83 Best Hotels in Provence, France

Spectacularly perched on Gordes's hilltop, the 16th-century Bastide has both old-world charm and old-world elegance—it's also one of the few properties in Provence to have earned Palace status, meaning that it's among the best of the country's five-star hotels. Along with a trove of 18th-century antiques, designers brought in 4,000 paintings for the guest rooms. It has several restaurants, including the exceptional La Bastide. Manicured lawns and a broad shaded terrace are geared to relaxation, as is the luxe Airelles Spa, which includes a hammam, a sauna, and an indoor pool with breathtaking views of the Vallée de Gordes. In summer, the hotel has special activities programs for children and teens.

This reasonably priced boutique hotel, in a beautiful historic building across from St-Charles train station, has contemporary rooms done in rich neutral tones and equipped with flat-screen TVs and iPhone docking stations. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and the Alex Hotel's pancakes, omelets, croissants, and freshly squeezed orange juice enjoyed in the inner courtyard or the breakfast room should do the trick. And while you’re dining, you can check your email with an excellent Wi-Fi connection. It’s within walking distance from the Vieux Port and Le Panier, which is a good thing because there are no notable restaurants in close proximity.

Once you get beyond the residential surroundings, an oasis of splendid gardens, indoor and outdoor pools, a full-service spa and fitness room, an excellent gastronomic restaurant, and an old-world welcome await. The country-elegant rooms in the 1850s farmhouse are bright and airy with ample bathrooms (some with bath and shower) and all the modern amenities. For the full experience, ask for a room with a terrace overlooking the garden. A dozen suites also are available. Although it's outside the city center, Avignon's sights are within an easy 10-minute bus or car ride, and, for this caliber of hotel, you might opt for tranquility over convenience.

Just outside the village, amid terraces and formal gardens sheltered by rocky cliffs, the five buildings of this fabled hotel contain guest rooms that are breezy, private, and chic. It seems as if everyone who's anyone—from Queen Elizabeth to Elizabeth Taylor—has headed to this oasis for some luxe Provençal pampering. The rooms are regularly refurbished, and the property recently added villas that are more contemporary but still sumptuous. At the hotel's two-Michelin-star Oustau restaurant, chef Jean-André Charial, grandson of the founder, continues to attract culinary pilgrims who revel in his updated classics. The food is also fine at the Cabro d'Or bistro, a more casual and affordable option. Unwind with a massage at the spa, enjoy a swim in one of the three pools, or play a round of golf. Other on-site activities include cooking classes, wine or olive oil tastings, and tours of the kitchen garden, where 30% of the restaurant's ingredients are grown.

Three blocks from Cours Mirabeau and the train station, this smart, spiffy, and cozily stylish hotel is a very handy option. Just a minute's stroll away is the Quartier Mazarin, an 18th-century district lined with some of Aix's most beautiful buildings and antiques shops. While the hotel is set on a busy avenue, noise and distractions disappear with just one foot inside the glowing red lobby, mightily warmed by the friendliness of staff. Upstairs, the guest rooms are stylishly contemporary with design lighting and comfy beds. A fitness and massage room are great for keeping in shape, and the Aix garden-courtyard has massive trees that would tempt Cézanne's own paintbrush—so try to book a room in the back to ignite your own imagination.

This appealing boutique hotel on a charming cobbled street in the Old Town has 15th-century bones (it was once a private mansion) and a thoroughly contemporary spirit. Though much of its historical character was lost in the transition, you'll appreciate the comfortable, functional, amenities-filled rooms and the small but refreshing pool and sundeck. Enjoy an apéro on the rooftop terrace, which has stellar views of the cathedral and the town's pretty tiled rooftops.

Previously occupied by a prominent Marseille family, this 19th-century home now holds 20 beautifully designed accommodations. On the first floor there’s just one guest room in what was once the parlor, while the fourth floor is home to two that are sought after for their balconies. Each spacious room is unique, with brick walls, a high ceiling, and impeccably placed lighting. There’s a grand piano by the staircase just waiting for spontaneous fingers. A bountiful breakfast is served in the lounge, and you don't want to go elsewhere for Sunday brunch. Local chicsters join guests for a fun cocktail hour and a regular program of DJ nights, live jazz, and other hip musical moments, which can occur on any night of the week.

