Luberon: chic countryside in 5 charming hotels

1. La Bastide de Marie: a charming hotel in the Luberon

Imagine an 18th-century farmhouse that, transformed into an exceptional residence, has lost none of its original identity. Better still, it has retained its strong roots in the land, and has become a thriving agricultural estate. This ideal location lies between Ménerbes and Bonnieux. Its name? La Bastide de Marie. Restored with admirable attention to authenticity, this Luberon hotel is immediately welcoming, even before you cross the threshold: the avenue of cypress, olive and lavender trees lining the entrance forms a delicately fragrant hedge of honor.

The wonder continues as you pass through the door into the main building. The decor, a subtle alchemy of rustic and period furniture, lovingly sourced from antique dealers, creates a warm, lively and intimate atmosphere. In the main room, which has retained the immense volumes of the former barn, you'll love curling up in the soft sofas around the colossal fireplace... almost hoping that the mistral wind will be a pretext for an evening blaze! Upstairs, you can wander through the lounges or the library when you're not enjoying the lush outdoor spaces or the two swimming pools, so beneficial against the daring southern sun. You'll also appreciate spending time at the Pure Altitude spa, which offers a wide range of mountain-inspired treatments.

Open from the end of March to the end of October, this five-star Provencal establishment offers a remarkable choice of accommodation: 12 rooms, including 8 suites in the main building, as well as luxury villas with top-of-the-range hotel services, such as a dedicated housekeeper, are the hallmarks of the Maisons & Hôtel Sibuet establishments. What do they have in common? Soft ambiences in these stone residences, magnificently refurbished to offer optimal comfort.

Available on the vineyard or patio side, the 25 m² Chambre Bastide is designed for two people. The chromatic universe is based on identified hues: aster mauve, red ochre, lime green or mimosa yellow... The bathroom is either open to the bedroom or separate, with bath and shower, depending on the configuration. The more spacious Suite Marie is 45 to 50 m² and can accommodate two adults and two children. It has a view of the vineyard or gardens, and comprises a bedroom and sitting area. The bathroom is equipped with a bathtub, with separate toilet and shower. Designed for family stays, the Abeille Family Suite spans 67 m² on the garden level. It comprises a double bedroom, a twin bedroom, a living room with sofa and a terrace with direct access to the gardens. The space features a bathroom with bathtub, as well as a separate shower room.

Beyond the main building, La Bastide de Marie offers several villas for rent. The 2-bedroom Villa, with a surface area of 120 m², can accommodate up to four people. It features two bedrooms with private bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a living room and an outdoor area with private heated pool. The 170 m² Villa Grenache offers five bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, a dining room, a fully equipped kitchen, a large living room and an outdoor lounge. The centerpiece is a private heated outdoor swimming pool. The even larger Villa Syrah, located right next to the Bastide, spans 200 m² and can accommodate up to twelve guests.

Finally, Mas Vermentino, a renovated 270 m² farmhouse, is set in over four hectares of garrigue planted with vines, olive trees and truffle oaks, with a view of the Luberon and Saint-Hilaire Abbey. It comprises six bedrooms with bathrooms, a dining room with fireplace, a fully equipped kitchen, a large living room, a TV room and a wine cellar. The exterior features a heated swimming pool, a summer kitchen with barbecue, outdoor living and dining areas with Provencal fireplace, a curé garden and a pétanque court.

Favorite: The view over the vineyards planted with Grenache and Syrah, to which Roussanne, Vermantino, Cinsault and Mourvedre have been added. Cellar master Arnaud Bressy composes two rosé and three red AOC Luberon wines, which can be enjoyed at the Table de la Bastide or, after a visit to the Caveau, in the tasting room on a wine tour.

