an extensive programme of live music during the nights of July and August.

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In winter, when the whole valley is snowed in, it becomes a cosy wooden hut, with its own fireplace and two communal tables. The idea is to stop by and eat after a snowshoeing or ski mountaineering hike.

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Back inside the refuge, a minimalist and sophisticated staircase leads the way to the upper floor, where up to 12 people can be accommodated in two double bedrooms and two quadruple bedrooms, all with their own en-suite bathrooms. There is also a small terrace. The perfect place to enjoy a drink, read a book or have a delicious breakfast in the sun or simply watch the scenery.

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In each of its rooms, simplicity reigns, focusing on the quality of the materials: a good bed, organic cotton sheets, merino wool blankets, dim light, no screens. Because, as they say in their manifesto, sometimes doing nothing does everything.

I can now check sleeping in a mountain cabin in the snow off my wish list.

How about turning your home into your own shelter? Here are a few tips that revalue the cult of simplicity.

1. Selene coffee table ø70 cm, its rustic style and the vein details make it a central element in any living room. 2. Yaros cotton rug 150 x 210 cm, its vivid look gives it great personality and its washed colour makes it easy to combine. 3. Atwood bench, this beautiful piece of auxiliary furniture stands out for its noble material and natural finish. Its coloured braided cotton seat gives it a very original organic style to place it at the foot of your bed, in your dining room or entrance hall. 4. Pouf Emily(available in black, grey and blue), the woven design of the cotton adds warmth, as well as being very practical as an extra seat or as a footrest. The ideal complement also for a children's room. 5. Arthur armchair, its teak wood structure with branches is a breath of nature for your home. You can combine it with the Arthur table (6), which can be used as a table or bedside table or even as a stool. 7. Freire cotton throw, its plain colour in off-white makes it easy to fit into living rooms, bedrooms or as an auxiliary textile on your terrace.