We travelled to the Plateau de Valensole to capture and share the magic of lavender season in Provence. This is a must-visit experience for locals and visitors alike. Truly Luxe Provence!
Luxe Provence Plateau de Valensole Photoshoot images: Provence Lavender Field images (2 -4) by: Tarik Koivisto. Tarik Koivisto cover image (1) in the fields by Melanie Jacquier. Venue: Plateau de Valensole taken on July 3, 2016.
It’s that special moment in Haute Provence that everyone dreams. Having had a warm winter this year, the lavender has already started to bloom a few weeks. A most magical sight to behold and a must-visit experience. THE place to view lavender fields in their full glory is definitely the Haute Provence region’s famed, Plateau de Valensole. Each year, starting from mid- to late-June through most of July, this plateau of 800 km in altitude pops to brilliant life with unbelievable violet colors, contrasted by intermittent blonde wheat fields, along with Provence’s deep sky blue.
Countless photo opportunities are to be had of the natural beauty of summer in Luxe Provence. And, don’t forget about the sounds… the bees. Their presence and constant hum between the rows of lavender are quite impressive as well, moving along busily producing some of France’s most sought after lavender-infused honey, which of course you can buy along the route on the Plateau de Valensole as well. A display and taste of pure, luxe natural beauty of the South of France. But, lavender isn’t the only thing to see in this beautiful area of Provence.
Cut through the Plateau of Valensole, and you will find one of most beautiful turquoise lakes I’ve laid eyes on, the Lac de Saint Croix which gives way to the stunning Gorges du Verdon (learn more here from this post). I simply adore stopping at the small goat cheese farms along the way and then stopping at Saint Croix-du-Verdon a sweet, little picturesque Provencal village with incredible lake views, a little bar and few charming restaurants. Finish your day with shopping at the Cité de la Faïence (the city of ceramics), Moustiers Sainte-Marie, classified rightly so as one of the most beautiful villages of France in a most dramatic setting. And if gastronomy is a priority, be sure not to miss a special luxe dining experience or stay the night at Alain Ducasse’s The Bastide de Moustier (pictured above upper left).
For more lavender adventures or tour ideas, check out the Grand Route of Lavender web site here for driving route ideas and planning, by bike or car: www.grande-traversee-alpes.com/en/routes-de-la-lavande
It’s officially time for those living here in Provence to slow down and stop to smell the lavender. The light and colors are such magic to behold. Each season, our gift curations represent the best of Provence. This summer, we are featuring the fragrances of lavender and rosé wine in a unique luxury gift curation with our limited-edition V4: La Vie est Belle curation found here. Be sure to reserve yours today, we only have a few left. We also curate VIP gift boxes for that special bride or occasion. To request a luxury gift or special event curations from Provence, learn more here, or contact us at: orders@luxe-provence.com.
Lavender Bride photo credits: Creative Direction by Laura Jullien, Photographer: Remi Dupac of Un Vie en Provence and Model: Katie Gillespie.
We just finished up another sold-out season of delivering the beauty and luxuries of Provence with our popular, Luxe Provence Box and thought we’d share a little peek under the cover. Our Springtime in Provence curation featured a luxury French gift collection of home textiles, luxury beauty and niche fragrances from Grasse.
This season, we curated a gorgeous product collection designed to deliver blooms directly from Provence to your door. We featured high quality beauty items from Grasse, the world capital of perfume, along with a pop of spring in linen to add chic Provence elegance to our client’s home décor. You can learn more about the story behind this sold-out curation here.
Here are the four featured brands featured in this Spring Edition:
Each box will contain one full-size bottle of your choice (for a limited time) from niche perfume house, Au Pays de la Fleur d’Oranger (up to a $128 USD value alone). This perfume house is outstanding and there is plenty to choose from. The founders behind this brand have put their hearts and souls into making exceptional fragrances and it shines through. Their success hinges on many factors, not least the heritage linking them to orange blossom and the high quality of the local ingredients used. Even more important, is the undeniable talent of their nose, Jean Claude Gigodot, who has spent a lifetime creating beautiful smells. He is a generous and delightful man and his body of work reflects this.