2. Coquillade Provence: a five-star hamlet in the Luberon

Atypical, exotic and irresistibly seductive. A five-star Relais & Châteaux-affiliated establishment, Coquillade Provence boasts 70 rooms, suites and villas. Its secret to privacy and comfort: space. Built on the heights of the Luberon in an 11th-century hamlet once inhabited by Cistercian monks from the Abbey of Sénanque, this charming village hotel has skilfully preserved its Provencal architecture and soul. The charm of the pale stone houses, ochre facades and traditionally tiled roofs rivals the splendour of the panorama (which extends as far as Mont Ventoux) and the vineyards that surround the hotel. The hotel is inextricably linked with its Domaine de La Coquillade, a 20-hectare Ventoux vineyard planted with organically grown Marsanne, Roussanne, Syrah and Grenache grapes. Not only does this marvellous landscape lend itself to excursions along the Sentier Coquillade, which winds its way through forests, lavender fields and olive groves overlooking the Luberon National Park, but it also provides an opportunity to enjoy an oenological interlude through vineyards and cellars. And, of course, it ends with a wine tasting accompanied by local bread and cheeses. It's worth noting that both restaurants (the bistronomic Les Vignes & Son Jardin, predominantly Provençal, and the Cipressa, cultivating Mediterranean flavours) incorporate the daily harvests from the vegetable garden and orchard into their cuisine, and offer the spectacle of sun-drenched hillsides for one, and the freshness of swimming pools and the fragrant shade of lemon trees for the other.

Coquillade Provence is a great place to relax and enjoy the good life (its spa in the middle of the vineyards, access to which is included for hotel guests, contributes to this), and a wonderful stopping-off point for exploring the region. From March to the end of October, its concierge service offers a range of turnkey experiences to discover the region's wonders, from a Caterham excursion to a hot-air balloon flight, not forgetting a trip to discover olive oil (including the secrets of production through a private guided tour of a traditional mill). The Luberon, in all its splendor.

Favorite: For cycling enthusiasts, Coquillade Provence is a must. Ideally located in the greenery, served by several cycle paths, the hotel regularly welcomes athletes who come to prepare triathlons or trails in the ochre cliffs of Roussillon, and offers top-of-the-range bikes for hire to discover the surrounding area at your own pace.

Coquillade Provence
70 keys, prices from 252 euros per night
Hameau Le Perrotet, 84400 Gargas

3. Le Phébus & Spa: the empire of flavors

Nestled between Roussillon and Gordes, this superb hotel in Provence, listed as a Monument Historique for its mas built on medieval remains, has been a family estate for some forty years. At its head is chef Xavier Mathieu, who also presides over the destinies of the restaurant that bears his name, La Table de Xavier Mathieu, which boasts 1 star in the Guide Rouge, as well as those of the second establishment, Le Café de la Fontaine. From late April to late October, it's only natural that he should magnify local produce, reinterpreting Provence's colorful gourmet classics according to the market and his inspirations: the Luberon is revealed through the taste buds, in all its nuances. You can further immerse yourself in the alchemical secret of this cuisine by dining at the chef's table, in the kitchen and facing the brigade, for a seven-course dinner, drinks included.

If the gastronomic approach is a good reason to stop off at this five-star Relais & Châteaux, there are other reasons to extend your stay. Starting with the spa (with heated indoor pool, three treatment rooms, rest area, hammam, sensory shower, fitness room, plus outdoor pool overlooking the Luberon, natural pool, Jacuzzi, relaxation area and fitness trail) and the mas and villa, vast luxury homes with terraces and grounds, guaranteeing exceptional services in an idyllic Provencal setting. We also offer tailor-made programs to embrace the Luberon and its local produce: wine tours or gourmet escapes on electric bikes or vintage vehicles, topped up with a gourmet picnic designed by the chef.

Favorite: Cooking classes with the chef, open to all.