This gracious 18th-century country château and wine estate combines a deeply Provençal setting with chic yet comfy rooms and suites in either the historic château or a more modern wing. The beautiful Historic Suite, with great views over the park, has a period marble tub big enough for six. Enjoy a glass of the estate's rosé in the beautiful bar or on the wide garden terrace, then dine at the gastronomic restaurant, one of the best in the area. Many of the castle's period details were preserved during its restoration, and, today, it's the perfect place to disconnect, aided by a spa and pool.

Ancient meets modern at this 50-acre wine estate and gardens 9 km (5½ miles) from Orange, where you can stay in an elegant beamed aerie in the crenellated 16th-century castle or a chic contemporary abode in the stylish addition. It's not an easy choice as all of the hotel's bright, unusually spacious rooms—many with balconies or private garden terraces—are luxuriously outfitted with state-of-the-art amenities, up-to-date bathrooms, heated floors (in the contemporary side), and the comfiest beds imaginable. Every detail, from the original artwork to the lighting, is immaculate—and designed according to the principles of feng shui. What's more, it's all sustainable and organic, including the restaurant’s meals, which are made with vegetables from the kitchen garden. A beautiful spa and a program of wine tastings (of the estate's wines), culinary experiences, chamber music, and activities make this the perfect getaway for couples or families.

Reached via a lane lined with majestic plane trees and set on 8 acres of luxuriant parkland, this gracious five-star manor (it's not exactly a château) dates from the Middle Ages and is one of St-Rémy's dreamiest spots—and that's saying a lot in this château-saturated territory. Stay in one of the sophisticated, beautifully decorated rooms in the mansion or in one of the smaller outbuildings—including a chapel and farmhouse—some large enough for just two people yet all done up tastefully and lovingly with a modern-elegant style. The heated pool, clay tennis courts, spa, sauna, and hammam are welcome amenities, as are the excellent restaurant and spectacular dining room, with a large terrace under ancient sycamores. The châtelaine of this family-run establishment, lovingly maintained by three generations of women, is warm, gracious, and always ready to go the extra mile for her guests.

Settling into this gracious retreat under the dappled shade of tall trees deep in the Provençal countryside is the easiest thing you'll ever do. Inside, a rare attention to detail was paid to the elegant-country room decor—each one unique but all with a sophisticated contemporary vibe, original artwork (the owners are art dealers), and giant bathrooms. Outside, lounge at the grassy poolside, stroll the lush gardens, hike through the nearby woods and vineyards, or sample the estate wines along with local gourmet treats at the state-of-the-art tasting room. At the gastronomic restaurant and separate bistro, locally sourced gourmet cuisine is paired with the domaine’s fine wines, produced on the premises. And if that’s not pampering enough, a small spa with a steam room offers a range of massages and treatments.

With sumptuous decor, an idyllic setting amid olive groves and gardens, impeccable service, a spa, an 18-hole golf course, a pool, and a choice of rooms and suites or villas, the Domaine de Manville is as ideal for a romantic getaway as it is for a family retreat. The hotel's two, beautifully restored, 18th-century buildings contain haute Provençal–style rooms and suites (more like small apartments), most of which have a private terrace or balcony that takes advantage of magnificent views. The duplex family suites also have multiple bathrooms, and each of the ultracontemporary, full-service villas—large enough for eight—comes with a private pool and a golf cart for getting around the property. You don't have to leave the grounds for a fantastic meal, thanks to the Michelin-starred L'Aupiho restaurant, well-priced bistro, garden bar, and glassed-in winter garden (for breakfast or afternoon tea). Golfers will love the boutique, which has everything they could need for a day on the green.

