Domaine de Chalamon

On the outskirts of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, discreetly hidden amid 37 acres of parkland and lush gardens, is a 16th-century bastide that’s been transformed into a small and luxurious 19-room escape. That alone is tempting enough, but it’s made more so by some of the names involved: Domaine de Chalamon is the work of Les Domaines de Fontenille, the group responsible for at least half a dozen of France’s finest country hotels. And the architect, Alexandre Lafourcade, has a personal connection to the old bastide — not only did his father, also an architect, work on a previous renovation, but his mother designed the extraordinary 15 acres of gardens.

It’s a labor of love, clearly, which is evident in the smallest details. The rooms are marked by a contemporary simplicity and a classic atmosphere, and combine the charm of a bedroom in a historical residence with the comfort of a modern hotel room. There’s a heated outdoor pool as well as a tennis court, and the grounds invite lounging and rambling. And while there’s no restaurant on site, a daily breakfast is served, as are the Domaine’s wines; meanwhile all of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence lies mere minutes away.