Couvent D'Herepian

A suite retreat in a revamped 17th-century convent - trade the hair shirt for a bathrobe, head for the spa and enjoy some serious R&R

You wonder what the Clarissa nuns who lived at Hérépian 250 years ago would have had to say about the convent's recent rebirthing as a luxury spa retreat. They may well have approved: although their former home is now 4-star comfortable, its transformation has been crafted in a way that retains the sensation of a cloistered world-within-world, and a stay here is still conducive to both contemplation and inner nourishment.

One of the Midi's top design teams waved their decorative wand over Le Couvent's suites to create living spaces that feel cool and uncluttered, choosing soft beige, avocado and creamy tones for walls, beams and floor tiles. Furniture and fittings are painted in the same muted palette, and in Hérépian's vaulted spa and solarium, cellar bar, library and mountain-facing salon, a similar Zen-meets-Med mood pervades: nothing seems lacking, nothing in excess. Originally conceived for 17th-century ascetics, after an inspired makeover Le Couvent is now all about 21st-century aesthetics.

Highs

• The muted, sparse decoration feels right in sync with the building's origins
• The Couvent team create a mood that is relaxed, lighthearted and conducive to having a good time
• Design-mag worthy décor: comfort of the cossetted kind, rather than anything cluttered
• Food and rooms are excellent value: you get a big shot of flavour for your euros, both figuratively and metaphorically speaking
• You're at the heart of one of south-west France's most beautiful regions, within easy reach of the sea and mountains

Lows

• Service can be minimal, especially when there are few guests (recent i-escapers say it can feel more like a stylish hostel than a full-service hotel)
• The small kitchenettes feel surplus to requirements
• The nearest parking is a 2-minute stroll away, but you can get closer to drop your bags