Since the Middle Ages, Paris has boasted its reputation as France’s ultimate romantic destination for lovers in search of romance, whether it’s at the Le Mur Des Je t'aime or sunset cruises along the Seine. But almost 800km south of the 'City of Love' lies one of our Gallic neighbour’s lesser celebrated, yet widely adored, romantic destinations we’d argue has just as much – if not more – appeal to its northern counterpart.
One of 13 regions of Metropolitan France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur boasts rolling vineyards, olive groves, lavender fields, and a rich cultural history spanning the 7th Wave of Cinema to the modern age.
Actor Brigitte Bardot helped transform St Tropez – one known as a rustic fishing village – into the superyacht, celebrity destination it’s known for today following the filming of the 1956 hit, And God Created Women. Five decades later, cinephiles fell in love with the area once again with Ridley Scott’s A Good Year, starring Marion Cottilard and Russell Crowe, shot at idyllic spots like Château La Canorgue, Gordes’ Chapelle Des Pénitents Blancs, and Place de l’Étang in Cucuron. Who didn’t consider swapping life in London’s rat race for a career as a vigneron and spending evenings sipping on a Bordeaux blend at sunset?
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It's no surprise then that given the rise in minimoons – the shorter, often more affordable version of the well-known honeymoon – and growing popularity of rosé in the UK, that Provence has become a go-to destination for newlyweds in search of a holiday that can provide relaxation, some of the finest dining and accommodation, as well some of the best parties the Mediterranean has to offer. Whether you’re a bride or groom to be, or newlyweds on the search for a romantic destination for two that won’t break the bank, here’s your guide to a week’s minimoon in Provence.
Day 1
After arriving in Marseille (the best airport to fly into for Provence, in our opinion), hire a car and drive the winding roads up to Le Moulin de Lourmarin, a hotel located in the hilltop Provençal village of Luberon, which has been dubbed 'one of the most beautiful villages in France' for good reason. This 18th-century oil mill has been given a modern yet tasteful makeover by the architecture company Jaune in recent years to create a haven of soft cream and honey-hues, styled with terracotta tiles, white shutters and straw accents. On arrival, you’ll be delighted with a lemon-infused Prosecco, before being guided to the accommodation’s arched ceiling restaurant or, better yet, its twinkling light-lit garden for supper.
Chef Mathis Larrode’s menu at Le Moulin includes a typically delicious Provençal range of options, including a creamy burrata, served with roasted peach and confit zucchinis, a lamb shoulder from Sisteron, with eggplant and mint caviar, and a dessert of roasted apricots, rosemary biscuit, honey and almonds. In the morning, tuck into the breakfast – simply named The Provençal – (think eggs made to your liking, chia pudding granola bowls, and copious amounts of pastry), before hiring a couple of e-bikes from the hotel and exploring the local area. Some of the best coffee spots in town include Café Gaby and La Calade de Lourmarin, while afternoon and late-night drink spots like Le Tonneau and Le Comptoir shouldn’t be missed.
Day 2
Jump in your hire car again and make your way to Gordes – ideally on a Tuesday where the town holds its famous weekly market hosting stalls selling everything from cheese and chutneys to chorizo and ice cream – and fall in love with its hilltop art-inspired vibe, and take in its spectacular vistas. The best place to take a pitstop and tuck into some of the most lip smackingly-delicious food is, undoubtedly, Airelles Gordes, La Bastide, which overlooks Gordes and has breathtaking views over the Luberon massif.
Renovated with the 18th-century Aix bastide in mind, Airelles Gordes, La Bastide is a five-star hotel with 34 rooms and six suites furnished to celebrate the building's rich history, in addition to boasting five different restaurants, indoor and outdoor pools (fresh ice cream is on offer to guests), a hammam, and a kids’ area. In our opinion, the best place to dine is at l’Orangerie, the site’s original restaurant with a terrace offering views of the Luberon valley’s olive groves, and decorated with white linen-dressed tables, sheltered under mulberry trees. Run by Chef Yohan Fatela, the menu is a true celebration of all that is Provençal, with options including roast pigeon and artichoke salad, roasted filet, sundried tomatoes, bell peppers and calamari, and a crispy meringue, verbena marinated with a strawberry, black lemon and strawberry sorbet, and whipped cream. We suggest treating yourself to the Signature Menu (130euros) with a 70euros wine pairing from Airelles’ Chef Sommelier for the ultimate newlywed treat.