Le Phébus & Spa
30 keys, prices from 303 euros per night
508 route de Murs, 84220 Joucas

4. Hôtel Capelongue, the Beaumier spirit in the heart of Luberon

Known and appreciated for its collection of luxury boutique hotels stretching from the Alps to the Côte d'Azur, Beaumier couldn't overlook the Luberon. This natural destination lends itself perfectly to the company's philosophy: to select the most beautiful environments, establishments with a proven history and authenticity, whose architecture and ambience aim for the top end of the market, while respecting the soul of the place. With, as an added bonus, the Beaumier spirit. In other words, an impressive number of escapades to be experienced inside and outside the hotel walls. Halfway between Aix and Avignon, overlooking the Claparèdes plateau, this lavender-scented hamlet is home to a Provençal estate and its many outbuildings, from early April to mid-October. There's plenty of room to accommodate the Luberon spa and its made-to-measure Biologique Recherche treatments, outdoor pools, gym, yoga deck, padel court and bike workshop!

On the restaurant front, the five-star hotel boasts two outstanding restaurants... and a lot of attention. On one side, La Bastide (1 Michelin star), where chef Noël Bérard transmutes terroir into a gastronomy worthy of a master painting: Sisteron lamb grilled with lavender honey, carrots with bottarga or chocolate texture with candied olives and Nyons black olive ice cream are visual poems as much as they are gustatory! On the other, La Bergerie, where chef Mathieu Guivarch honors Luberon cuisine over a wood-fired oven: truffle pizza, creamy spelt risotto and Sisteron lamb are on the menu, followed by a dessert buffet, all overlooking the village of Bonnieux.

This privileged position, in the heart of unspoilt countryside, obviously benefits the rooms and suites: vast and uncluttered, they offer unostentatious luxury that's terribly local, thanks to the joint work of architects Marine Delaloy and Paula Alvarez de Toledo, designer Jérémie du Chaffaut, who signed the seats, and basket-maker Gabriel Thiney, whose wicker creations adorn the apartments. Admire the signature suite in the former dovecote, highly recommended for a stay for two!

Special tip: In addition to the myriad experiences on offer (pétanque, live music, market day, tasting at the estate...), Capelongue offers unique artistic getaways (book 48 hours in advance, May to October) to learn about ceramics or floral art. Isn't this inspiring setting the ideal place to indulge?

5. Domaine de Fontenille, a hedonistic bastide in the heart of the vineyards

To Baudelaire's "luxe, calme et volupté" triptych, Domaine de Fontenille adds its own: gentleness, hedonism and simplicity. A simplicity acquired by dint of perfection and stripped of anything that might alter its original grace. A Relais & Châteaux-affiliated family home with the Clef Verte label, this XVIIᵉ century Provençal bastide built of natural stone is hidden beneath century-old trees, in the heart of a vast green expanse: 40 hectares of vineyards and gardens. An oasis of refreshing coolness as well as an agricultural treasure: products from this permaculture-grown terroir partly supply the Domaine's bistronomic restaurant, La Cuisine d'Amélie. The rest is sourced from local producers and artisans. Enjoy contemporary Provençal cuisine in the shade of the terrace, or watch the sun go down, while tasting white, red and rosé Luberon wines produced on site. But also artisan olive oils from Provence, Minorca and Tuscany, as well as Provence honeys and jams made in the other Fontenille Collection establishments. Summer events (brazier dinners, jazz evenings...) make the experience even more magical. A charming hotel in the Luberon

The rooms and suites feature noble materials such as solid wood, linen and stone, while the decor is subtle and masterful, blending Margaux Keller's eye for design with Judith Philibert's ceramics. The gardens are an invitation to stroll, and also serve as a starting point for excursions by bike, canoe on the Durance or horseback in the Luberon.

Favourite: Le Goûter du Chef, a delicious institution, is the rendez-vous to which guests are invited at tea time. A gourmet moment to be shared in the bastide's grand salons or in the shade of the terrace around a homemade pastry: fruit sponge cake, orange blossom-scented navettes, lavender honey madeleines, sweet fougasses, almond croquants or olive oil cake.

Domaine de Fontenille
25 keys, prices from 213 euros per night
Route de Roquefraiche, 84360 Lauris