Review of Le Prieure, by The TI Review Team

TI reviewer Sian Thatcher
This quintessentially French luxury hotel, converted from a 14th-century convent into one of Relais & Chateaux's best, is the ideal place for a weekend escape. Hidden away in the heart of Avignon Villeneuve, a quiet medieval town around a five-minute drive away from the historic town of Avignon, luxury hotel Le Prieuré will delight garden-lovers and those in need of a bit of respite from the stresses of city life.

This is another of Jean-Andre Charial's creations, who also owns L'Oustau de Baumaniere in Les Baux au Provence. Having taken over from the previous owners in 2006, he promptly set about an exhaustive refurbishment programme that has seen the luxury hotel go from rustic charm to uber chic.

The facilities

Perfumed priest's gardens roll out around the grounds and wisteria-draped trellises add a touch of romance. Inside, the luxury hotel retains some original features such as the fireplaces, yet this is set off with a deeply modern and creative decor.

The luxury hotel has a spacious and bright restaurant which serves both lunch and dinner. The large bay windows offer a stunning view of the river. The wine list is centuries old and offers choices from throughout France, but mostly from the Loire Valley.

The rooms

There are 33 guestrooms at Le Prieuré and most get wireless Internet access and a flashy flat screen TV, with good-quality toiletries also supplied. When booking at the luxury hotel, ask for room number two - a sprawling affair, involving a big double bedroom, a lounge with decadent artwork and a brooding colour scheme, along with a sizeable stark-white bathroom with a central sunken bath and his-and-hers sinks.