BOOK AIRELLES GORDES, LA BASTIDE
After your visit to Gordes, your next stop – Hôtel Crillon le Brave – awaits just a 30-minute drive away. By now you’ve no doubt seen photos of Hôtel Crillon le Brave populate your Instagram feed, so beautiful and in-demand is the five-star hotel this year. The hotel is part of a 17th-century hamlet in the area of Vaucluse and is made up of nine Génoise-tiled houses, which creates a mini village solely for guests and diners to enjoy. One of the reasons the hotel has become so famous among travellers in recent years is due to its views of the surrounding hills and ancient stone villages, not to mention its labyrinth of small courtyards and traditional French interiors (antique furniture, plush cushions, wooden beams, terracotta tiles etc). On arrival we suggest checking into one of the 17 rooms or 17 suites, designed by decorator Charles Zana, before booking a romantic couple’s massage at Spa des Ecuries, taking a swim in the outdoor pool, and dining at one of two of Executive Chef Adrien Brunet’s restaurants – La Madeleine (arguably its most famous, given its picture-perfect location nestled among the site’s stone buildings and overlooking Mont Ventoux). The signature menu (130euros per person) includes everything from red tuna, blackberry and horseradish, to purebred beef, mushrooms, and more.
Day 3
Start your day with coffee, chocolate croissants, and pancakes at Hôtel Crillon le Brave's second restaurant, La Table du Ventoux, before taking a short drive to Mont Ventoux, located some 12 miles) northeast of Carpentras, Vaucluse, and a legend of the Tour de France. Cycle up the 1,5000-metre ascent (if you dare...), or simply pass your time in a nearby café with a coffee and croissant, before spending the afternoon wandering around a nearby lavender field, such as La Femme aux Lavendes or Villes sur Auzon. Return to Hôtel Crillon le Brave and sit down for a tantalising menu made up of steamed lime fish, grilled octopus, roasted duckling, seasonal fruit Pavlovas, and much more.
Day 4
Say ‘au revoir’ to the Provençal hilltops for a moment, and head down to Hotel Lou Calen, a truly spectacular three-hectare country estate and eco-friend hotel resort in Cotignac, which was dubbed the ‘most beautiful village in France’ in 2022. Escape the hustle and bustle of the town, and make yourself at home in the estate’s quiet and tranquil surroundings, which is made up of 16 rooms and suites (they’re expanding to have 36 rooms in total soon), each with their own private terrace or balcony, whether it’s The Bastidon – a stone building in the heart of the estate, with rustic interiors and a pool view – or The Pigeonnier, which is made of a circular tower design, extends across three floors, and even features its own bath and hammam.
A visit at Lou Calen isn’t complete without a table booked at Jardin Secret, a 200-year-old Provençal country house with a beautiful garden area overlooking Cotignac’s hills, and a menu devised by award-winning chef Benoit Witz, which uses produce grown on-site, and features the likes of aubergine tarte, fish of the day, a platter of cheeses, and fruit desserts, all for the reasonable sum of 58euros. On the rooftop in summer, the hotel opens its own wine bar, with a selection of the finest wines, while the hotel’s microbrewery, Le Tailleur de Bière, has become a lively cultural spot for travellers and locals, alike.
