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Established in France more than 50 years ago, Relais & Châteaux has become a renowned reference of excellence in the hotel and restaurant world. The Association's mission is to spread its unique art de vivre across the globe by selecting outstanding properties with a truly unique character.
Owner and Grand Chef of the Bastide Saint-Antoine My “best picks” itinerary between Provence & Côte d’Azur
These are my “best picks”, which take us on a journey through charming lanes and stunning countryside to the heart of Provence, to discover the region just as you’d always imagined it. Each gourmet delight, visit and activity is enlivened by individuals who possess a profound knowledge of this elegant region.
Relais & Châteaux proposes its Routes du Bonheur for your inspiration: they are suggestions of itineraries that you can adapt to your preferences and desired experiences. Our advisors are at your disposal to individualise your routes and help you make reservations at our properties. Example for a four-night stay from €968* * Minimum indicative rate per person, subject to availability, on the basis of a double room with double occupancy, including accommodation, breakfast and dinner (menu, without beverages) in the properties suggested for the itinerary. Activities on site and nearby must be reserved by you.
At the heart of the Grasse countryside, 15 minutes from Cannes, 15 minutes from Cannes-Mandelieu airfield and 30 minutes from Nice airport, the Bastide is a charming residence overlooking an ancient five-hectare olive grove. The warm, welcoming rooms enjoy a refined elegance while retaining the authentic feel of a typical “Bastide” (a Provençal mansion). The Chef, Jacques Chibois invites you enjoy this friendly atmosphere while savouring his light, creative, sun-kissed and flavoursome cuisine with a personal touch. A joy, pure and simple.
Close to the property...
Create your own perfume in Grasse
The world capital of perfume, Grasse offers perfumeries, the International Perfumery Museum, the Provençal Costume Museum and the Fragonard Perfumery, the chance to create your own perfume at Galimard and to explore traditional perfume-making at Molinard.
Lunch at Le Mas Candille and visit to Mougins - kilometre 8
Visit Mougins and lunch at the restaurant of Le Mas Candille, a Relais & Châteaux property nestling in the upper reaches of the town.
Next, stroll around the village, exploring its ancient houses coloured in ochre hues with lavender violet shutters, spiralled alleyways, lively terraces, a small square and fountain. We dare you not to fall in love - just like Picasso!
Just a short drive away, Cannes, the city of festivals, famous for its Croisette promenade, beaches, and Fortville Provençal market, awaits you... At night, visit Suquet and enjoy extraordinary views over the town. For a bite to eat, pay a visit to Jean-Pierre Da Silva at L’Ondine, an excellent beachside restaurant on the Croisette.
Take a boat to visit the monks at the Abbaye de Saint Honorate (Iles de Lérins) where you’ll find wines who won a silver award at a tasting of European wines.
On the route...
Discover the region from the sky in a microlight - kilometre 26
Stop off at the Fayence-Tourettes airfield (Europe’s leading gliding centre) and hire a microlight to admire the region from the sky. Fly over charming villages such as Montauroux and Tourettes and admire the region’s beauty from above.
Visit the Maison des Vins des Côtes de Provence in Trans en Provence - kilometre 63
Stop off in Trans en Provence for a tasting session at the Maison des Vins des Côtes de Provence offering a complete range of appellations.
While you’re in town, don’t miss the venerable 12th century Abbaye Sainte Roseline and vineyard, and the remains of Sainte Roseline, the daughter of the Lord of Arcs, housed in a crystal reliquary.
Another delightful château to discover is La Font du Broc with its breeding stables for Spanish Lusitanian horses and one of the best wines in Provence, stored in an underground “cathedral”.
The chateau’s wines are among the region’s finest, so don’t miss out on the wine school and Provençal cookery courses. Visit the vineyard on a mountain or quad bike followed by an original picnic! Major cultural events are organised throughout the year.
Close to the property...
Lorgues
Each century has left its mark on Lorgues which boasts medieval remains, chapels, the Saint-Martin collegial church, vestiges of former oil presses and flour mills, which each bear witness to its impressive urban, rural and human heritage. Visitors are also invited to discover a wide range of regional products in the Sucrés Salés shop.
Abbaye du Thoronet - kilometre 17
Visit the Abbaye du Thoronet, a marvellous 12th century Cistercian abbey boasting world-renowned acoustics for Gregorian chanting.
On the route...
Where nature meets history, from Carcès to Barjols - kilometre 18 to 24
Follow the route to the Lac de Carcès, a paradise for fishing enthusiasts and migratory birds. Pass along the lake to Carcès, then on to Cotignac where Anne of Austria made a pilgrimage to implore the heavens to give her a child, Louis XIV. Between Verdon and the Mediterranean, discover the village of Barjols with its 43 Provençal fountains and washhouses.
Discover Truffles with Jean-Jacques Roux in Tavernes - kilometre 48
In Tavernes, Jean-Jacques Roux (Chairman of the Haut-Var Truffle Growers Association) sells truffles, recipes and organic olive oil from the Moulin de Tavernes. Jean-Jacques is one of the organisers of the truffle market, held at the start of the year at the Bastide Saint-Antoine, owned by Jacques Chibois.
