Luberon’s finest spa hotels for a relaxing retreat

1. La Bastide de Marie, an intimate property with chic, rustic charm

Nestled between Ménerbes and Bonnieux, this restored 18th-century stone farmhouse has been converted into a 5-star hotel in the Luberon. The main living space, housed in the old barn, offers lounges and a library upstairs, for a break from reading or board games. Decorated in perfect harmony with the spirit of the place, the rooms and suites are all arranged with a fine choice of furniture sourced from local antique dealers. The bathroom basins are by Philippe Starck, a much-appreciated design reference. 

When it comes to dining, François Martin is in charge of the kitchen. Trained at Michelin-starred restaurants, the chef creates dishes that showcase the ingredients. Every morning, he goes to the market, chooses whatever inspires him, and builds his menu around his finds of the day. His dishes are meticulously crafted but always straightforward, featuring herbs and heirloom vegetables grown using permaculture techniques on the estate. For wine lovers and those interested in how it is made, it is possible to participate in the life of the vineyard during your stay and taste the wines in the cellars of Domaine de Marie.

On the 26 hectares of vineyards, in a 4-hectare scrubland planted with vines, olive trees, fig trees, and truffle oaks, four luxury villas with 5 and 6 bedrooms welcome travelers throughout the year. First, there is a 1,345-square-foot villa with two bedrooms, perfect for four people and equipped with its own private pool. Further away, Villa Syrah offers 2,150 square feet, five air-conditioned bedrooms, five bathrooms, a heated pool, and a large terrace for ten guests. Villa Grenache, also designed for ten people, offers 170 m² of space, five air-conditioned bedrooms, five bathrooms, and a heated swimming pool overlooking the vineyards. Finally, Mas Vermentino is ideal for large groups: 270 m², six air-conditioned bedrooms (four of which can be rented separately), six bathrooms, a heated swimming pool, and a terrace overlooking the hills.

Each villa benefits from five-star hotel services: a housekeeper provides daily cleaning, guests receive a welcome basket containing mineral water, fruit, and a bottle of wine upon arrival, and breakfast and afternoon tea are prepared every day. The concierge service is available from morning to night, and access to the Pure Altitude Spa is naturally included. For meals, the experience can be tailored to your desires: a chef can cook on site, a catering service can deliver dishes to be reheated, and the team also prepares picnic baskets to be shared on a stone table tucked away in the scrubland.

The spa? With a thousand and one accents of the South, the Pure Altitude spa at La Bastide de Marie has focused on designing signature treatments using active ingredients from local plants, revealing all the benefits of Provence: honey and jasmine wraps, a massage using linen pouches saturated with salts and essential oils of lavender and pine... Its two turquoise pools, one of which is deliciously heated, are inspired by the charm of the old fish ponds once found on the premises. In hot weather, guests can alternate between the two: the heated pool, backed by a stone rampart and following the slope of the bastide, and the unheated garden pool, facing the vineyards. 

La Bastide de Marie
From €300 per night
64 chemin des Peirelles, 84560 Ménerbes

3. Airelles Gordes, La Bastide, a rock-side refuge

Overlooking the heights of Gordes, one of France's most beautiful villages, this former seigniorial residence, built on 18th-century ramparts, retains all its Provencal soul. In an idyllic natural setting surrounded by fragrant cypress hanging gardens, La Bastide is a peaceful refuge with 40 rooms and suites, as well as a private villa (La Maison de Constance). Each key, decorated with a selection of woodwork, fabrics, antique furniture and objets d'art, tells its own story. With its 5 restaurants, it's hard to choose between southern, Asian or Italian cuisine. La table de la Bastide, headed by Chef Pierre Marty, subtly reinvents Provencal cuisine and offers a splendid panoramic view of the Luberon massif. On the terrace, the 5-star hotel's bluish pool offers a sumptuous view of the verdant landscape.

The spa? In a timeless setting inspired by the architecture of the great Provencal abbeys, the renowned Spa Airelles is dedicated entirely to soothing the mind and resting the spirit. Featuring a rich menu of customized treatments and massages, associated with the prestigious Guerlain brand, this spa with its indoor pool, hammam and sauna, even offers the chance to enjoy an open-air treatment on the terrace with a view.

Airelles Gordes, La Bastide
34 rooms, 6 suites and a private villa from €1.050 per night
61 rue de la Combe, 84220 Gordes