Are you ready for some serious hotel inspiration? From a Medieval castle, a 5 star Renaissance hotel, to royal châteaus and Provencal farm houses transformed into luxurious countryside resorts?
In my last blog and on social media you could follow our road trip route through some of my favourite regions of France from Burgundy to the Provence with many sightseeing tips and pics. But I also promised to show you some of the most beautiful hotels we stayed in, so get ready as I have some good ones for you.
France is one of the most historic countries in Europe with a lot of heritage, reflected in its quaint villages, authentic architecture and many châteaus and Medieval buildings, often transformed into hotels. Let me show you my 6 favourites from the Drôme to the Provence!
All of these hotels are rated minimum 4 stars and range from €800 per night, for the most expensive one, to €150 per night, depending on the room type and based on a stay in July. Traveling off season will certainly make this cheaper and if you go to the website of these hotels you will usually get a lower price if you book directly or look for package deals and last minutes.
I will show you why all of these hotels are definitely worth it, even if it’s only for 1 night, through many of my own pictures in the order of our route:
Château de Rochegude - Rochegude
Medieval modernized 4 star castle hotel
Price range: € - €€€ (depending on room type)
Unique features:
This 12th century fortress, former summer residence of the Marquis de Rochegude, is situated in a tiny village in the wonderful Drôme region, surrounded by vineyards, a 10 acres private forest, tennis court and swimming pool.
Transformed during the Renaissance, richly decorated and renovated to a modern hotel with a historic façade and many antique details. That they are a member of the Relais & Chateaux group shows through the refinement, class and style of the restaurant, courtyard and interior of the hotel combined with so much preserved history.
Our stay in the Suite of the Marquis made it even more special, as it felt like going back in time, while still being able to enjoy all the modern facilities you might expect from a 4 star hotel! See for yourself in this gallery:
Le Clair de la Plume – Grignan
Charming Provencal style 4 star boutique hotel
Price range: €€ - €€€€
Unique features:
One of the best kept secrets of the Provence and the ultimate couples hotel, if you also appreciate a quiet getaway surrounded by history, heritage and nature!
Situated in the Drôme region, very near the Provence spread out over several historical buildings, this family-run boutique hotel with just 16 rooms and suites, is divided over 4 locations in the quaint village Grignan. The main building is at the foot of the village, surrounded by lavender fields and just a 5 minutes’ walk from Grignan castle. Get an impression of the charm of Grignan here:
We found Grignan a real hidden gem, away from the buzz of better known towns in the Provence.
The main building of Le Clair de la Plume has a Michelin star restaurant serving tasty dishes prepared with ingredients from their own garden, which can be enjoyed in the unique glass house, or on their beautiful flowery outdoor terrace. Click on the smaller pics to see the bigger version and read the description:
And they even have a romantic private cottage option and 2 swimming pools to choose from; an organic chemical-free outdoor pool just 200 meters from the main building with direct views upon the village. And 1 by their second building with restaurant La Ferme Chapouton, situated a bit further from the village. This restaurant is the perfect option for a more casual lunch or dinner, even though not less tasty, and with beautiful views towards the village as well!
We really enjoyed our stay here, including our suite with Jacuzzi, livingroom and direct views upon the village’s monuments and the hotel's beautiful terrace garden. The attentive staff and quaint antique interior, all lovingly assembled and decorated by the owners, gave this hotel such unique feel that we can not wait to come back soon!
La Mirande - Avignon
5 star 18th century mansion hotel
Price range: €€€ - €€€€€
Unique features:
Looking for a classy 5 star hotel, buzzing with history, and literally just steps away from all the main sights of Avignon, then this is the hotel for you! Dating back from 1309 no expenses were spared to renovate this nobleman’s townhouse into the luxurious 18th century styled mansion it is today.
From the authentic fabric wallpaper with its intricate design and matching curtains, to the antique windows with direct views upon the Palais des Papes. The television integrated in the antique mirror(!), the unique bathroom with so many authentic details, to the beautiful courtyards and restaurant, all decorated with refinement and class which characterizes the age of enlightenment so well.
The hotel lies right in the old center of Avignon, just behind the Pope’s Palace, with direct views upon this Medieval building from our suite and the restaurant’s outdoor terrace. We were spoiled to the max here with an elaborate breakfast served in our room every day, while enjoying the views upon the Palace and the soft sounds of the city and swallows all around.
