Domaine la Pierre Blanche

At the foot of the Alpilles, Provence’s pocket-sized mountain range, and just outside of the village of Eygalières, is where you’ll find one of the most tranquil boutique hotels in all of France. Domaine la Pierre Blanche may not reinvent Provençal hospitality, but who says it needs reinvention? Sometimes excellence is about taste and execution, the contrast of rough-hewn stone walls and weathered wooden doors with well-chosen modern furnishings and light, breezy contemporary décor.

The grounds have got everything you expect, from a small spa, a heated outdoor pool, and tennis and pétanque courts to endless expanses of olive and lavender. The rooms and suites are handsomely decorated in a sober contemporary style that complements the historical architecture. They’re comfortable and pet-friendly, and many of them include an outdoor Jacuzzi or an Italian-made soaking tub.

And Provence being what it is, there’s a very sensible emphasis on food and drink. The restaurant, L’Opale, serves inventive, upscale modern French fusion under the stars, accompanied by a thoughtful list of wines from Provence and beyond. It’s joined by a cocktail bar of the same name, as well as L’AmBar Piscine, for a drink and a light lunch by the poolside.