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The best boutique hotels in Provence

Hotel Crillon le Brave is a Provencal fantasy of cobbled alleyways, rose-scented gardens and show-stopping views of Mont Ventoux. - SkillBoy-AJ
Hotel Crillon le Brave is a Provencal fantasy of cobbled alleyways, rose-scented gardens and show-stopping views of Mont Ventoux. - SkillBoy-AJ

An expert guide to the best boutique hotels in Provence, including the top for historic architecture, cosy Provençal interiors, luxurious rooms with spectacular views, swimming pools, fine dining and gorgeous private gardens, in Avignon, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Porquerolles, Lorgues and Reilhanette.

Le Mas du Langoustier, Ile de Porquerolles, France
Le Mas du Langoustier, Ile de Porquerolles, France

Le Mas du Langoustier

Porquerolles, Provence, France

8Telegraph expert rating

It's impossible to separate the Mas – in the Provençal village of Porquerolles – from its setting. Gardens and courtyard overcome with horticulture cede to garrigue and forest rich with the smoky aromas of pine, eucalyptus and herbs. There’s a pool and tennis court in there somewhere. As you take your cognac from the bar to the terrace in the silence of the warm night air, you might reflect that life doesn’t get a great deal better. The Olivier Restaurant has bagged a Michelin star for its inventive take on Mediterranean cooking. Read expert review From £173per night

The best hotels in Provence

Bastide Rose Hotel, France
Bastide Rose Hotel, France

Bastide Rose

Avignon, Provence, France

8Telegraph expert rating

A Provençal country-house hotel in a watery world of abundant greenery, secret places and ducks, 20 minutes from Avignon. If you want the formality of a five-star, you’re in the wrong spot. Should you prefer to share a salon and library with family memories, to hear the burble of water set off by the hush of great gardens, and to contemplate writing your memoirs by the pool, then book right in. The eight bedrooms are big, colourful and comfortable. The chef’s kitchen is open, so you may join him for a chat as he works. He will even take guests to the local market so they might choose the menu. Read expert review From £276per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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Hotel Crillion Le Brave, Provence
Hotel Crillion Le Brave, Provence

Hotel Crillon le Brave

Provence, France

8Telegraph expert rating

A self-contained hilltop village that is a Provençal fantasy of cobbled alleyways, rose-scented gardens and show-stopping views of Mont Ventoux. The atmosphere is pleasingly unstuffy and attracts wine lovers, gourmands, walkers and Lycra-clad cyclists. Facilities of note include a pool (more fabulous valley views), a small but excellent spa, boules court and free bikes for hire. The best rooms overlook Mont Ventoux and its foothills. Guests might find dishes such as wild turbot and mussels drizzled in saffron sauce, or cuttlefish cannelloni in the top-notch restaurant. Read expert review From £274per night Check availability Rates provided by Mr & Mrs Smith

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Maison du Midi, Provence, France
Maison du Midi, Provence, France

Maison du Midi

Lorgues, Provence, France

8Telegraph expert rating

Lorgues is a lively, disarming little town in the heartland of Provence. When it comes to the five-roomed Maison du Midi, take a pinch of noble history, a pinch of homely Danish hospitality, simmer with Provençal warmth and colour – and you're about there. There are patios, terraces, mature trees and a pool, ideal for lolling about in, convinced you're being cultured simply because you're in Provence. Breakfast mixes Scandinavian rigour (muesli, yoghurts) with a more relaxed, French start to the day (croissants, cheese). The Moellers will also lay on dinner in their rather chic, wood-panelled dining room, if it's booked ahead. Read expert review From £91per night

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L'Oustau de la Font hotel, Provence
L'Oustau de la Font hotel, Provence

L'Oustau de la Font

Reilhanette, Provence, France

7Telegraph expert rating

You'll slot right into village life here at Reilhanette. Nestling at the bottom of the little stone village, the Oustau seems to have grown organically from the rocks. It started first and foremost as a restaurant and wine bar, with the hotel as an add-on, though the restaurant has since moved to Montbrun-les-Bains. The six rooms have simple, colourful charm and all else that you require in a setting which urges you outside. Some have glorious views over to Montbrun-les-Bains and the hills beyond. Some also have little private terraces. Read expert review From £68per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com

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La Colombe d'Or, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France
La Colombe d'Or, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France

La Colombe d’Or

Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Côte d'Azur, France

8Telegraph expert rating

La Colombe d’Or combines the French charm of a countrified, family-run auberge in the Riviera hills with a priceless collection of art so extraordinary it could hang in the Tate Modern. This eclectic museum of sorts is a unique experience, best savoured over a long and lazy lunch in its walled garden. The heated outdoor pool decorated with a monumental Calder mobile is admittedly very special. All 25 rooms have an appealing vintage charm. Read expert review From £185per night

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