Article written by Elisa - Travel Writer & Local in France
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Where to Stay in Provence for a Relaxing Holiday
Traveling in the Provence countryside is the fuel for wonderful dreams. This area is warm almost year-round and filled with beautiful, mountainous countryside punctuated by picturesque towns. It’s this atmosphere that makes Provence one of the world’s best holiday destinations.
If you’re ready to fulfill your dreams and explore this area in France, then you need to do it in style. And the best way to do that is by staying in some of the best luxury hotels in Provence, France.
Traditional Architecture in Provence
The rural architecture of Provence features two distinctive types of farmhouses: the mas and the bastide. Some of these traditional constructions are today some of the best hotels in Provence.
A MAS was a largely self-sufficient economic unit, which could produce fruits, vegetables, meat, milk, and even silk. The house was usually built of local stone with a sloping Roman tile roof. It was a long rectangle, two or three stories high, with the kitchen and space for animals on the ground floor, and bedrooms, storage space for food, and often a room for raising silkworms on the first floor. As the family grew larger, the mas would be extended to make new rooms. The mas usually faced south to provide protection from the Mistral wind and it had few, small windows to keep out the summer heat and to keep in the heat in winter.
A BASTIDE was the house of a wealthier farmer and usually was in the shape of a square, with an interior courtyard. In the 19th and 20th centuries, many bastides were occupied by wealthy city residents from Marseille. The Provencal bastides (stone houses) differ from the bastides in Occitanie, which are a type of new town founded in the Middle Ages, with a regular layout and a central square.
Best Hotels in Provence Countryside
Benvengudo
- Location: Les Baux-de-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône)
- What’s nearby: Arles, Saint Rémy, Massif des Alpilles, St Michel de Frigolet Abbey.
Located in beautiful Les Baux-de-Provence, Benvengudo is a refurbished Provencal house that still retains its period charm. The rooms are comfortable and elegantly designed and boast beautiful antique furniture.
When you’re trying to decide where to stay in Provence, the charm and facilities at this old-world hotel will sweep you off your feet. It has an outdoor swimming pool and a restaurant serving Provencal cuisine based on seasonal produce and paired with just the right wine.
And just to make your meals that extra bit luxurious, you can eat sitting outside on the terrace where you can enjoy the fresh night air.
Domaine du Mas de Pierre
- Location: Saint Paul de Vence (Alpes-Maritimes)
- What’s nearby: Saint Paul de Vence, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Nice
Designed with romance in mind, the Le Mas de Pierre is close to the beautiful town of Saint Paul de Vence in Provence, set amidst olive trees and gardens. It was the first ‘Relais et Châteaux’ to receive a 5-star rating and is just a short drive away from Nice and the best of French Riviera.
This is one of the best luxury hotels in Provence for a romantic trip, filled with delicious food, warm country air, and a distinctly French way of life. It’s set on a 2-hectare property, and each accommodation has its own terrace, garden, or loggia for complete privacy during your stay.
Domaine du Mas de Pierre also has three beautiful pools and different outdoor spaces, perfect for a leisurely swim at the end of a long day. The hotel also offers a spa area for beauty treatments and delectable French cuisine at the hotel’s restaurant La Table de Pierre.
Château Saint-Martin & Spa
- Location: Vence (Alpes-Maritimes)
- What’s nearby: Saint Paul de Vence, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Parc National des Préalpes d’Azur
With its legendary past and natural surroundings, this restored 12th-century Knight Templar Castle offers a stay full of mystery and understated elegance.
The Château Saint-Martin & Spa is located in Vence and offers stunning views of the Mediterranean. And the romantic atmosphere is continued in the rooms, which have views of the countryside, the sea, or the garden so you can contemplate nature in private.
As if this wasn’t enough, this château-hotel has a swimming pool and several restaurants on-site, including a Michelin-starred restaurant for slow, languorous meals with stunning views. There’s also a bar for an aperitif or a late-night drink.
