Private Spa: Les Salonnières

Scoring

Ouwegemstraat 13 • 9750 Ouwegem • Belgium

This Private Spa was easily accessible and not too far from a good highway connection.

The property itself is located in a small quiet side street of the village center of Ouwegem, a small cozy village in the Belgian province of East Flanders, on the edge of the Flemish Ardennes.

For myself, it was the first time I drove through this village. What I immediately noticed were the many beautiful older buildings here. This is something I have a weakness for myself.

After doing some research, it turned out that this place has a rich history of the linen industry in the 19th century.

Also this Private Spa itself is located in a very nice historic building but more on this when I discuss the interior.

Furthermore, there was also the necessary privacy. The building itself was somewhat set back on private property from the street road, hidden behind a large metal wrought iron gate.

The spa unit with opportunity for outdoor area was located at the back of the building and was completely walled in by a nice brick wall. I myself, therefore, experienced no intrusion at all.

What struck me immensely was the tranquility outside in the garden which always contributes to a relaxing experience.

Owner Anja is a truly experienced hostess who immediately puts you at ease. She is very friendly and goes completely along with the whole spa experience she has prepared for you.

She guides you through the entire spa unit and gives you all the information you could possibly want. Including how the equipment all works and what is available to drink and eat is nicely explained.

You can always reach her afterwards by using the beautiful old rotary phone in the unit.

I have nothing to say about this and really enjoyed meeting her.

Also her daughter who spoke to me at the end of the Spa experience really did an excellent job.

The hygiene in this spa was truly exceptional. This one was absolutely incredibly clean and this is how I really like it. You can see that they really go the extra mile for the guests.

The interior is entirely devoted to the actual building in which the spa is located.
This is an old manor farm built in 1766.

The theme that takes place here is intertwined in the name of the Spa itself “Les Salonnières” which refers to the female operator of typical French literary salons where people with a love of fine art, literature and music, etc, gathered for conversation and good food and drink.

From the 18th century, the salons became a sanctuary for the exchange of philosophical ideas, which may or may not have been socially accepted.

The Private Wellness is entirely dedicated to this history with the central themes of art and literature in an authentic setting.

The authenticity is extended throughout: from building to interior, from art to food and drink. For example, the 18th-century manor farm is completely decorated in the atmosphere of a literary salon of yesteryear, the food and beverages offered are all fresh, quality products and all visual works are by Nadine De Meester, artist.

Personally, I absolutely love it, all the materials used really fit nicely with that period and what was definitely a topper for me were those draped curtains. I really loved these.

Also outside where the hot tub was located you were surrounded by a very beautiful garden that perfectly suited a building dating from this period.

The whole both inside and outside gave me an incredibly pleasant and homey feeling.

To be perfectly honest, the hostess indicated that a scrub tray had been knocked off the wall at the shower area by previous visitors, but then she had resolved this nicely with a temporary table.
Just because she pointed this out I am not going to deduct a point for this.

I can imagine this has been fixed by now.

When entering the spa unit, a nice glass of homemade fruit juice made from redcurrant, apple and orange was waiting immediately.

There was also a nice old cabinet containing two jugs with in one a homemade lemonade made with fresh mint, lemon and agave syrup and a jug of still water.
Both jugs were also well stocked with ice cubes.

Also on that same cabinet was an option to make your own tea and there was a Nespresso coffee machine.

Basically everything you need at a spa experience to keep you hydrated anyway. All of this was also completely included in the price.

Furthermore, I had also taken the deluxe package snacks which you could choose when they were brought. This was all nicely organized.

The appetizers included grapes, melon cubes, carrot stalks, crispy cauliflower, jar of cocktail, radishes, two kinds of ham slices, salami slices, cherry tomato sticks with mozzarella, two different cheese cubes, sliced pieces of French bread, bread sticks and three different kinds of pesto.

In short, plenty to snack on and it was all really tasty and fresh too.
The snacks must be ordered extra and cost 35€.

There was also a jar of scrub provided at the shower, which I always like.

The bathrobe, two towels and bath slippers were included in the price.
What I immediately liked here was the embroidery “Les Salonnières” in the towels.

In the sauna there was a bucket of water to pour on containing a nice scent of lemon balm, really a lovely smell.

In the steam room there was a pleasant scent of eucalyptus.

Clearly, what you experience in real life at Les Salonnières is even more beautiful than what can ever be depicted in photographs. Still, the website manages to portray the pleasant and familiar atmosphere that is present here in real life.

Everything feels like it’s just right and that’s all you need to arrive to a nice whole and nice experience.

The temperature is really perfect throughout the stay. Even the temperature of the sauna could be set a little higher on request at the start.

As described earlier, a jar of scrub was present at the shower. There was also a well-scented shampoo and shower gel present in two dispensers.

The music was genuinely very pleasant and suited a building and decor of that time period. The music in fact was so good that I even had a song found by Shazam.

I put the song here in advance and then you can listen for yourself:

• Half a Family by Christopher Dicker.

Really beautiful.

I took a basic L package of 3 hours for 200€.
Along with a luxury appetizer package at 35€.

Facilities or Possibilities

•Sauna
•Steam room
•Infrared sauna
•Jacuzzi
•Bathroom
•Indoor area
•Outdoor area
•Treatments
•possibility of overnight stay
•Cold shower

General opinion

This Private Spa which recently got a new owner named Anja is really a hidden gem in the Belgian Private Spa scene.
The concept is almost unique in its existence because of the building and its location but also because of the hospitality.
The whole experience is just right.

All Pictures