Each box will also contain one surprise selection from the ultra-chic Soft Perfume Line from Sabé Masson, perfect for your on-the-go fragrance needs. This is a very unique gift item receiving much buzz and praise for its hybrid blend of soft stick perfume and nourishing skincare. Delicate, sophisticated without alcohol or parabens, these beautifuly packaged soft, elegant perfumes bring together the pure sensation of perfume with the virtues of skincare.
This brand new luxury cosmetics product line was recently launched after three years of extensive testing to achieve products that are 99% natural in origin from Provence. We have tested a range of their products ourselves, and are pleased to be the first to deliver these luxury cosmetics around the world from France! In fact, they were such a hit that we have ordered up their amazing Replenishing Day Cream for our boutique, by popular demand so run on over and order up yours here.
One of our favorite, luxury French linen designers is back by popular demand. We featured a lovely surprise collection set of luxury napkins featuring blooms that coordinated with a past curation, ideal for annual members to create their own chic, coordinating tablescape.
Our award-winning Luxe Provence Box offers a highly curated collection of surprise French gift items representing each change of season in Provence. Be sure to reserve yours in advance, they sell-out quickly each season and are a limited edition.
We have our pre-sales on now for V4: La Vie est Belle – Summer in Provence. This season’s curation will feature a Luxe Provence exclusive design collaboration! Reserve yours today this is a limited edition only available to Luxe Provence clients.
Of course, there’s nothing I enjoy more than a beautiful weekend escape in Provence, especially with a group of gorgeous girlfriends. There are so many stunning and distinctly charming micro-regions in Provence that it is a surprise to many who visit, and even live here. Most recently, we covered highlights from Les Alpilles region of Provence. This time, I share a glimpse further north to the Luberon between Roussillon and the Colorado de Rustrel, part of the the superb “route de l’ocre”.
To appropriately mark the season, we were greeted by a beautiful field of poppies, or coquelicot, just before arrival to our hotel. They are actually popping up a couple weeks early this year.
We spent our girls’ weekend near the village of Gargas, part of the Parc Naturel Regional du Luberon, where you will find La Coquillade Village Hotel & Spa, our five-star escape for the weekend.
It’s truly an ideal launching point for biking (electric if you fancy, my favorite way to travel) and exploration of the nearby ochre quarries of Roussillon, Peter Mayle’s dreamy Gordes or Bonnieux, Avignon or the gorgeous vineyards of the Cotes du Ventoux. But it’s also quite ideal, for just lazing poolside for a relaxed afternoon. Did I mention, there are vineyards on the property? This is the good life.
We stayed in beautiful suites with our own private terraces that included views of the surrounding Vaucluse countryside. The “village” is a mix of older beautiful stone buildings and newer “bastide-style” suites set on a 100-acre estate complete with vineyards and tasting room. I tasted a lovely white Tramontane, featuring 50% Viognier, 25% Marsanne, 25% Roussanne from the Aureto Vineyard on the property. I will have to return (such a good excuse) for a full tasting and review of the other wines produced here, but I hear that they are garnering great reviews.
The estate is perched in the heart of the Luberon Regional Natural Park and enjoys magnificent views over the region, its perched villages and Mont Ventoux.
If wine tasting isn’t for you, there’s plenty of other activities to choose from. Unfortunately for us, the weather was a bit too chilly for outdoor swimming in either of the beautiful pools, including one at Olympic-size proportions. However, we did spend a wonderful afternoon in their deluxe spa facilities. The spa is definitely one of the highlights of this hotel and is certainly the largest in the region complete with multiple steam rooms, sauna, outdoor jacuzzis, hot and cold plunge pools, indoor pool and more.
Our girls weekend escape to the Luberon was just perfect. Well, almost perfect. I could’ve spent much more time there exploring. So many beautiful regions of Provence to experience!
