overview
No other region of France stirs the imagination and stimulates the senses as strongly as Provence. The soft light and its vivid landscape of pastel colours have inspired writers and artists from F. Scott Fitzgerald and Pagnol to Van Gogh and Picasso. The fragrant countryside with its wild herbs is scattered with historic fortified medieval towns to explore, and if all you want to do is relax there can be few better places than the South of France, with its glorious weather, delicious food and fine wines.
The Luberon, a protected area, ranks amongst the most beautiful areas of Provence. This is the Provence of shrill cicadas, pulsing heat, short-tempered paysans, and wild thyme crunching underfoot. A magnet for café society, and political and art world scenesters, the historic villages of the Luberon (Menerbes, Roussillon, Gourdes, Bonnieux, Lacoste) are France’s answer to the Hamptons.
The area offers rich scope for walking, riding, antique shopping and visits to traditional food markets, medieval hill towns and historic cities such as Avignon and Aix-en-Provence.
Twenty-four miles east of Avignon, lies the beautiful stone village of Menerbes amid the gentle undulating flanks of the Luberon mountains. Considered one of the finest little villages in France, Menerbes is built on a hill, surrounded by magnificent countryside, and has a well preserved historic past. Among the jewels of the village, discover the 14th century St Hilaire abbey, the 18th century chapel of St Blaise, the magnificent medieval and renaissance houses of the old aristocracy, and the belfry with its bell tower, which dominates the small town square.
And do not leave Ménerbes without a visit to the "corkscrew museum" where more than 1,000 different varieties of this magic tool are on display. The corkscrew was invented in the 12th century... by a Frenchman of course!!!
Stay in the Bastide de Marie surrounded by 15 hectares of vineyards. The Bastide de Marie combines edgy design with a rustic renaissance and stands out as one of the most beautiful properties of the region.
Honey is from the local beekeeper, goat’s cheese from a small producer nearby, black tomatoes from the organic farmer retained by the Bastide, and the wines are of course de la Domaine de Marie. The furniture is authentic Provençal from the surrounding markets, the linen is from the wonderful Edith Mezard in Lumieres and the plates are made in the pottery at Uzes.
Or choose from two magnificent guests houses with all the charm of a Provençal farm, overlooking the fields and cherry orchards. Between vines, olive and lemon trees, lavender filled walkways, flowers and herbs, experience the tranquillity of living in Provence in harmony with the seasons.