Where to Stay in South of France
For our recent trip to France, I picked history over anything else for where to stay in South of France. We wanted to stay more rural to match the theme which was going to be centred around French villages. It was our 3rd time to that part of France but the 1st with our toddler so this was special.
We had previously stayed in Radisson Blu in Cannes and Hôtel Mercure Nice Promenade des Anglais. This time, we booked 3 different properties to experience a different feel of the South of France. Since we were planning on exploring the villages, I knew I wanted our hotels to mirror that too.
All iconic, all historic…
I will review the 2 hotels we stayed in south of France as they are both perfectly placed for Provence and Cote d’Azur. We spent 2.5 days in each hotel so I can confidently say that the hotels were a part of the experience. This trip, we travelled much more slowly and the hotels were a huge part of the itinerary.
For the 3rd property we stayed at: see La Miette, the prettiest cottage in South of France.
Where to stay in South of France: Le Pigonnet, Aix en Provence
Hotel Le Pigonnet was the first hotel we stayed in on our south of France trip; and what a wonderful welcome it was.
This was actually the last hotel I booked when I planned the itinerary. I knew I wanted a Provence hotel in a big town so we could start the trip well equipped. I figured that since the other 2 hotels were in villages, the 1st needed to be different. My mind tells me I found Le Pigonnet on the instagram location tag but I genuinely don’t remember. What I know is that the moment I saw it, I fell in love. It was not even open when I made the initial inquiry but I knew they had to open by May so I booked it.
A few weeks before we were due to arrive, I received an email explaining that some parts of the hotel would be under construction. As long as the garden and room were ok, I was fine with the arrangements they had put in place. This means that we did not meet the hotel at its best but honestly, it was still the most beautiful stay. You’ll see from the photos I will share.
History of Le Pigonnet
Le Pigonnet is a 5 star hotel located in the beautiful market town of Aix en Provence. Aix en Provence is also popularly known as the home to artist, Paul Cèzanne. His home has even been turned to a museum that people visit from all over the world. However, something incredibly special about Le Pigonnet is that Cèzanne actually painted one of his famous Mount Sainte Victoire paintings within the grounds of this incredible hotel.
Today, the area where he sat to paint this iconic piece of history is a lovely spot to visit within the hotel’s gardens. I stood there and wondered if he realised how epic his painting was going to be, long after he’s gone.
Arriving to Le Pigonnet
As it is located in Aix en Provence, you can fly into Marseille airport and it is only about 20 mins to the hotel. However, we flew into Nice airport so it was about 1.5 hrs to Le Pigonnet. We were able to explore Aix en Provence, Gordes, Rousillon and Lourmarin in the time we spent in Provence.
We drove into Aix en Provence and it was easy to find the hotel as there were signs leading to it. There is a free car park and we were met once we parked and ushered to the makeshift reception. Once we were checked it, we made our way to the other part of the hotel and up the lift to our room. We had been shown where the pool and garden restaurant were so I already had a little peek.
The room at Le Pigonnet
We booked one of the the rooms facing the garden which I initially thought might be too small at the time. However, when we got there, it was bigger than I imagined. We stayed in a superior garden room and woke up every morning to the view of chestnut trees and crawling roses.
They provided a cot which fit in the corner and there was still space for a desk and 2 chairs. Our room came with a Juliet balcony overlooking the absolutely stunning garden. Even though the hotel was being worked on, we still had a really lovely view from our Juliet balcony. I’d wake up in the morning and drink my coffee on the Juliet balcony while admiring the gardens. The mornings were total bliss and the perfect vibe to start our days out.
Restaurants in Le Pigonnet
There is the gorgeous garden bistro which is open all day. It has a lovely bar and a typical French fancy menu. We did not eat there but we saw guests sitting around with drinks and food. Since it is also in the garden, it is just so lovely.
There is also the fine dining restaurant which one had to book. I had a peek and it looked lovely as it overlooked the pool. However, since we only spent 2 nights in Le Pigonnet, we did not bother with booking a table. Being in Aix en Provence meant that there was so much to see outside the hotel. So on both nights, we went to the centre for dinner instead just to get a feel of the evening life in Provence.
The Garden and Pool
Since these parts were under construction, there were parts of the garden that were shut off. However, we still had over three quarters of the garden to explore and enjoy. We actually shot our anniversary video there and my friends are convinced it is a Bridgerton location lol. It is just so pretty and I’d love to visit again once it is all renovated.
The garden is so big that you never feel like there is anyone else there. One of my favourite memories was when we brought our bottle of rosé to the garden while relaxing. It was just such a lovely afternoon; Mr E and I sipped our Provence rosé and reminisced while our daughter was playing in the rose garden. Everything just seemed so lovely, like we were in a painting.
Things we loved about Le Pigonnet
1. The drinks in the fridge were free and we were also given a bottle of rosé from Aix en Provence. I’m not sure if this is the norm or if it is due to the inconvenience of the refurbishment; but it was appreciated
2. The staff was just so wonderful. Nothing was a problem and they even helped suggest places to visit
3. We were allowed to extend our check out to 1pm which I was happy about as I needed that extra lie in on the last day
4. The chef was lovely and prepared a special dish of boiled potatoes for my toddler. We were stressing about food for her because we couldn’t find fries. The chef came to our aid and made the potatoes for free; even though she still did not eat them. Oh the joys of traveling with a toddler!