Château de Valmer
- Location: La Croix-Valmer (Var)
- What’s nearby: Saint Tropez, Port Grimaud, Saint-Maxime, Bornes-les-Mimosas
If you’re wondering where to stay in the Provence countryside when you want luxurious accommodation close to the sea, this château is the answer. Château de Valmer is a truly unique property near St Tropez that’s only 300 meters from the sea and has its own private beach at Gigaro Beach. It’s surrounded by vineyards and the Provençal countryside, giving it a private, isolated feel that’s perfect for romance and relaxation.
With a palmeraie and its own swimming pool and elegant suites overlooking the sea or the garden, this once private residence has a fitness center and a beach-side restaurant. For something more refined you can dine on traditional dishes from the Provence region at La Palmerie, the property’s Michelin-starred restaurant.
Le Mas de la Rose
- Location: Orgon (Bouches-du-Rhone)
- What’s nearby: Menerbes, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Saint Rémy, Parc Régional Naturel des Alpilles
If you want to enjoy the absolute peace and quiet of the Provence countryside during your visit, then spend your time at the Le Mas de la Rose. Located a few minutes from picturesque Eygalières in southern France and surrounded by the Alpilles, Le Mas de la Rose is a renovated 17th-century hamlet that was once home to sheepfolds.
The hotel is nestled in a 30-hectare park planted with pine trees, olive trees, and lavender that offers that idyllic Provençal atmosphere.
With individually decorated guestrooms, some of which have terraces and others with private gardens, this hotel is ideal if you want to rest and relax in luxury. It has an outdoor swimming pool with a hot tub and waterfall, as well as a restaurant when you’re ready to try some local delicacies.
La Bastide de Moustiers
- Location: Moustiers-Sainte-Marie (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence)
- What’s nearby: Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Manosque, Gorges du Verdon, Lac Sainte-Croix
The romantic Bastide De Moustiers is in the village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie in the Alpes de Haute Provence region. The hotel is just a 10-minute drive away from the lavender fields, Sainte-Croix Lake, and Gorges du Verdon. Formerly owned by a wealthy master-potter, the rural home was turned into a charming hotel by renowned chef Alain Ducasse.
Bastide De Moustiers has cozy individual rooms named for a smell, color, or image in the Provence region. The building is surrounded by fragrant gardens and fields of lavender and offers a romantic atmosphere that can’t be fully described with words.
The hotel has a swimming pool as well as a Michelin-starred restaurant with locally sourced foods. The combination of the idyllic surroundings, the welcoming rooms, and the delicious foods makes this one of the best luxury hotels in Provence, France.
Bastide des Demoiselles
- Location: Roussillon (Vaucluse)
- What’s nearby: Roussillon, Gordes, Sénanque Abbey, Parc Naturel Régional du Luberon
Located in the Provence countryside in the village of Roussillon, the Bastide des Demoiselles was a silkworm farm in the 18th century and boasts period features like dry-stone walls, travertine floors, and original beams.
This hotel has a welcoming, family atmosphere and offers a full continental, English, or Irish breakfast every morning. It also has a bar where you can have a relaxing drink at the end of a day of sightseeing or activities.
One of the best hotels in Provence, the building has its own outdoor pool and sun terrace where you can soak up the warm climate and scented country air.
Airelles, La Bastide de Gordes
- Location: Gordes (Vaucluse)
- What’s nearby: Roussillon, Gordes, Sénanque Abbey, Fontaine de Vaucluse
You simply can’t pass up the views from this luxury hotel in Provence. Nestled in the hilltop village of Gordes and close to some of the most beautiful villages in Provence, Airelles La Bastide de Gordes has stunning views over the Luberon valley. It also has spacious rooms with bathtubs and hanging gardens.
There are actually two restaurants in Airelles, La Bastide de Gordes, both of which serve up delectable Provencal cuisine paired with regional wines. You can eat in the dining room or on one of the terraces overlooking the valley. And when you’re done, you can sit out on the sun deck by the pool and enjoy the beautiful valley views.