La Bastide de Gordes

This is the thing about the south of France. Seemingly everywhere you look there’s another spectacular view, another gorgeous medieval village, another perfect little hillside hotel with a phenomenal wine cellar — another hotel, in short, like Airelles, La Bastide de Gordes. This ancient residence is long on character, and beneath its picturesque surface it’s luxurious to a somewhat surprising degree.

And unapologetically so. In contrast with the rustic aspect that’s pervasive in these parts, here there’s an added polish, a professional sheen, to the services and offerings. No bad thing — it’s part of what lends the place its distinctive character. Ultimately you’re here for the spectacular views, the garden terraces, the posh, classic guest rooms, and the distillation of the luxury-hotel experience down to an intimate, almost country-house scale. And the luxury reaches its zenith in the spa; it’s an extraordinary, expansive space with treatments by Sisley as well as a gym and a heated pool.

Of the five restaurants, L’Orangerie and La Citadelle offer an education in produce-forward Provençal gastronomy, the former in a bright, bistro-esque space and the latter beneath charming stone vaults. La Bastide de Pierres is an Italian trattoria, complete with Italian cocktails and wines, and Le TIGrr Gordes combines Provençal and Asian concepts. And in Clover Gordes, chef Jean-François Piège combines the techniques of his Clover Grill with the plant-based cuisine of his Clover Green.

How to get there: The hotel is located approximately 25 miles (a 45-minute drive) from Avignon, which can be reached from Paris in 2 hours and 40 minutes by high-speed TGV train.