France Travel Guide

Posts Tagged ‘heart’

In the heart of the Lubéron, Standing on a slight rise, surrounded by ponds and olive and cherry groves, the Domaine des Andéols is the perfect example of what emotion, welcome, generosity and authenticity can offer the traveller. The Domaine des Andéols, is a hamlet in Provence composed of nine houses. Not one resembles another, because each is a collection of memories. Remembrances of travel, experiences, encounters, emotions, where each piece of furniture, each swath of fabric, each colour, each object, each work of art tells a story, in its singular and specific way.

Here, the House of the Lovers; Over there, the House Of the Cascades; further on, The House of always; further still, The Housed of faraway places… The House of Terraces dialogues with

Red House, while the White House neighbours the House of the Artist and the House of the Traveller seems ready for take off. Nine Houses, free and independent, vast and welcoming, comfortable and refined. Nine invitations to travel, on a still and serene, cultivated and hedonistic voyage. Two more join the cluster; Houses for encounters and sharing, The House of Flavours (the restaurant) and the Water House (the Turkish bath). And all round, so many discoveries to make: The infinite and changing provençal landscapes; the sublime villages of the Lubéron; the little markets like the one for truffles and the great festivals where danse, music and theatre are king, like those in Aix-en-Provence, Avignon or Orange… With the Domaine des Andéols, the Houses of Alain Ducasse invent the hotel business of tomorrow. Here, the welcome, service, decor, comfort, cuisine, and discovery are such that, the certainty of feeling instantly at home is mingled with the feeling that to penetrate them is to cross a threshold into a mythical elsewhere.

Here, the pleasures of the table are authentic, skilful and simple all at once. To the rhythm of the seasons, the chef searches for ingredients among the orchards and vegetable gardens

of les Andéols. To this gustatory symphony is superposed another, the arts of the table, for each object brings more beauty, warmth and conviviality to an extraordinary stay.

Nine houses, each unique, welcoming and singular, mysterious and multifaceted. Houses

with the scents of Africa or Asia as much as Provence, evoking Art déco and the most accomplished modernity. Still more secrets, images, books, music carried home from the wanderings of the consummate travellers, Patrizia and Olivier Massart. Discover the hotel of the future: here and elsewhere, today and tomorrow, the close and the faraway, dreams and reality, light and shadows, service and discretion, serenity and amusements, pleasure and beauty.

Paintings, sculptures, sketches, photographs, art books, music… from every corner of the globe, adorn every house. Art at les Andéols, is omnipresent, an essential element of one’s stay. At les Andéols and all rounds, the Domaine lies at the heart of an incomparable cultural and artistic scene. Festivals follow one after the other throughout the year: dance, music opera, photography, theatre: Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Avignon, Lacoste, La Roche d’Anthéron, Orange, Vaison-la- Romaine… easily reached form les Andéols.

Hills of the Lubéron, hills of the Vaucluse, they are all inspired. Remain still and contemplate them from the terraces of the Houses, or follow the country roads and trails of this landscape blessed by the gods, in search of discovery. Each can choose the richness of his stay from the wealth of opportunities. Roads and trails lead you to the discovery of nine of the ten most beautiful villages in France, from Ménerbes to Roussillon, from Gordes to Lacoste… to the waterfalls of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse or the watermills of the Islesur- la-Sorgue, nestled in the arms of the Sorgue river… to the sublime abbeys of Senanque and Silvacane… to encounter

the shadows of all who have left their mark here: Beckett and Picasso, Chagall and Coco Chanel, the demonic marquis de Sade…

Omnipresent, the water and the deep blue sky, the mauve-coloured hills, the garlands of cypress trees, the rows of olive and cherry trees, the fields of lavender… And then, the gardens, orchards, vegetable patches where the chef comes to pick the flowers, fruits and vegetables which make his table the most beautiful, savoury, natural and innovative one can find.

