Les Petites Maisons - Hameau des Baux ★★★★

As you lie by the pool, looking out over the tops of the olive trees and across the undulating landscape of the Alpilles, everything seems to shimmer and swirl in the heat like a Van Gogh masterpiece. The warm colours of the countryside and the quaint rural scenes are sure to capture your imagination, as they once did Van Gogh’s.

Though the overall atmosphere is one of old-fashioned charm, I should be careful not to paint a picture of a village completely stuck in the past. Le Hameau des Baux dares to be different, applying a quirkily contemporary, playful twist to its traditional village. Wood floors, exposed brickwork and original beams give the rooms an eclectic character, while they also combine with contemporary décor and luxurious furnishings to maintain 21st century standards of comfort. When you awaken, a traditional and scrumptious French breakfast awaits, served in the courtyard where you can drink in the gloriously fresh air of a balmy summer morning.

A morning spent exploring one of the picturesque nearby villages or towns is what a stay in the French countryside is all about. Not too far away is Saint Rémy de Provence, where celebrities and locals alike mingle in shady squares. Even closer to home there is the famous Les Baux de Provence, considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in all of France. These are both close enough that you have plenty of time to head back to the hotel for an afternoon of sunbathing by the swimming pool, or a more energetic game of tennis.

Satisfied by the culture and history uncovered in the narrow-cobbled alleyways of the stunning villages, the following day you decide it is time for a slightly more wild and natural experience. Just to the south, the magnificent marshland of the coastal Camargue region is in easy reach. The best thing about all this regional exploration? You can do it all in real style, renting one of the hotel’s vintage convertible sports cars, and truly live ‘la belle vie’