B Design & Spa

One school of thought, when it comes to country escapes, is to seek out rustic atmosphere; Provence, especially, is famous for its farmhouses. But a good modern building should have a sense of place as well. There’s nothing at all rustic about Hotel B Design & Spa, that much is obvious — but from poolside, surrounded by lavender fields, you’d be hard pressed to argue that this low-slung modernist structure is any less connected to the countryside than any of the South’s more traditional estates.

The owners themselves designed the building, and when it came time to furnish the interiors they were lucky enough to have a friend in Christophe Pillet, a Parisian designer whose work is well represented in our selection. The resulting suites are a reminder of how fresh and impactful a minimalist aesthetic can be — they’re all about color and texture, with an uncomplicated spareness that’s calming to the extreme.

Calming, of course, is the order of the day — for a country spa escape it’s more or less written into the job description. In addition to the three treatment rooms there’s another pool, this one indoors, used for water-based treatments. Add to this a restaurant serving contemporary cuisine made from the region’s famous produce and you’ve got a remarkably self-sufficient experience — and one that’s Provençal through and through.

How to get there:
Hotel B Design & Spa is located in Paradou, a small town in France's Provence region. The hotel is located 30-40 minutes (by car) from the Nimes and Marseille airports.