The guarrigues, carpeted with forests of oak and cedar, where rosemary, broom and boxwood blend into a harmonious and unique composition. Inside, outside, at home, at table, in the pool, in the library, emotions are constantly aroused at les Andéols.

Enhancing the beauty of the place and its exceptional environment: the objects, furnishings and artworks assembled here; the elegance and quality of the welcome and the service; the refinement and originality of the cuisine. One thinks of Baudelaire and Matisse, for here all is order, luxury, calm, and sensual delight.

This country, blessed by the gods with an infinite variety of landscapes. What could be easier than to discover them from the les Andéols. The enchanting beauty of the tortured escarpments of the Lubéron where, in the ancient villages hanging onto their high perches, blend the heady fragrances of thyme, rosemary, marjoram, basil, savoury, sage, mint and bay trees, which carpet the garrigues. The forests of cedar, almond, pine, sequoias and olive trees alternate with fields of lavender extending as far as the eye can see across the plateau of the Vaucluse. From Apt all the way to Roussillon: the red ochre route, which, passing through the vertiginous Colorado de Rustrel, winds up at the spectacular Chaussée des géants. And the waterfalls of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, which Petrarque sang of, the lake d’Espardon, the gorges of the Régalon and la Véroule, or the chiselled, lace-like relief of Montmirail… Pushing ahead, all the way to the Mediterranean, spend the day in a seaside cabin from whence the regard can take in the majestic and mysterious rocky inlets of Cassis and wander along the Corniche des Crêtes… From the Domaine des Andéols, on foot, horseback or by hot air ballon, an infinite number of paths unfold, as infinite as the landscapes of Provence.

The roads of Provence invariably lead to markets. Those of Forcalquier, Lourmarin or Saint-aturninlès-Apt, all close to les Andéols overflowing with fruits, vegetables and flowers, without forgetting the famous candied fruits jams and jellies. Less frequent, other markets, for silkworm cocoons in Gordes or those for truffles, a local speciality, in Croagnes or in Sault, rivalling the Antiques Fair on the Isle-sur-la Sorgue. The discoveries to make are endless and the Domaine

des Andéols provides you with the keys. Just a bit further and still more discoveries and encounters, with fervour and excitement too. The great Gypsy pilgrimage to Saintes- Maries de la Mer, reached by crossing the flat landscapes of water in the Camargue, punctuated by silhouettes of guardians on horseback; in addition, the bullfights of Nîmes, which take place in the ancient Roman amphitheatre, the centre of bullfighting in France.

Taking advantage during the stay of the absolute calm is resolutely an affair of gardens, pool, Turkish bath and the library of the Domaine… but, nearby, so near, other activities are on offer to the visitor from les Andéols: horseback riding golf course, the joys of tennis, relaxing in the spa, and even, for those attracted to darkness, speleological adventures in the depths of the numerous caves punctuating the flanks of the hills of the Lubéron and the Vaucluse. And, within arm’s reach the rows of vines, the forests, trails and Meadows so propitious for picnicking. A picnic prepared by the Domaine, and which one will savour in the shade of a “borie,” those strange stone sheepfolds on the slopes of Mourre Nègre, the highest point in the Lubéron.

Genuine centre of high civilisation, Provence. Here, the old debate of nature vs. culture has long since evolved into a dialogue. Bearing witness, among others, the immemorial rock necropolises like the one in Carluc, souvenirs of Greece and many other traces of Rome triumphant from Arles to Vaison-la-Romaine, by way of Nîmes, the Pont du Gard and Orange… Today, theatre, music and dance have taken up residence, to the ebb and flow of festivals of song and dance, each with its unique character, fragrance, territory and in which it will be easy, from les Andéols, to participate. Live shows and contemporary visual arts, notably with the “Rencontres Photographiques” in Arles, “la Fondation Yvon Lambert” in Avignon, the “Carré d’Art” in Nîmes and the museums in Marseille.

