Hotels of the month

We tested Capelongue, a 5-star hotel in Luberon

Near the village of Bonnieux in the Luberon, Capelongue has undergone a facelift. The 5-star hotel is set in a Provencal village, with a Michelin-starred restaurant, a wood-fired kitchen and a Roman spa. We tested it.

The pitch | Capelongue, an ode to eternal Provence

Perched high above Bonnieux, in the heart of the Luberon region, Domaine de Capelongue reopened its doors at the beginning of May 2024 after extensive renovations. Under the impetus of the Beaumier hotel group, the historic 17th and 18th century buildings were carefully restored by Jaune Architecture, a firm headed by Paula Alvarez de Toledo and Marine Delaloy. Their mission: to redefine the estate as a village, while respecting traditional local architecture and avoiding Provencal pastiche. The challenge was met.

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What's the hotel like?

With its typical Provencal architecture worthy of Marcel Pagnol's novels, Domaine de Capelongue stands like a picturesque hamlet amid lavender fields and cypress trees reaching proudly for the sky. Surrounded by rustic buildings, this harmonious composition evokes a veritable postcard of Provence. As soon as you arrive, the unruffled calm of the setting soothes and invites you to reconnect with what's essential. Rated 5 stars, this authentically charming Vaucluse hotel features an old village square with a fountain, stone bastides, an antique swimming pool, as well as two restaurants, a café and a spa.

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The departmental road leading to the hilltop village of Bonnieux crosses the architecturally sparse estate, dividing it into two distinct parts. On one side, guests can enjoy the main swimming pool, the Michelin-starred restaurant - La Bastide, headed by chef Noël Bérard - the Capelongue café and a library with an interesting collection of art books and novels opening onto a cobbled courtyard. On the other side of the estate, a former dovecote has been converted into a large master suite and several duplex suites overlooking La Bergerie, chef Mathieu Guivarch's wood-fired restaurant. From the dining room or the terrace, where you can enjoy a leg of lamb from Sisteron cooked over an open fire, a rack of pork from Mont Ventoux or guinea fowl from Le Thor flambéed over an open fire, the 60-seat table reveals a magnificent panorama. Not far away, the swimming corridor runs alongside the dry-stone building of the 300 m² spa. The spa features a Roman bath, a hammam and several treatment rooms, ensuring relaxation and well-being during your stay at the 5-star hotel.

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What are the rooms like?

Spacious and pleasant, the 57 rooms and suites are scattered throughout the estate, where the gardens - redesigned by Atelier Lamarck - abound with jasmine, tamarisk, rosemary and lavender. Adorned in warm tones and natural materials, they harmonize with the plastered walls, tiled floors, ochre colors and woodwork, creating a rustic, welcoming atmosphere. Many rooms are interconnected, making them ideal for family stays. Among them, 504, a Duplex Suite visited by our editors, stands out for its mezzanine bedroom and intimate terrace hidden by vegetation, perfect for relaxing in total discretion. The estate's signature Junior Suite is particularly prized for its highly photogenic panorama: equipped with a mini terrace, it offers a breathtaking view of the pool and the village of Bonnieux.

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What makes the difference?

The estate's Michelin-starred restaurant, La Bastide, is rooted in the terroir of Provence and led by chef Noël Bérard, who earned his first macaron in 2022. A devotee of traditional recipes and exceptional produce, the chef offers his creations in two tasting menus at dinnertime (Luberon and Maraîchers) and a three-course "Inspirations & retour de marché" menu at lunchtime. In the Luberon menu, local ingredients of impeccable quality make up a refined cuisine du Midi: marinated Luberon veal, Roussillon snails flavored with pastis, roasted eel from the Etang de Thau sublimated by refined caviar, and grilled lamb from Sisteron escorted by a galette, chard and spring onions.

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Good to know?

The establishment owns another restaurant in the village of Lourmarin, Bacheto. Meaning "to share a good meal with people you love" in old Provençal, the table offers delicious local cuisine at a very reasonable price: octopus with citrus fruits, charcuterie from the Ventoux, tapenade and grilled focaccia, saddle of lamb flavored with garlic confit and rosemary and roasted vegetables.

 

The room to book?

One of the duplex suites with the bedroom on the mezzanine, the signature junior suite overlooking the gardens, or if your family and your wallet allow it, the large pigeonnier suite with a magnificent view of the Petit Luberon.

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Things to remember

Whether for a family getaway or a romantic weekend, Capelongue promises comfort and serenity in Provençal lands. Renovations have magnified the authenticity and charm of Domaine de Capelongue, while introducing subtle contemporary touches that enhance the experience without distorting the spirit of the place.

 

5 things we loved about Capelongue

  • The Michelin-starred restaurant, La Bastide, by chef Noël Bérard
  • The decor and traditional Provencal materials
  • The village style of the hotel, with its small square and myriad stone buildings
  • La Bergerie and its wood-fired kitchen
  • The spa's Roman bath.
Practical

Capelongue, Beaumier hotel & Spa

57 keys, from €541 per night.

Les Claparèdes,
550 Chemin des Cabanes,
84480 Bonnieux

All locations are independently selected by our specialist journalists. If you make a reservation, we may receive an affiliate commission.

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