Hotel Le Pigonnet
Le Pigonnet is family friendly, pets are welcome, has its onsite restaurant, free car park and a gorgeous pool. No doubt we loved the aesthetics but what we loved even more were the service and tiny luxuries. Le Pigonnet is a hotel I would gladly go back to. I think it will be even more beautiful once the renovations are complete as I could see the vision. Those who will visit in the months to come will have the best time and I am lowkey jealous of them lol. Hopefully, one day in the future, we can go back; even if not for an overnight stay but at least, a drink or 2.
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Where to stay in South of France: Les Rosées, Mougins
I remember the first time I saw this hotel on instagram and was immediately mesmerised. Les Rosées is a 400 year old family owned property in the pretty old village of Mougins. It is about an hour from Nice and less than 15 mins from Cannes. Therefore, it is quite a good base if you plan to explore Provence and Côte d’Azur. Since we were coming from Aix en Provence, the drive was about 1.5hrs. It is a gorgeous route and we absolutely loved the little road trip from the countryside to the coast.
One thing I have noticed is that I’m drawn to properties that have some history attached to them. I also love a pretty hotel with stunning gardens so this one with its Provençal rose garden ticked all the boxes. It’s incredibly romantic and it’s one of those hotels where even at full capacity, it feels like you’re the only one there.
Arriving to Les Rosées
We parked in the free car park just in front of the hotel and walked in to the most beautiful Provençal garden. There was a path that led to the reception, through the pool and I just knew it would be a lovely stay. We checked in and were greeted by the lovely receptionist, Rachel who showed us to our room.
Les Rosées is geared towards families and romantic couples as well. It is tucked away so nicely that it feels like an intimate, extremely private hotel. The garden in front that welcomes you to the hotel is very romantic and scenic. It smelled of roses when we were there and the pool in front is just divine.
The room at Les Rosées, Mougins
We stayed in the Suite St Honorât which had a huge bedroom and mini living room where we put Adanna’s cot. There are only 5 rooms in the hotel (all suites); they are unique and characterful. It’s what I call “historic luxury” so expect vintage, incredible art and antique pieces in your bedroom. It was located just by the reception; however the hotel in general is quiet so we had no problems. There was some art on the walls of the living area which I found very interesting.
One of my favourite features was the window that opened up to the garden. It was a very pretty spot to look out while having your morning coffee.
Our toddler’s cot was placed in the living room and we slept in the main bedroom. The living room also had a little fridge stocked with drinks, a sofa that resembled a mini bed and work space to the side.
Breakfast at Les Rosées
Since we did not have breakfast at Le Pigonnet, we thought we should at Les Rosées to have the French breakfast experience. The breakfast spot is alfresco and within the garden so the view is divine. We had a buffet like spread where you could pick your pastries and fruits while the lovely chef made our coffee. She also made our well done fried eggs and scrambled eggs for our toddler. Breakfast cost 22 euros per person which was not too bad in comparison to most hotels in south of France.
The garden at Les Rosées
Les Rosées is known for being historic so I’m sure that is why people book it. However, the garden is yet another reason to book this gorgeous hotel. In fact, for me, it is the main reason to book it. As someone who loves English gardens, I was quite keen to experience French ones as well and Les Rosées blew me away.
We were there in rose season and it was just perfect. It smelled divine, the water fountain on the side trickled away, and the whole area shone in the sunshine. There is a gorgeous pool right in the middle and it just looked so picturesque. Once we arrived, I imagined myself lying there all afternoon with a book and that was exactly what I did.
Things we loved about Les Rosées
1. It felt very romantic and even though it was at full capacity, we always felt like we were the only ones there. The pool was always empty and even when we went for breakfast, it still felt like we had the place to ourselves.
2. The aesthetics. It is possibly one of the most beautiful garden hotels I have every visited. The garden was fully in bloom for rose season so as you can imagine, it was glorious.
3. The lovely receptionist we met on the 1st day, Rachel. She was so kind to us as we checked in and made sure we were comfortable. That was such a beautiful welcome to our trip and I will never forget her kindness. It’s not one thing that she did directly but just the feeling and the whole check in experience, we were made to feel wonderful.
4. The art is another important thing to mention. Our room was filled with quite interesting art and vintage pieces. I’m not one who particularly understands art but as a travel girl, I have learnt to appreciate the beauty.
Les Rosées, Mougins
Les Rosées, Mougins is a very different type of luxury hotel. It is not the typical fanciness one would expect with 5 star hotels but it is something quite special. For the art, history and nature lovers, this hotel is absolute luxury; and we felt quite lucky to be staying in it. I mean, the price point is similar to the luxury 5 star hotels so it does have that air of being quite special. The hotel is filled with pieces that are old but seem important and antique. It was on my hotel bucket list after seeing it on pinterest a few years ago and I’m glad we finally got to experience it. Also, its proximity to Cannes and Nice make it a convenient location. This is especially for anyone looking for a Provence-like boutique hotel near the coast.
BOOK LES ROSEES, MOUGINS
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Where to stay in South of France
There is no doubt that the South of France has some of the most beautiful hotels. France does hotels so well and it helps that they have preserved their historic buildings, like the UK. We felt very lucky to have stayed in both properties and I highly recommend for a laid back experience. It is no wonder creatives love the south of France when they can stay in incredible properties like these.
Bisous, Bugo x
