It’s time to start planning a summer vacation – and nothing beats getting away from it all to the French countryside. Look what Baroque Travel found in Provence!
Perched on a hill in Luberon in the heart of Provence, surrounded by olive trees and lavender fields, lies a magnificent boutique hotel, the Domaine des Andéols. It offers a unique experience, a quiet getaway in breathtaking surroundings, complemented by gourmet cuisine.
Here, in the midst of idyllic French countryside, the owners have created a series of Nature Suites that open to the outside with sliding glass doors, offering spectacular views of the lavender fields and the valley from your bed, your bath or the sofa in the living room. Outdoors there’s a private terrace, a personal vegetable garden to cultivate and the beauty, tranquility and space that comes with staying in the country.
The hotel also offers a series of villas, each with its own personal theme and personality, a house of dreams that envelops the guest in a warm embrace and environment that is colourful, creative and avant gard. Each tells its own story through paintings, photographs and sculptures that evoke a theme. There’s the Red House, the White House, the House of Lovers, House of the Traveler (which has its own heated pool), House of Elsewhere, House of Waterfalls (3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a private garden, terrace and heated pool), the House of the Artist and the House of Friends, plus let’s not forget Alice House…
Creativity everywhere here, inside and outside, a treasure trove of rare and unique objects, furniture created by famous designers and important works of art. In addition, annual exhibitions are held here in collaboration with the prestigious Paris Gallery Kamel Mennour.
All the senses are catered for in this extraordinary establishment, including an unsurpassed dining experience in two restaurants. There’s The Plane Tree, where guests dine on lunch under a stunning plane tree, and the House of Flavors (Restaurant La Maison des Saveurs), currently being renovated but opening for gourmet delights every evening from August 2019. Using the produce from the garden as well as authentic, organic, traditional flavors, these restaurants offer menus filled with sophisticated Provençal dishes.
The beautiful pool is a great place to relax with a cocktail and admire the scenic views of the valleys that stretch to the horizon. There’s also a Spa with a Turkish bath, sauna and indoor pool and a choice of wellness treatments.
Of course, that’s not all. Domaine des Andeols also offers all sorts of activities for guests, including walks in the heart of the Luberon, with its quaint little villages, fortified castles, traditional markets and festivals. Guests can also explore the grounds of their paradise retreat, with its waterfalls, ponds, pools, orchards and vegetable gardens, fields of reeds and flower beds, cypresses, Aleppo pines and Lebanese cedars, olive, plane and palm trees.
It may be a slice of paradise in the middle of the countryside, but this exquisite boutique hotel is not difficult to get to. Avignon is 45km away, while Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is just 46km away. The nearest airport is Avignon-Provence Airport, 37km from the property.