For your next girls getaway, try our suggested pairing, the new “petit” Luxe Provence Gift curations featuring the a taste of the finest of Provence, curated to measure. They now come in the ideal size for celebrating a special milestone, birthday, wedding or group event. Learn more here.
Photography by Tarik Koivisto and Celine Le Floch (Luxe Provence Box shots).
For more info:
La Coquillade Village Hotel & Spa
Domaine de la Coquillade, 84400 Gargas
Phone: 04 90 74 71 71
Arguably, one of the most photogenic regions of France begins it’s bloom. The Provence region of color and natural beauty has arrived bearing fields of powder periwinkle blooming irises throughout Trets’ landscape right now. Passing through the region to capture the beauty this morning, it felt as if thousands of delicate butterflies were displaying their colors as they rest gently upon fields of brilliant green. These fields are complimented by the picturesque outlines of the Sainte-Victoire, Mount Aurélien and Mount Olympus in the backdrop. So, pack your cameras and follow the route from Rousset to Trets to uncover the beauty for yourself. If you’re lucky, you’ll also catch an amazing whiff of the freshly cut thyme fields while trolling through the charming country roads.
It’s easy to understand how such artists as Van Gogh and Cezanne drew inspiration by the iris and their beautiful faint and delicate blooms. Last spring, we hand-selected a fragrance collection for each of our clients in our V3 Luxe Provence Box that showcased the local perfume production. Iris is of prime importance in perfumery. Some describe the iris note as “the smell of cash” as it is expensive to produce. Did you know that Trets is one of the biggest iris growers in the world? Learn more about Provence’s Iris perfume production from Rebecca on this earlier post.
The Trets region does not only produce Irises, but also award-winning wines, along with its breath-taking and charming neighbor, Puyloubier. This micro-region of Provence is covered in hectares of both ancient and newly planted vines with their bright early leaves just emerging. This Provence wine growing region dates back to the early XIII century, and happens to be home to some of my favorite, local pale and fruity rosés from Domaine Saint Lucie and the Famille Sumeire. Check back in a few days for our next post on the wine, vineyards to visit, and recommended restaurants to help you discover this gorgeous region, just a few kilometers outside of Aix-en-Provence. For now, stop and photograph the flowers. But please be careful, these are very precious fields used for cultivation of perfume so be sure to take your photos from the road to protect the delicate rhizomes.
Photography, copyright and post by: Tarik Koivisto (originally posted April 18, 2016)
We are ready to hit the sea, spring has officially arrived in Provence. To inspire you, we’ve listed some of our favorite local yachting ports in Provence: Cassis, La Ciotat and Saint Tropez. Admire both the natural luxe of the Mediterranean seaside and the charm of these crown jewel coastal resort towns. These small charming ports offer much to appreciate in the off-season as well as the more glamorous summer months. As we prepare for the spring holidays, we will definitely be spending a few days at the sea. Which port are you in the mood for today?
The sun and warmer temperatures are arriving, so be sure to take advantage. We still have a few months of calm before the busy summer season begins.
Photography by: Tarik Koivisto
Despite living in Provence for over four years now, I never grow tired of exploring and rediscovering the many, authentic and beautiful regions this area has to offer. Inspired by my return visit to the Les Carrières de Lumière last week for the Chagall Opening, I decided it was due time for a new feature on discovering the “Les Alpilles” region. I have since learned there’s quite a lot happening at the moment, from new luxury hotel developments and chic openings within this charming and gorgeous South of France region.
One of my favorite places in Les Alpilles is the Provençal town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, famous for its light and artistic ties with Vincent Van Gogh. Saint-Rémy is becoming a cosmopolitan destination in its own right, with an array of world-class hotels, restaurants, wine bars and design shops popping up recently. We are particularly excited to learn about the much buzzed about, Hotel de Tourrel. A must-see on our design loving boutique hotel list (learn more below; pictured above).
