La Cabro d'Or ★★★★★

Nestled in stunning gardens in the heart of the Alpilles Mountains, is a beautiful ivy-clad farmhouse with a stunning outdoor pool, tennis court, children’s playground and spa. La Cabro d’Or marries the spirit of a 16th century Provencal farmhouse with the comforts of a modern hotel. And, as its status as a member of Rêlais & Châteaux proves, it’s won its stripes as a grande maison. The accommodation comprises 7 junior suites, 5 full suites and 13 bedrooms. The suites are particularly lovely, being large and light, with chic rustic furniture and warm-colour interior décor. They also have a living room and their own terrace or garden area. This idyllic retreat doesn’t skimp on modern features either, with a mini bar, flat screen TV, Internet, air-conditioning and safe.

Enjoy the luxury of breakfast in your room before setting off to wander round Les Baux-de-Provences. It’s more of a tourist attraction now than an active village, but it’s dramatic rather than quaint. Perched on top of a rocky spur of the Alpilles Mountains, it has earned the status of being included in the elite category of les Plus Beaux Villages de France. There are the ruins of a château, a troglodyte church – it’s partly carved into the rock – and several grand Renaissance mansions which all form part of the village’s dark and turbulent history. The gardens of La Cabro d’Or are also worth exploring. Cypress trees surround a quaint fountain, goats patrol the organic garden and ducks waddle out of the duck pond to great you. Take a guided walk round the kitchen garden and learn about the produce grown there, or ask the sommelier for a tour of the wine cellar. If you’re one for more competitive activities, then challenge your loved ones to a game of pétanque. Or, if you feel like playing a few rounds there is a golf course just 3km away.

If the weather doesn’t live up to the picture-perfect location, escape to the hotel’s spa Baumanière. Spacious and bathed in light, it’s managed by Valerie Dalmayrac, winner of a European award for best spa manager in 2012. Enjoy the Turkish bath and sensory pool or treat yourself to a massage or beauty treatment, like the ‘soin au pierres de jade’ using hot and cold pieces of jade and essential oils reputed to soothe muscles and relax the tissues. Continue the experience at home by buying some of the Comfort Zone products and Valmont cosmetics you have experienced in the Boutique du Spa. For those looking to really work up a sweat, there’s also a fully equipped gym.

One of the key attractions of this hotel is the food. Chef Michel Hulin takes inspiration and ingredients from his organic cottage garden beneath the kitchen windows to produce some spectacular results, while pastry chef Frederic Nechaouni does wonderful things for those with a sweet tooth. If you want to learn some of Michel Hulin’s tricks of the trade you can join one of his Sunday morning cooking lessons, or choose the ‘immersion en cuisine’ and watch the magic of a professional kitchen in action before sitting down to appreciate the results. As an excellent terroir for olives, La Vallée des Baux benefits from three AOCs. There’s even a tasting menu built around the olive oils from the region: different oils are paired with everything from the foie gras to the dessert. It goes without saying that all of this must be enjoyed with a glass or two of a local Provencal wine from the cellar...