La Bastide de Marie

France
Europe

The Experience

This classic 18th-century manor stands beside a sentinel of cypress trees among 37 acres of low-lying vines; in summer, it basks in the purple haze and heady scent of the lavender fields that define the Luberon, this romantic corner of Provence. The laid-back atmosphere is immediately evident. There's no formal reception (though the resident bulldog might manage a thump of his tail as you enter), and oversize sofas, antique dressers and armoires sourced from local flea markets and filled with books and jam jars give a comfortable farmhouse feel. Such lack of pretension is in harmony with the unbuttoned, relaxed spirit of the place and the key to its unique charm.

The Rooms

Each bedroom is conceived around a color theme reflecting the flora of Provence. While only the suites can boast the luxury of space, they all have seductively quirky features. Some are tucked beneath the eaves; some are split-level, with canopied beds or with romantic freestanding claw-foot bathtubs taking pride of place. Yet elegant rusticity is the predominant theme in all, with lime-washed beams, honey-colored flagstone or terra-cotta floors and exposed stonework on exterior walls.

The Service

A refreshing antidote to the fussy service and starchy formality so often encountered in the French provinces, this is the kind of congenial hospitality that encourages a guest to put his feet up and treat the place like home. Even dogs are welcome.

The Highlights

The unfussy atmosphere is everywhere, from the garden with ivy-clad terraces for reading, sunbathing and dining to the conservatory-like kitchen, where guests are encouraged to wander and watch the chefs preparing dinner. And when you've sampled the wine from the estate's own winery; imbibed all the honey you can from the resident hives; unwound beside the hotel's split-level pools; been massaged with a local organic potion from the grotto-spa—then, and only then, is it time to explore the white chalk hills, gorges and scented plateau of the Luberon.

 

Find Hotel Deals on Yahoo Travel»