The other must-see city is set within the breathtaking and ruggedly dramatic setting of Les Baux-de-Provence. This stunning, historic heritage site has deservedly been awarded “one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France”. The village itself is crowned with a castle overlooking the picturesque plains to the south, surrounded by olive groves and vineyards on all sides. The defensive capabilities of the natural site of Les Baux have always made it an attractive location for habitation with traces of humans dating back to 6000 BC. Les Baux-de-Provence deserves at least an afternoon visit starting with a stroll through the pedestrian-only old village, a visit to its chateau and culminating with the latest Les Carriere de Lumiere exhibition. The current exhibition dedicated to Marc Chagall, offers a deeper exploration into a solo artist’s body of work for the first-time, as opposed to its usual group shows, which is complimented nicely by a vivid Alice in Wonderland visual adventure, ideal for children. If you’re not a Chagall expert, we recommend spending some time reviewing the artist’s impressive work history in advance to fully appreciate this exhibit.
Our Must-See Guide to Les Alpilles
To help us come up with the perfect weekend escape itinerary in the charming Les Alpilles, I asked our luxury travel friends over at Unique Provence to share a few of their expert recommendations with us. We caught up with our dear friend, Laura Jullien, Lead Travel and Event Planner, to share some insider tips on what to see and visit in the area. Unique Provence, founded by Philip Haslett and located in Forcalquier, caters to luxury-loving travels who are seeking authentic, haute de gamme tours and unique travel experiences in Provence for international clients.
So, here we go. Our Must-see Guide to Les Alpilles with much help from Laura and the team, including the top places to lunch and stay in this gorgeous region.
Where to Lunch
Bistrot du Paradou is the reference in the area, offering a Lyonnaise-inspired gastro-bistrot experience set in a classic Provence setting with fixed daily menu and rave reviews from tourists and locals alike.
Aux Ateliers Chez Frank et Flo in Maussane-les-Alpilles, offers up a charming setting with friendly staff and delicious options for both lunch or dinner, from fresh fish to their homemade ravioli, including gluten-free and vegetarians options. Sun yourself on their outdoor terrace in the summer months, or cozy up indoors and admire their vast collection of wines from the region. Be sure to pop into the little concept store and epicerie to fill up your bike basket with Provencal goodies.
What to See
Take in the latest exhibit at Les Carriere des Lumieres, but that’s not the only must-see activity. Biking tours and rustic chic picnics are the ideal way to explore this region and allow for impromtu stops to admire the beautiful scenery of olive groves, rocky outcrops and vineyards in all directions. (In the next few weeks, we will include a wine visiting guide on our blog). Laura lets us in on some great places for regional olive oil tasting and a few other places to stock your picnic baskets along the way.
Olive Oil Tastings
The Domaine Estoublon offers some of the finest olive oil in the Les Baux region. It’s a great place to visit with a variety of activities, including a fabulous epicerie to pick up some the region’s finest. The Domaine is situated in the heart of the Alpilles, between Arles and Avignon, and is rich with Roman history. They have been producing wine and olive oil since 1731 and the property features a XVIII century château, boutique/epicerie, moulin, vineyard, chapelle, heliport and more. This property has been undergoing extensive renovations with its final phase complete shortly this spring.
The Moulin du Calanquet, is a quaint, family run domaine now led by Anne and Gilles Brun of Saint-Rémy de Provence with over five generations of history. They also offer some of the finest olive oil in the area and very well-run tastings.