While you’re in the area, visit Varages, home to one of France’s most beautiful earthenware workshops.
Walks and sport around the Gorges du Verdon - kilometre 66
Continue along the route to a site of outstanding natural beauty, the Gorges du Verdon, unique in Europe and part of the Provence region, where you’re invited to enjoy a range of activities, including rafting and canyoning. Follow the route to Gréoux les Bains, a charming little Provençale town renowned for the quality of its hot springs and the aroma of thyme, lavender and rosemary that fills the air. The town also boasts a series of medieval remains, including the prestigious ruins of the Château des Templiers and underground thermal baths.
The birthplace of L’Occitane in Manosque - kilometre 80
The world-renowned L’Occitane brand originated here in Manosque. Visit this authentic village which has managed to retain its charms and admire L’Occitane’s soap workshop and beauty products as you explore the origins of one of France’s biggest worldwide successes.
Manosque is also the birthplace of writer Jean Giono whose museum is well worth a visit.
We can advise you on booking your route. Contact central reservations :
Spa by L’Occitane: after enjoying a unique sensual experience filled with the aromas of Provence, visit the Provençal aromatic garden and the wonderful “Le Cloître” restaurant.
Close to the property...
Visit the Distilleries et Domaines de Provence in Forcalquier - kilometre 4
Building on its fascinating history, including a 13th century old town, Forcalquier remains one of the leading cultural centres in the Haut Pays Provençal. The renowned Distilleries et Domaines de Provence are well worth a detour. The company produces popular beverages including traditional Henri Bardouin pastis, liqueur, absinth, orange wine aperitif, walnut wine and rinquinquin under the watchful eye of Jeannot Augier, a distiller of brandy from fruit sugar.
Olivier Baussan’s Ecomusée de L’Olive, Volx - kilometre 11
Olivier Baussan’s delightful Ecomusée de L’Olive is well worth a visit, especially for its tasting store. Their delicious products include AOC olive oil and olives from the south of France. Olivier Baussan and Jacques Chibois have written a fascinating book on olive oil: “Olive Oil” published by Flammarion.
Nougat tasting at the André Boyer pâtisserie in Sault - kilometre 54
At the foot of Mont Ventoux, perched on a rocky spur dominating a valley that bears its name, Sault wears a heady perfume of lavender kissed by the Provençal sun and makes the perfect starting point for excursions and other activities. Lovers of traditional nougat should pay a visit to the André Boyer pâtisserie where nougat is made from the finest Ventoux honey and almonds from Provence (workshop visits by reservation only).
Walk in the Provençal Colorado at Rustrel - kilometre 83
Discover one of the delights of the Luberon region, just a short distance from Rustrel. This incredible landscape features ochre soil, stone columns and a real canyon! The work of nature and man, a meeting between an ochre quarry and the erosion of the elements, this Provençal version of Colorado offers a unique panorama that’s quite spectacular!
Pay a visit to Gargas in the Petit Luberon region and discover the Maison Octave (Quart Fournigon). Here, Christophe Fernandez, “Best Preserve Maker of France 2000”, produces traditional preserves free from additives in ancient copper cauldrons - a real treat!
The former ochre quarries of Bruoux should also be top of your visit list.
Roussillon - kilometre 105
It’s impossible not to visit the hill-top village of Roussillon with its 17th and 18th century houses, stunning views and highly coloured “ochre trail”.
Not surprisingly, Roussillon has been named one of the most beautiful villages in France and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Luberon region.
We can advise you on booking your route. Contact central reservations :
The ideal base from which to discover the Luberon region and its exceptional sites, the Hostellerie offers traditional family cuisine, cookery courses with the Maître de Maison, panoramic views from some rooms, and the Café de la Fontaine in the Hostellerie’s park.
Close to the property...
Gordes
Gordes, an authentic village proud of its Provençal traditions and its soil, is well worth a visit, along with the village of Bories and its fascinating circular dry stone buildings, the Abbaye de Silvacane, the Bouillons mill and the cellars of the Palais Saint Firmin. Enjoying a rich historical and cultural heritage, the region plays host to numerous events and exhibitions. Illustrious painters such as André Lhote, Marc Chagall, Jean Deyrolle, Victor Vasarely and Pol Mara all drew their inspiration from this area.
Abbaye de Sénanque - 12 km
The Abbaye de Sénanque, nestling in a lush green valley surrounded by lavender fields, remains one of the finest examples of early Cistercian architecture. Built in the 12th century, it has survived the ages and remains home to a community of Cistercian monks.
Wine tasting at the Domaine vinicole de la Citadelle with Alexis Rousset Rouard - kilometre 17
A short drive away is the Domaine vinicole de la Citadelle where Alexis Rousset Rouard invites you to taste the region’s best wines (his own!) and visit the corkscrew museum.
On our way to the TGV in Avignon, take time to head out to the Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for an antiques adventure: ideal for antiques hunters and lovers of beautiful objects, second-hand furniture and art galleries.
We can advise you on booking your route. Contact central reservations :
