Provence: 5 intimate Boutique Hotels to discover this Summer
Alongside the palaces and large luxury chains that are at home on the Côte d'Azur, these exclusive retreats in the heart of the Alpilles and their surroundings reflect a desire for authenticity. These appeal to a clientele in search of "different" experiences. Between intimate hotels full of works of art, charming houses with hotel services, and bastides, we set out for you to discover the well-kept secrets of Provence.
Maison de Sens
Surrounded by a magnificent park at the gates of Tarascon, the Maison de Sens, a bright and welcoming place, lives up to its name.
The owner of the place, coach and logotherapist Emilie Briand, invites souls in search of physical and mental well-being to gain a little energy in the face of life's difficulties and gently detach themselves from the daily turmoil.
Burnout, grief or illness - here one can recover or to reflect on personal and professional challenges. For a few days or a longer stay, Briand offers tailored coaching and targeted logotherapy sessions alongside an innate sense of hospitality.
In this Provençal cocoon, worthy of a home story in the finest interior magazines, we reflect like nowhere else on the meaning of our lives, identify the values that structure us and bring out our buried aspirations.
Emilie is also a lecturer at Sciences Po Paris, a specialist in new management practices and leadership, and through her thanks to an adapted programme - in addition to coaching or logotherapy sessions - times for rest, reflection, but also rejuvenating activities such as meditation, yoga, hiking, introduction to permaculture, cooking and pottery classes, she aims to meet all needs. Every problem, every task of the guest is taken into consideration.
From time to time, mother-child stays are also organised. This is a unique opportunity to get together, to get to know each other better and to spend time without stress and pressure. In terms of comfort, the rooms and suites of the Maison de Sens are spacious, beautifully furnished, and open to the impressions of the surrounding nature. Dining is environmentally conscious with vegetarian dishes prepared on-site from local harvests.
Domaine de Manville
A rural palace in the heart of the Alpilles, Domaine de Manville proves that luxury and respect for the environment can be reconciled.
In the heart of the Alpilles Natural Park, at the foot of Les Baux, the Domaine de Manville, a small Provençal paradise, is a dream come true with its breathtaking panorama, its green landscapes and its rectangular farmsteads, olive trees and cypresses.
Of the old agricultural farm, converted in 1908 by a certain Louis-Alexandre Blanc de Manville, a sheepfold and its outbuildings remain today, part of a luxurious palace with 30 rooms and suites.
Once conceived as a family home, they are now the centre of this magical place dedicated to everything we love in life: One hundred hectares of pure nature where a 5-star hotel coexists, luxury villas perfectly integrated into the landscape, a spa, two swimming pools, a cinema (inaugurated by Jean Reno), a cosy bar, three restaurants, one of which is even a gourmet restaurant, a vegetable garden offering the latter, and an environmentally conscious 18-hole golf course.
All surrounded by pine, oak and centuries-old olive trees. In terms of hospitality, the rooms, which add a tasteful touch to the Provençal style, all look out onto a beautiful central courtyard and its outdoor pool. The elegant renovation focused on natural materials, stone and limestone walls, wood panelling and woven rushes. In the kitchen, bistro and romantic dinner, in the gourmet restaurant L'Aupiho (the Alpilles in Provençal), where Belgian chef Lieven Van Aken subtly prepares local specialities.
The property also offers an Esthederm spa with five massage cabins, a whirlpool, a hammam, an ice fountain and an indoor pool. And for those who really want to feel at home (but better), Domaine de Manville offers nine ultra-chic hotel cottages (with three or four bedrooms) equipped with an equipped kitchen, a sun terrace with a barbecue area and a private swimming pool different from that of the hotel, all with the services of a caring butler 24 hours a day. And - last but not least: for families, everything here is organised so that both parents and children have a dream holiday. Between the Kids Club and its tailor-made activities, the introductory golf lessons and the steaks and chips served in the dining room of your private villa, this is the perfect getaway.
Villa Sant'Angelo
Five years of work were needed to turn the former monastery into a little jewel of a hotel, straight from the past and yet perfectly in tune with the times.
Born from the somewhat crazy and "excessive" spirit of Jean-Brice Garella, the Villa Saint-Ange is a luxury hotel in the heart of Aix-en-Provence. A more than unique hotel with its imposing ceiling decorations, family portraits galore, its Napoleon III furniture, its porcelain and clocks unearthed here and there by antique dealers in the region and beyond.
