L'Albiousse
Uzès, Provence, France
Magnificent B&B in a grand old house, bang in the middle of medieval Uzès
Uzès sparkles like no other, a magical medieval town with a
market that snakes through mazy lanes before flowing into ancient
Place aux Herbes. Blissful local countryside laps at the
town’s walls and you can drop down from the cathedral and
follow a path all the way out to Pont du Gard, a 1st-century Roman
aqueduct that clearly qualifies as one of the most beautiful pieces
of architecture on this planet. You can even grab a kayak upstream,
then float down and pass under it… pure heaven!
As for this remarkable B&B, it stands on one of the oldest
streets in town, its modest exterior giving way to stunning
interiors. There’s a lush courtyard, a vaulted sitting room
where a fire burns in winter, then a panelled dining room for
delicious food - owners Gwilym and Alexis had a restaurant in Paris
before moving south. As for the 4 bedrooms, well,
we’ve saved the best for last. Expect gilded walls,
chequerboard floors, 16th-century wooden ceilings, ornate marble
fireplaces. Enormous beds sport gorgeous linen, there’s
fabulous art, cool books and minibars ‘on the house’.
As for the suites, they’re simply faultless with daybeds on
terraces, Apple Macs stuffed with music and films, and bathrooms
that are predictably divine. Excellent restaurants wait in the
lanes. Unmissable.
Highs
- The suites are exceptional - uber-romantic and worth splashing out on
- Very good breakfasts, served in the courtyard in the summer months - a perfect spot for croissants and coffee
- Magical Uzès and its Saturday market - the best in Provence
- The tranquil atmosphere - it's an adults-only place
- You’re in a great position to explore - Nîmes, Arles, Avignon, St Remy, Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Mont Ventoux are all easily accessible
Lows
- Communal dinners are by arrangement and not available every night, but great restaurants are on your doorstep
- Expect a little noise to float up from the lanes below
- One of the rooms is waiting to have its bathroom revamped (#102), and there are no twin rooms
- No private parking, but a secure car park nearby is reasonably priced
