When it comes to the most idyllic of destinations for a luxury getaway, it doesn’t get much better than the dreamy backdrop of Provence, on France’s picturesque south-eastern Cotes D’Azur.
And the five-star Relais and Châteaux Coquillade Provence Resort and Spa, set just an hour’s drive from Marseille and Avignon, is the perfect place to get away from it all. Located in the heart of the Regional National Park of Luberon, it makes for the perfect base from which to explore the 1,000-year-old hilltop villages of Gordes and Roussillon.
Surrounded by three mountain ranges – The Petit Luberon, the Grand Luberon and Luberon Oriental – where celebrities including Russell Crowe, John Malkovich and Ridley Scott all have homes – when it comes to picturesque locations, it doesn’t get much better. Samuel Beckett lived in Roussillon, having fought with the Resistance and, like British author Peter Mayle, developed an uncontrollable urge to press his own olives there.
The hotel has just been voted Best in France and fourth best in Europe by the US’s Travel and Leisure magazine, which should go some way towards telling you how special it is – but let’s dive a little deeper, because there’s much more to explore.
Hotel
This stunning 63-room resort is built from the eleventh century ruins of Hameau (hamlet) Le Perrotet and is approached by a long avenue of elegantly trimmed cypress trees, with beautiful cascading fountains outside exuding an instant sense of grandeur.
Embodying the tranquillity of a rural Provençale village, the 11th and 17th century stone and ochre main building is flanked by quaint wood-beamed cottages that were constructed later on, in 2015.
The family that owns the hotel is related to German-Swiss writer Hermann Hesse and the lobby features a small library of his work as well as his writing desk.
Rooms
There are a variety of different room types and suites spread across the beautifully renovated ‘bastides’ and the more modern ochre cottages.
In each of them, sophisticated country style prevails, with quaint yet luxurious features including private verandas for all rooms and expansive roof terraces for the larger suites. Sumptuous Austrian silk-cotton bed linens make getting a good night’s sleep a dream, and with luxurious Pierre de Frey fabrics and world of art from across L’isle-sur-la-Sorgue, it feels like a suitably opulent base in which to spend a few relaxing days.
Add to that extras like the Nespresso coffee machine and flat-screen smart TV, and the spacious bathrooms which come complete with large tubs and rain showers, and you have all you need for a restorative country retreat.
Food and drink
Avant-garde cuisine is the order of the day at the Avelan restaurant, where the menu features a mouth-watering menu of culinary masterpieces based around fresh, local produce and exotic flavours.
Traditional French patisseries are a highlight, and you’ll find a host of delicious and decadent pastries and desserts on offer, each created by pastry chef Aurélien Trousse, bronze medallist at France’s 2019 Dessert Championship, and infused with that classic Provençal charm.
The main bar, with its potted herb terrace, specialises in Aperol and St Germain spritzes as well as Turbanelo Di Lavando with Gin Monkey 47, Jus ananas and Liqueur de Lavande Manguin – so if you fancy a tipple, then this place has got you covered.
At the Les Vignes restaurant, you can dine in beautiful surroundings on dishes using local produce from the Luberon region, with many ingredients hand-picked from the eatery’s own vegetable patch. Flavours are fresh, and come together with the best meat from local farms to exemplify Provençal dining at its finest.
There is also an Italian ‘Cipressa’ restaurant on site, where you can dine beneath lemon trees and enjoy an authentic taste of Sicily.
To do
Whilst it would be tempting to spend your stay in Provence simply unwinding from the stresses of modern life, if you do fancy a little bit of action then you’ll find plenty to do. There’s a semi-Olympic swimming pool on the property, which is perfect for keeping up your fitness routine under the azure Provencal sky, and the walking trails to the Luberon will take you off the beaten path and give you the chance to take in some beautiful natural scenery.
If you’re into cycling, then 4k Euro Stromers and 20-40K guided bike excursions can be arranged directly through the hotel, and are great fun. The trips end in Goult at the hotel’s Aureto (‘breeze’) winery for a tasting of the local Aphelie, Solale and Elyo wines and an unfeasibly generous charcuterie and cheese lunch.
Your cycling guide then hands you back into the hands of the resort’s charismatic Swiss L’Ange Bleu semi-Olympic swimming pool attendant, raconteur, milk shake genius, acclaimed mixologist and wild peach ice cream purveyor, Daniel Pleisch, who grew up with the sons of the late Andrew Rihs, manager of this award-winning hotel.
There are some pretty little hamlets and villages to explore nearby, too; a visit to the famous medieval hilltop villages and ochre quarries of Gordes and Roussillon is a must.
Back at the hotel, there’s a fully equipped fitness centre and a lavish spa offering up a host of decadent treatments for you to enjoy in a haven of peace and tranquillity.
In a nutshell
Daniel Pleisch sums up this chic rural resort the best: “The luxury is like nowhere else. Nothing prepares you for Coquillade; the light, the vineyards, the lavender fields, and the mellow amber stonework,” says the son of Zurich’s former city chief engineer.
And he’s not wrong, because this lavish resort in the picturesque Provençal hills is truly magical, and the perfect place to enjoy a quintessentially French and utterly restorative luxury escape this spring.
Factbox
Coquillade Provence Resort and Spa offers rooms from 750€ per room, per night including a welcome gift, a selection of the minibar, breakfast, access to the spa, fitness classes and the Aureto Winery throughout your stay.
Address: Le Perotet, 84400 Gargas, France
Phone: +33 4 90 74 71 71
Website: coquillade.fr
