L'Oustau de Baumaniere, Les Baux, France

TI reviewer Sian Thatcher
Hidden away among the rocky outcrops of southwest Provence lies a luxury hotel that has seen more than its fair share of A-listers. Flicking through the brochure is like a Who’s Who of the 20th-century – everyone from Robert De Niro, Johnny Depp, the Queen, Mick Jagger has stayed under its illustrious, yet understatedly elegant roof, and it’s not hard to understand why. Although you’ll need a rental car and French TomTom to get there, its location up a windy road on a mountain overlooking the rolling fields and vineyards of Provence is breathtaking.

The facilities

But it’s not just the location that makes this luxury hotel place special – every square inch of the 14th-century converted farmhouse has had Jean-André Charial’s brand of luxury stamped all over it: the Twenties pool is immaculate, every shrub and tree expertly manicured and the terrace looks like a scene from a particularly evocative Cezanne painting.

The two Michelin-star hotel restaurant also offers fancy French cuisine that will leave you belly-up on your four-poster bed, as stuffed as the foie gras you’ve just eaten, while the estate’s own wine, L’Affectif, is a spicy triumph. Whether they’re on fire or have dry ice pouring out from beneath them, the desserts are a real spectacle, too, and delicious to boot. The restaurant will even allow pets to get in on the gastronomic action, promising to rustle up a feast for a cat or dog in the dining room, but only if they are well behaved – which probably applies to the biped guests, as well.

The rooms

Every bedroom has its own distinctive style and each gives more than a nod to the luxury hotel’s rustic beginnings, leaving many original features intact, but is complemented with flat-screen modernity and quirky art work. Some have almost a gothic elegance, while others are bright and breezy, and design flourishes such as a mini clock tower above the bed show the attention to detail. Choose room number seven in the main building for a terrace with sweeping views of the pool and gardens.