If wine is your thing, then may we suggest a visit to the Maison Mirabeau Boutique, where you can taste the entire Mirabeau range, and peruse the shops’ interiors space, picking up a candle or pastel-coloured pottery with a glass of Mirabeau Pure in hand? Alternatively, cycle down to Le Château Carpe Diem for an afternoon of wine tasting, before returning to town for dinner in the courtyard of restaurant Picotte Provence or outside at Café de L’Union in the heart of the town. Lou Calen has been a famous spot for decades, often frequented by rock bands such as The Who, The Cure, and the Rolling Stones, and has a rich musical history, which sees it host classical music festivals throughout the summer, and nightly live music nights at the brewery.
Day 5
Start your morning early and head to your next stop, Château Saint Roux, a historic farm dating from the 15th century, which has been transformed into an organic vineyard and hotel for all the family. The vineyard spans 85 acres around the village of Le Cannet des Maures, and comprises a red clay and chalk, which gives the site a slight Deep South aesthetic, with the perfect balance of Provençal charm.
There are a range of rooms to choose from, including the lower priced standard rooms, to the more pricey suites, apartments, and La Bastide, yet rest assured that wherever you choose to rest your head, you’ll find rest and relaxation here. We suggest starting your stay at the Chateau with a spot of wine tasting on the terrace, before taking part in some breadmaking and baking at the bakery on site, walking around the vegetable garden, and spotting some local farm animals (the site has its very own goat tower where goats climb to keep watch – no joke!). In the evening, make your way to the restaurant – La Table de Saint-Roux – and enjoy everything, from salads, burrata and Gravlax salmon, to hearty truffle risotto, pesto gnocci and meats galore as the sun descends.
Day 6
You can never have too much time in the Provençal countryside, but if you’re in search of a nightlife and the sea breeze, let us lure you away with a short stay at one of the most famous areas in the south of France – St Tropez. A coastal town on the French Riviera, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France, the town has become famous for attracting A-listers and the jet set elite since the 1960s (everyone from Picasso and Ernest Hemingway, to Sienna Miller and Rihanna), who have regularly frequented its beach bars and clubs in the Bay of Pampelonne, such as Nikki beach and Club 55, arriving in Ferraris, and spending the night on private yachts.
However, that doesn’t mean us mere mortals can’t enjoy the former fishing village. A short drive away from the centre lies Hotel La Tartane, a small hamlet which consists of 27 rooms and suites, decorated in true Mediterranean fashion with rich terracotta and salmon-hued walls, striped cushions, and floral-patterned furnishings, as well as a swimming pool with its very own bar, and an open-air restaurant.
Following a small walk around town, perusing shops like Kiwi Saint Tropez and Cult Gaia, we suggest grabbing a small aperitif at the world-famous 19-century Sénéquier café, bar and restaurant, which overlooks the port filled to the brim with yachts, before making your way to an afternoon lunch booking at La Bagatelle St Tropez (we suggest the 3pm booking) – the only place to party and dine in Pampelonne Beach, in our humble opinion. Not only is La Bagatelle a superb restaurant, serving dishes such as crispy sardines with Piedmont hazelnuts in an arrabbiata sauce, the popular Bagatelle tuna tartar, with avocado, and an Espelette pepper vinaigrette, whole farm chicken with tarragon butter, in a salt crust with herb, and agria fried potatoes with oregano, but it’s one hell of a party. Prepare yourself for dancing on tables, non-stop fun, and late-night partying. Trust us, one visit to Bagatelle St Tropez and you’ll wonder how you’ve ever lived without a visit until now.
Day 7
Wake in the morning at La Tartane and dine on a delectable breakfast of fresh fruit, pastries and coffee outside by the pool, before jumping in the car and making one final pitstop along the way at Bandol, a small commune in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, and popular holiday spot given its crystal-clear waters and reputation as ‘la ville traquille’ (it's sheltered by hills and protected from the Mistral, a cold dry north or northwest wind, which blows down through the Rhone Valley to the Mediterranean). Lunchtime offerings are aplenty in Bandol, but we suggest booking a table at sea-view restaurants including Bandol, Palm-b, and Resaurant La Chipote for some deliciously fresh seafood before taking your flight from Marseille.
Provence – the perfect romantic destination for newylweds. What are you waiting for?
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