ACCÈS

Aéroports Airports

Avignon (25 mn), Marseille (1h), Nîmes (1h)

Gares TGV TGV stations

Aix-en-Provence (55 mn), Avignon (45mn), Marseille (1h10), Nîmes (1h)

If you wish, we can organise your transfer from the TGV stations or airports to the Domaine des Andéols.

By car

From Avignon take the N100 to Coustellet. Then take the D2 in the direction of Gordes. Continue on the D2 in the direction of Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt. Les Andéols are located 2 km before Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt on the right.

Domaine des Andéols is a member of Home Like Collection, a luxury travel collection of small hotels representing the world’s finest and most authentic destinations.

Booking information

Reservation@hlc-hotels.com

www.hlc-hotels.com

French Ski Resorts

The most famous ski resort in the French Alps is Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. Chamonix is both the oldest and the biggest French winter-sports resort. Site of the first Winter Olympics, held in 1924, Chamonix boasts the world’s highest cable car (12,000 feet). From the top, the view of Mont Blanc, at 15,700 feet, is stunning.

Chamonix Ski Resort

Visitors to Chamonix can do more than ski, though. There are conferences, a science fair, fishing and hunting, various music and folk festivals, and an alpine museum. An 18-hole golf course will delight golfers, and three movie theaters provide enough viewing entertainment for even the dedicated film buff. Five dancing spots, or discotheques, will keep the under-30 entertained, while the health-conscious adventurer can indulge in day-sports like cycling, mountain climbing, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, tennis and ice skating.

Chamonix is part of the Ski Pass Mont Blanc Area, and provides access to more than 140 individual pistes, or dedicated ski runs covering more than 94 miles. A dedicated Ski Pass will provide access not only to Chamonix, but Argentière, Combloux, Cordon, Le Tour, Les Contamines, Les Houches, Megève, Passy Plaine Joux and St. Gervais Mont-Blanc as well. A good portion of the dedicated runs are above 8,200 feet, so year-round skiing is guaranteed. Chamonix also has 54 snow machines to provide adequate base and good terrain, and 49 lifts capable of transporting more than 52,000 passengers per hour.

Megève Ski Resort

Megève is built around a medieval heart, but boasts the kinds of amenities all travelers and ski enthusiasts will appreciate. Expensive and stylish, Megève was built in the 1920’s as a resort alternative to St. Moritz, and has continued to upgrade and attract discerning travelers ever since. Fortunately, you won’t need star status to enjoy one of the luxurious hotels or chalets, though you will need a sizeable vacation fund; Megève is not cheap.

The ski area, 185 miles of marked trails, has 81 integrated lifts – no T-bars for luxurious Megève. If you get there in the right year, you may even be able to witness a World Cup race, hosted on a regular basis (Chamonix was the site of the 2007-2008 race). If you get off on snowboarding, Megève also has two snow parks and a half-pipe (for the unfamiliar, think of a skateboarding park with snow). Megève gets 80 inches of snow a year, making for good to very-good base, and supplements Nature with 175 snow-making machines. Méribel, located in the center of the Three Valleys (the biggest, linked winter sports area in the world), has 200 lifts and 372 miles of dedicated trails.

Méribel Ski Resort

Méribel used to be an intermediate site, but opening up Mont Vallon and the top of the valley have made it a destination-must for extreme skiers as well. The wooden chalets, many owned by British tourists who favor the ski slopes, are tastefully rustic, the language more often English than French. A very popular resort for France skiing holidays.

Morzine Ski Resort

Morzine has easy road access, and is ideal for beginning skiers. Its gently inclined, tree-filled slopes and pleasant atmosphere are non-threatening to those unfamiliar with French customs, cuisine, or skiing. The weather is also typically mild – no need to worry about getting lost in a snowstorm. The one drawback to Morzine is its non-central location and lack of adequate transportation to other ski sites. Morzine makes snow, but not in sufficient quantity to overcome localized snow conditions, which can be disappointing. This makes it ideal for cautious beginners, but a bummer for more advanced skiers, who would prefer Serre Chevalier, with its 50 runs designed specifically for advanced or expert skiers.