Where to Stay
We are dying to stay over at the luxe Provence Hotel de Tourrel. The recently renovated 17th century palace located in the center of Saint-Rémy is receiving much buzz for achieving the ideal balance of restored 17th century splendor and modern, finesse. We were also told they just opened up a very hip, chic wine bar this past week that we must check out very soon. (We will update you on our visit…)
For now, here’s a few press mentions on what to expect:
“Set in a 17th-century palais in the center of the old village, the hotel and its seven spacious suites are a mid-century design odyssey. The noble de Tourrel d’Almeran family’s former home, original features have been charmingly mixed in the interiors with furniture by ClassiCon designers Eileen Gray and Konstantin Grcic. The ancient building is also home to an innovative nouveau Mediterranean restaurant and private dining space. With pristine natural surroundings and an address close to 34 wine appellations and important historical sites, such as the ancient royal city Les-Baux-de-Provence and Avignon, Hôtel de Tourrel adds a new layer of luxury to the heart of an already refined and stunning Saint-Rémy. ”
– Design Hotels (source link)
“New life has been breathed into the historic former residence of the noble family de Tourrel d’Almeran from Saint-Rémy. The outstanding architecture of this private mansion dating back to the 17th century inspired Ralph Huesgen and Margot Staengle to incorporate more than three centuries of life into the design, with 1920s flair and a hint of modernity.”
– Côté Magazine March/April 2015
Alternatively, if you prefer to stay directly in Les Baux-de-Provence these are just two excellent, luxury choices on our list. For golf lovers, the newer Domaine de Manville hotel and spa is also receiving rave reviews for its modern yet classic feel bringing upscale Provence luxury design and modern ammenities to its guests.
Just a stone’s throw away from the center and Les Carrieres is the rustic elegant l’Oustau Baumanière les Baux de Provence, a 5-star luxury hotel retreat offering its own gastronomic restaurant spread between five different bastides, or manoir homes.
We hope we’ve offered a great weekend escape itinerary for you, whether visiting afar or living near. We will report back with more info soon.
Special thanks to Laura at Unique Provence, Provence Travel and Luxury Tours.
To learn more visit:
Chateau Estoublon
Route de Maussane, 13990 Fontvieille
Téléphone:04 90 54 64 00
Moulin de Calanquet
Vieux chemin d’Arles
13210 Saint-Rémy de Provence – France
Tél. : +33 (0)4 32 60 09 50
Bistrot du Paradou
57 Avenue de la Vallée des Baux, 13520 Paradou
Téléphone :04 90 54 32 70
Aux Ateliers
115 Avenue de la Vallée des Baux, 13520 Maussane-les-Alpilles
Téléphone: 04 90 49 96 58
Domaine de Manville
13520 Les Baux-de-Provence
Téléphone:04 90 54 40 20
l’Oustau de Baumanière
D27, 13520 Les Baux-de-Provence
Les Carrières de Lumière
Route de Maillane, 13520 Les Baux de Provence
Hotel de Tourrel
5 Rue Carnot
F-13210 Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Resto / Bar a Vin (Resto re-opening March 22)
Tél +33 (0)4 84 35 07 -21
Hotel
Tél +33 (0)4 84 35 07 -20
reservation@detourrel.com
I must share one of my favorite, local wine producers and an ideal place to take visiting friends and family. The domaine is located directly on the Cengle, in a very dramatic setting nearly at the top of the majestic Sainte Victoire of Provence. Perched upon one of the most breathtaking natural sites in the region at 550 m altitude and down roughly 17 kilometers of bumpy gravel roads, you will find Domaine des Masques. Trust me, it’s worth the visit and effort. Just make sure to call ahead to be certain they are open!
Located not far from the small town of Saint-Antonin-sur-Bayon, the vineyards overlook the region of Aix-en-Provence with the iconic Sainte Victoire as its backdrop. Domaine des Masques produces both olive oil and a beautiful selection of wines, mainly found at local restaurants and cavistes, all cultivated in the midst of this magical, rugged site.
The domaine offers a small, modern tasting room located on the beautiful Provencal property led by a lovely woman who offers gently guided tastings, along with a history of the wines and an educational tour of their modern facilities. Their varietals include a lovely chardonnay, perfectly dry rosé and warm syrahs and red blends from three different cuvées. I generally love the minerality and bouquet of wines produced from this area. On the 145 hectares of the area, only 16 hectares are planted with vines. The vines remain cool and well aerated allowing the domaine to utilize its natural environment and production methods to its fullest potential to propose different, elegant and intense wines made by Sébastien Ballester and Yves Cuilleron.