La Mirande offers private parking through a valet service and even though it’s surrounded by cute squares with atmospheric restaurants the hotel’s own gastronomic offering makes it hard to leave. Our 5 course dinner here was exquisite and enjoyed in a beautiful setting, which comes highly recommended. If you want to enjoy true heritage, splurge a little and stay at the best and most central spot in Avignon, then La Mirande can not be missed! Let me show you through this gallery:
Le Vieux Castillon – Castillon du Gard
Luxury 4 star Medieval village hotel
Price range: €€ - €€€
Unique features:
Located in one of the most beautiful and quaint Medieval places we came across in the Provence, this hotel is literally integrated in the village Castillon du Gard, spread out over 2 buildings. Situated below Avignon in just 35 minutes you will find yourself surrounded by vineyards, beautiful countryside views and again a lot of heritage and history.
Although the boutique hotel with just 33 rooms offers much comfort and facilities, including an elaborate Spa, the facades of the buildings and beautiful courtyards and terraces will submerge you in authenticity.
The interiors, restaurant and pool area are all renovated and decorated in a modern, crisp and clean way, which makes a beautiful contrast. And provided us with everything we needed for a luxurious stay, surrounded by that pure Provencal vibe!
Mas de L’Oulivié – Les Baux-de-Provence
Charming 4 star countryside hotel
Price range: €€ - €€€€
Unique features:
This beautiful Provencal building just 2 kms from the historic village Les Baux-de-Provence, located in between Avignon and Arles, is the epitome of countryside chic!
The location is perfect, surrounded by flower and lavender gardens, with direct walking and cycling trails into the Parc naturel regional des Alpilles. They offer several wine routes through the vineyards, and the hotel is hidden away in a beautiful olive grove, with a pool to die for!
If you are looking for a quiet getaway surrounded by nature, with plenty of active options in the surroundings and a hotel restaurant, then this is the place for you.
We really loved the authentic building, the friendly staff, unique vibe and the stunning pool with plenty of seating options. All 25 rooms have direct views upon the surrounding mountains or stunning landscaped gardens. And in just a 5 minutes’ drive you will be able to visit one of the most unique villages of this area, which can not be missed.
Château de Mazan - Mazan
4 star 18th century mansion hotel
Price range: € - €€€
Unique features:
A charming castle hotel in an 18th century mansion with direct views upon the Ventoux mountains and Vaucluse Hills. This family-run boutique hotel has an astounding history, built by the notorious Marquis de Sade in 1720, and lovingly renovated 16 years ago into this unique ‘Hôtel de Charme’.
It has only 30 rooms, a private parking space, outdoor pool, outstanding gastronomic restaurant and is surrounded by a stunning landscaped garden with plenty of seating options. No need the leave this place at all, but that would be a shame as it is the perfect place to explore this beautiful part of the Provence from!
As you could have read in my previous blog the village Mazan is very small, but is surrounded by many quaint villages, stunning nature areas and mountain passes, towards the infamous Mont Ventoux. And there are plenty of lavender fields to find in the surroundings as well, just driving around the area was a true pleasure!
What I liked most about this hotel is that it has a very unique vibe, certainly a result from the eclectic decor and interior of antiquities assembled by the family over several years. The friendly staff and stunning building itself with its own wine cellar and several salons are unique. And each room is different, decorated in its own theme, many with beautiful views over the garden and ours even with our own Jacuzzi! Also the gastronomic restaurant was exquisite and comes highly recommended! See for yourself in this gallery:
I hope these unique hotel reviews and my pictures will help you find an accommodation to fit your taste for your visit to these regions of France. Each of these hotels were carefully selected and tested by us, highly recommended for their hospitality, comfort, authenticity, luxury, unique heritage and history.
If you are looking for more unique hotels, or private villa’s in the Provence or Cote d’Azur you can also check out the website of: Experience the French Riviera. And you can read more about my earlier France visits and other beautiful hotels in the Cote d’Azur in the blogs at the bottom of this post.
Hopefully our pictures inspired you to go to France soon and stay at these unique luxury hotels as well, but I still have many more pics to share! For daily pics you can follow me on social media as well via the icons at the bottom of this page.