With its Empire spirit, this movie-like hotel is a journey back in time, a door to another dimension where authentic luxury and know-how go hand in hand. And for good reason. No fewer than 37 companies, half of which bear the "Living Heritage" label, took part in the renovation work.
Painters, zinc workers, gilders, plasterers, upholsterers, they all put their unique skills at the service of this dream from the past. With its 35 elegant rooms and suites, all renovated in an old-fashioned style, you will feel like Marie-Antoinette for a night. From its wooded park, whose entrance is guarded by two imposing lions, you can enjoy the absolute tranquillity of the Provençal gardens. Nestled in a magnificent wrought-iron glass roof, its restaurant seems to have stepped out of a fairy tale with its crystal chandeliers, its huge chest of drawers, its Christofle cutlery and its menu signed by the local chef Nadège Serret.
On the relaxation side, the 28-metre swimming pool and the spa with its signature treatments offer an incredibly relaxing break, just a few hundred metres from the Cours Mirabeau, the heart of the city of Aix-en-Provence.
The keywords here are tranquillity, luxury, and discretion. An unforgettable visual and temporal change of scenery.
Bastide de Fléchon
Intimacy, luxury, and opulence: the Bastide de Fléchon represents the quintessence of the modern Provençal spirit, where ancient stones merge with fabrics by Pierre Frey and where Le Labo beauty products reign supreme on the bathroom's small wooden stool.
Nestled in the pretty village of Maussane-les-Alpilles, at the end of a small road that crosses the scrubland, this former 18th-century residence has been saved from decay and, after renovation by Geneva architects Alain Meylan and Liliana Atilova (founders of K architectes, a firm specialising in high-end residences), it stands proudly amid centuries-old cypress and olive trees.
Here we wake up in the heart of authentic Provence. Between limestones from Les Baux, wrought iron, exposed beams, furniture found at local flea markets, upholstered sofas and fabrics by Pierre Frey, Elitis or Le Cuona. This family home, thought out down to the smallest detail, gives us away in search of fresh air and stylish idleness with its five double bedrooms (including a master of 70 m2) and their own bathroom, its pretty rustic kitchen and its dining room overlooking the large living room.
In the garden overlooking the Alpilles Park, a graphic infinity pool borders a pétanque court, a barbecue area and a large table under the rose bushes (perfect place to organise meals with friends until the end of the night). Without ostentation, but with all the elegance and comfort that today's digital nomads aspire to, the Bastide de Fléchon mixes Provençal inspirations and exotic influences, warm tones and organic lines, harmony and contrasts. Conveniently, the rooms are cleaned every day, as is the continental breakfast served every morning.
In addition, it is possible to request the services of a cook, waiter, babysitter, sports trainer and masseur. Or you can rent a mountain bike, play golf or hire a boat. Even if sunbathing and admiring the scenery is the most suitable activity to simply stop and enjoy the time for longer.
Mas de Chabran
Imagine sun-drenched reception rooms and glazed arches opening onto a shady 3.5-acre park, an arbor extended around a large swimming pool, and ultra-cozy bedrooms with cloud beds.
With its Taiwanese statues, its maharajah beds, faded and recoloured old carpets, its antique carved wooden doors found in India, its 1960s Murano lights and natural coatings, and its contemporary paintings, Mas de Chabran is a place of living apart, far from the traditional cliché of the Provençal villa.
Nestled between Arles and Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, this historic residence dating from 1738 has become a true oasis of tranquillity, blending heritage and modernity with architect Alain Meylan and his companion, decorator Liliana Atilova .
After an ultra-natural facelift that preserves the volume and architectural features of the façade and living rooms, this Eden of 840 m2 on three levels is intended as a second home rather than a hotel and is rented out as an entire residence for a whole week in high season.
Living barefoot in a private holiday home and enjoying the services of a luxury hotel to boot has already been very tempting for many well-known names.
Its eight air-conditioned bedrooms with limestone baths or showers and its lounges with deep sofas, antique tables, and artwork are decorated with vintage pieces combining woven leather, carved wooden doors, and designer lighting. A swimming pool, spa, sauna, gym, and cinema room are added to the original celebrations including stables and two riding arenas. A unique and super-exclusive retreat where you can recharge your batteries and sample the French way of life and exquisite local and seasonal cuisine.
