Clair de la Plume ★★★★

As we approach the hotel, I am overwhelmed by the beauty of the Provençal countryside with its fields of lavender, its olive trees and vineyards and its colourful pastel houses with red, sun-soaked roofs. We wind our way to the top of a hill where the village of Grignan awaits.

Upon our arrival at the main building of the hotel – a beautifully restored historic building housing 10 bedrooms, the gourmet restaurant, a lovely tea salon and a gift shop - we leave our bags at reception before stretching our legs after our journey on a wander through the maze of cobblestone paths and alleyways that riddle the beautiful little town. My husband points out the Private House, another building belonging to the hotel that houses 4 comfortable suites and two more bedrooms around a little private courtyard.

We happen upon the Mediterranean garden and its natural swimming pool which uses only plants and biological filters to keep the water crystal clear. An avid gardener, I am fascinated by the multitude of various plants and flowers that adorn this beautiful walled garden and wonder if I could get any of them to grow in my garden back home. Maybe they sell seeds in the gift shop… We join a few other couples on the fragrant terrace for a glass of freshly squeezed organic fruit juice and take in the magnificent scenery.

My husband proposes we check out our room before dinnertime. Instead of heading towards the main hotel building however, he delves deeper into the garden. I think he must be losing his bearings in his (relatively) old age! But no, as usual, he has yet another surprise hidden up his sleeve. He pulls a key from his pocket, opens a gate and leads me through a tiny private garden to a glass-paned door. The Lover’s Pavilion: an oasis within an oasis. A tiny French country cottage, just big enough for a large bedroom and a decent-sized bathroom with all the accoutrements. The décor is light and airy. A beautiful pale stone wall, terracotta tiling, soft white walls and bookshelves galore!

For dinner that evening, we dine in the gourmet restaurant in the main building, where two amazing chefs, one for the starters and main courses and one for the desserts, treat us to an evening of outstanding cuisine. I can honestly say this is one of the best meals I have ever had! Award-winning chef, Julien Allano, prepares traditional, refined, southern French cuisine with innovative associations, generous flavours and fresher-than-fresh local products that are all exquisitely presented on fine French china. And the desserts! Did I mention they have one chef whose sole purpose is to make heavenly desserts? Philippe Riquier’s creations are as delightful to the eye as they are to the palate.

As we relax on our private terrace overlooking the twinkling town and sprawling castle late that evening, I eventually find out that our trip is in celebration of our first kiss. Hence, the Lovers Pavilion. How on earth he remembers these things, I don’t know! But if he keeps bringing me to unforgettable places like the Clair de la Plume, then ignorance is bliss!