Their white wines are made with chardonnay and viognier. Having lived and grown accustomed to the Napa and Sonoma Valley of California, I feel drawn and at home with these varieties.
Their rosé wines are made from a blend of grenache and syrah grapes. Red wines are made from the varietal syrah, cabernet sauvignon and marselan, alone or blended. The ‘Essential’ cuvées are composed of a majority of wines vinified in stainless steel tanks.
Be sure to cross over afterwards to the natural park just across the road to take in the heady views of the valley below. Combine your visit with a hike or ride in the Ste Victoire to truly appreciate the surroundings and stunning, wild beauty of this area any time of year. Oh and please be sure to mention, that we sent you…
For more info:
Domaine des Masques
Chemin Maurely, 13100 Saint-Antonin-sur-Bayon
04 42 26 09 67
Blog post and location photos by Tarik Koivisto. Aeriel image credit: Domaine des Masques.
After welcoming over 513,000 visitors for Michelangelo, Leonardo de Vinci and Raphael: The Giants of the Renaissance, the Les Carrières de Lumières in Baux-de-Provence prepares to launch their next ambitious artistic project devoted solely to Marc Chagall (1887 – 1985). The Chagall exhibit marks the first time a Les Carrières installation is devoted to only one artist and is set to begin March 4, 2016 continuing through January 8, 2017. This is a must-see for visitors and locals alike. Les Baux is a stunning daytrip destination in its own right and classified as one of the top 7 plus beaux villages of Provence. Combine a village visit and stunning venue to experience art for a guaranteed fabulous way to spend a day out exploring Provence.
More from the Culturespace website:
“Produced by Culturespaces with the assistance of the Comité Marc Chagall, and created by Gianfranco Iannuzzi, Renato Gatto and Massimiliano Siccardi with the musical collaboration of Luca Longobardi, this new audio-visual show offers audiences a remarkable opportunity to discover the impressive oeuvre of Marc Chagall, an artist of Russian origin who obtained French nationality in 1937.
Most of the artist’s best-known masterpieces have been digitized and will be screened on the 5,000 m2 of the former stone quarry of Les Carrières de Lumières. A spectacular experience that promises to be a highly memorable one for the public! The first show focusing on a single artist at Les Carrières de Lumières, this new 2016 multimedia exhibition has been designed as a veritable journey through the major phases of the artist’s career.
Chagall: Midsummer Night’s Dreams is a story in twelve parts—Vitebsk, Life, Poetry, Collages, The War, Stained Glass, The Opéra Garnier, Daphnis and Chloé, Mosaics, The Circus, Illustrations and The Bible—presenting Chagall’s creativity in all its diversity, and his multiple sources of inspiration. The universal themes of love, the family, roots, the landscape, the circus, war, and music are perfectly showcased within the wonderful setting that are Les Carrières de Lumières.
For the first time, the close-ups of certain works featured in the collection of the Musée national Marc Chagall in Nice allow the visitor to see the artworks in a new light and to appreciate their depth and expressive richness. In addition to Chagall’s painted work, the show also reveals his collages, mosaics and stained glass windows, thereby illustrating the full range of Chagall’s talents. The show fills Les Carrières de Lumières with a sea of vibrant colours, characteristic of the artist’s palette, infusing the site with a poetic and particularly dynamic atmosphere.”
The Carrières are open every day from 4 March 2016 to 8 January 2017.
January, March, November and December: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
April, May, June, Septembre and October: 9.30 a.m.-7 p.m.
July and August: 9.30 a.m.-7.30 p.m.
We are pleased to announce that we now offer custom on-demand Luxe Provence Event Gift Box curations for special celebrations, weddings, and corporate events. Impress your guests with our unique, prestige french gift boxes featuring the beauty and luxuries of Provence.
