Hôtel Crillon le Brave

There are surprisingly few places where you can combine an idyllic Provençal escape with a proper luxury hotel, but the hilltop village of Crillon-le-Brave happens to be one of them. Here, occupying a cluster of centuries-old buildings with impressive views of Mont Ventoux and the Vaucluse countryside, is the Hôtel Crillon le Brave. It’s been a favorite since the beginning, and was missed during its recent renovation — but now it’s back, more stylish and more luxurious than ever.

Though it may feel sedately residential, with 34 rooms and suites, the Hôtel Crillon le Brave is more than a guest house. These are properly luxe rooms, decorated in a restrained contemporary style that incorporates one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, and outfitted with subtly modern comforts like Bose Wave sound systems and Vispring beds. It’s hard to imagine how they could be improved upon — this is what Provence looks like in our dreams.

It just so happens that this is what it tastes like, too. La Table du Ventoux, the fine-dining restaurant, avails itself of the finest produce (and wine) from the south of France, as do the Bistrot and La Grange, the hotel’s casual lunch option. And before you depart for your winery tours or your cycling excursions, take note — the Spa des Ecuriers, housed in the old stable building, awaits your return.

How to get there: the Hôtel Crillon le Brave is approximately 40 minutes (by car) from Avignon Airport, 1¼ hours (by car) from Marseille Provence Airport and 1¼ hours (by car) from Nimes Airport.