“When the Good Lord begins to doubt the world, he remembers that he created Provence.” Frédéric Mistral, whose celebrations of his native region won him the Nobel Prize for literature in 1904, might well have been writing about Gordes. Perched on a hilltop surrounded by green and white groves of olive and almond trees, Gordes is everything you imagine a Provençal village should be: narrow cobblestoned streets, honey-colored stone buildings with blue shutters, a market in the town square selling local herbs and honey, and charming cafés serving strong coffee and light rosé. Its picture-perfect beauty has been officially designated as part of French cultural heritage.
Celebrating Provence is important to La Bastide de Gordes, which is proud and protective of its home village. Built discreetly into the hillside in a multilevel series of cool stone structures with terraced gardens and spectacular views, the hotel feels like the country house of your dreams–if you dream in French. Though boutique in size, La Bastide de Gordes has earned the designation of “Palace” from the French government for the quality and authenticity of its offering. Antiques collected from local markets over the years adorn the guest rooms and public areas. The olive-wood trays in the bar were made by an artisan in a neighboring village, and the olive oil on the table was pressed from the fruit of the bastide’s own trees.
Celebrating Provence is important to La Bastide de Gordes, which is proud and protective of its home village.
La Bastide de Gordes has many gifts, but one that stands out is the ability to carve out special spaces so that guests can have truly unique experiences. The hotel’s Sisley Spa has its own sheltered terrace for outdoor massages with a view. La Maison de Constance is a three-story, five-bedroom home on the hotel’s grounds with its own swimming pool and a private butler. For romantic souls for whom showing the world their love is part of the thrill, La Bastide de Gordes has what staff members refer to with a chuckle as “la table des jaloux”: a tiny terrace atop a round tower overlooking the hotel’s Citadelle restaurant, which can be reserved for a private meal that is guaranteed to make all observers jealous.
Holidays in Provence are often family affairs, and La Bastide de Gordes takes seriously the proposition that happy children make for happy parents. The youngest guests have their own pool and activities area, aptly named the Kingdom of Children, equipped with the latest gear and respectful of the French tradition of a generous goûter, or snack, every day around 4 p.m. The hotel’s Baron de Simiane suite is especially family-friendly, with quick access to the hotel’s plunge pool, its own sunny winter garden that invites quiet time, and a cozy TV room with an oversized screen for movie nights.