Chopin spent the night and George Sand kept a suite in this historic hotel overlooking the Vieux Port. Public rooms still have real antiques, burnished woodwork, Provençal style, and plush carpets, all comprising a convincing part of this intimate urban hotel's genuine old-world charm. Guest rooms are in the same style but have been updated to include all the modern comforts. Harbor-view rooms, with balconies high over the fish market, more than justify the splurge.

Tucked away in an 18th-century town house on a quiet city center street, just minutes from the Théâtre Antique, this chic boutique hotel—part of Best Western's Signature Collection—has stylishly furnished rooms; a wellness area with a fitness room, sauna, and steam room; and a spacious rooftop pool. The hotel's Le Garden restaurant, with an outdoor terrace, is open for lunch and dinner. Breakfast is served buffet style indoors or on the terrace.

Set on sandy Les Sablettes Beach, part of the Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer Peninsula across the harbor from Toulon, this fully restored, Belle Époque–era hotel has bright, casually elegant rooms with a few classic nautical touches and lots of modern amenities. The ocean view from some rooms is spectacular, and nine suites have terraces with a private whirlpool. You can swim in the sea out front or in the hotel pool—perhaps before or after a treatment in the lovely Nuxe spa. The ferry to Toulon is a 10-minute walk away.

This well-loved family-run hotel reopened in late 2015 after a total gut renovation, emerging butterflylike from its old-fashioned chrysalis. The new Grand Hotel Henri is the best thing to happen to the L'Îsle-sur-la-Sorgue lodging scene in a while, adding a dash of high style and panache to outdo even the chicest boutique hotels in the region. Each of the hotel's bright, airy rooms is done up in a different style, mixing vintage and antique treasures (this is the Isle) with yummy contemporary color schemes, wallpapers, and sumptuous murals in the two suites. The stylish bar (which doubles as a breakfast room), restaurant, and lounge area were instantaneous hits with local sophisticates. All topped off by friendly service and an utter lack of pretension.

With bright, airy rooms and suites decorated with vintage and antique treasures, soothing contemporary color schemes, and chic carpets, the refurbished Grand Hôtel Henri has lots of panache that's matched by an utter lack of pretension, as evidenced by the friendly staff. The stylish bar, terrace restaurant, and tearoom are popular with local sophisticates.

Master chef René Bérard is as celebrated for his haute cuisine as he is for his elegant country inn with breathtaking views of the countryside and everything required for a pampered weekend on the hotel premises. The handsome Provençal-style rooms are scattered throughout a cluster of beautifully restored old buildings, including an 11th-century monastery. Michelin-starred chef Bérard offers much-coveted gourmet cooking classes (€159, including lunch and drinks), and you can soak your troubles away in the pool, perhaps after a treatment in the aromatherapy-focused spa.

Chef Alain Ducasse put this beautifully restored property—part of a convent once charged with shaping the future queens of Provence—on the map when he took over both the restaurant (now headed by chef Nicolas Pierantoni) and the inn, where guest rooms mix Louis XVI furnishings with regional accents, and the grounds have private gardens and vineyard views. The kitchen is still formidable, with creations that superbly balance flavor and texture—perhaps hake with sweet-almond purée and gnocchi or saddle of lamb with squash and fried chickpea panisse.

You might not guess that this friendly, family-run, shabby-chic hotel, convenient to both the train station and the Palais des Papes, is a budget option. It's full of welcoming touches like vintage art and colorful linens, and it's comfortable, functional, and easy on the wallet.

This eccentric and slightly threadbare inn in an elegant 18th-century house is the antithesis of slick, which, coupled with the location in the Quartier Mazarin, makes it a favorite with writers, artists, and musicians at festival time—and at any time with guests who appreciate the charm of novel furnishings and the music of the bells of St-Jean-de-Malte. Its large rooms are furnished gracefully enough with secondhand finds; some rooms even have original 18th-century painted door panels. The hotel also has six kitchenette suites; the two across from the Musée Granet and the one on the ground floor with a private garden are the best.

Like the views from its interconnected hilltop houses, prices at this sumptuous property are elevated—but, in return, you get a rarefied stage-set of medieval luxury. Antiques, bold fabrics, and cozy southern touches inform the book-filled salons and French-country-chic guest rooms, some with terraces looking out onto infinity. Unwind in the heated pool, indulge in the spa, or sample stylish French cuisine in the stone-vaulted dining room. Wine tastings and regional discovery packages encourage longer stays.

This classic, vine-covered 16th-century home once hosted Emperor Maximilian (as well as Victor Hugo and Napoléon Bonaparte), and some of its guest rooms are emperor size. Regally discreet, it is notable for its walled, tree-shaded courtyard and an interior filled with Aubusson tapestries, porcelain, and Provençal antiques. Rooms are not state-of-the-art and can seem more than a little grandmotherly, but it's all part of the old-world experience. Two suites have views onto the Papal Palace. The highly acclaimed restaurant, La Vieille Fontaine, is among Avignon's best.

Perfectly situated in a historic building that's a short walk from Avignon's principal attractions, this chic boutique hotel has quiet, colorful, beautifully designed rooms with every amenity, ample bathrooms, and plenty of closet space; some rooms also have a balcony or a fireplace. The on-site wine bar is a fine place to sample the regional Rhône wines before heading out on the town. 

This old private home has, fortunately, fallen into the hands of a loving and very hospitable owner, who has refinished 18th-century double doors and fitted rooms with restored-wood details, white-tiled bathrooms, and antique bedroom sets. Some rooms are more modern than others—ask for one overlooking place du Marché, where you can watch café life from your balcony. A generous breakfast buffet (€10) is served in the dining room.

A romantic's dream of a hotel, this petit palais enables you to step into 18th-century Avignon—complete with painted coffered ceilings, precious antiques, extraordinary handmade wall coverings, and beautiful Asian rugs. Guest rooms, most with views of the palace, are both gorgeous and comfy, with extraordinary marble baths. Six stunning rooms in a separate garden building are lavishly decorated in the Empire style. The central lounge is a skylighted and jazz-warmed haven, while the costume-drama dining room is the perfect setting for the restaurant's sophisticated Michelin-starred cuisine, the best in Avignon under chef Florent Pietravalle. If you have the time, take advantage of the hotel's cooking classes conducted in its well-stocked, 18th-century, vaulted kitchens, or partake one of the classical music nights, with chamber music and gourmet delights.

This prosaic Old Town option has 12th-century exposed stone walls, a 15th-century spiral staircase, weathered wood everywhere, and homey touches like cream-colored linens. Among the many pluses are good beds, flat-screen TVs, and free (although sometimes weak) Wi-Fi.

Capitalizing on the village's gorgeous bay views is just one of this lively, Art Deco–style boutique hotel's many virtues—it also has light-drenched guest rooms (some with private balconies), a spa with a steam room and solarium, two restaurants (one on the beach), and an irresistible wine bar. True to its name, the hotel sits right on Bestouan Beach, so fun in the sun is easy. There's also easy access to both the village and Calanques National Park.

This hotel, set in three 17th-century buildings and featuring a fabulous rooftop pool and lounge, is a model of contemporary refinement, with bright, spacious suites that have soaring ceilings, tasteful artwork, ample marble baths, and gorgeous color palettes that offset the building's creamy stone. Its elegant aesthetic extends to a gastronomic restaurant—the recent recipient of a Michelin star—and wine bar, featuring a connoisseur's selection of Provençal, French, and other choice wines, that can also be enjoyed on the hotel's rooftop terrace with views over St-Rémy. As refined as it is, the owners' laid-back, welcoming vibe puts guests at ease.

"A river runs through it" is no exaggeration at this amiable hotel in a former mill, where a romantic garden is laced with water channels and shaded by plane trees and where terraces and some of the pleasant, light-drenched guest rooms overlook the Sorgue River. Although the hotel only serves breakfast, the bar is open all day, and drinks are also served in the garden or the pool area, which has a whirlpool tub.