Rooms

Les Roullets impresses inside and out, and nowhere more so than in the 5 bedrooms, which do much to spoil you rotten. Some sit at the back of the property, overlooking pine-shaded lawns, another at the front with views of the vineyard, olive trees and lines of lavender; all have terraces outside glass doors.

Since our visit, a 2-Bedroom Cottage has been added. Nestled in the grounds surrounded by roses and lavender, it sounds utterly bucolic, with a private garden and a full kitchen for whipping up simple suppers.

Smart uncluttered interiors come with stone floors, white walls, eastern busts and western art. The feel is airy and uncluttered, mixing a fresh contemporary style with rustic overtones; there is always something interesting to catch your eye, be it huge bedside lamps, faux-fur blankets, padded leather bedheads or a colourful armoire made from recycled wood. You get bottles of sparkling water, fluffy bathrobes, air conditioning and beautiful linen on big beds with comfy, box-sprung mattresses.

One room (the Japonaise) has a bath at the end of the bed and all have cool bathrooms that come in black Ardeche stone (Sud and Ventoux have a shower only).

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Minibar
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is served on the terrace, with views over the pool to vineyards beyond. You get fresh orange juice, homemade jams, croissants, breads, meats, cheese and fromage blanc, plus a daily hot special. There’s fresh fruit, yoghurt, tea and coffee, too.

The orangerie, which overlooks the pool, has a summer kitchen and dining table. Guests can go out to shop for lunches, then come back and prepare them here - baguettes with cheese and cold meats, maybe a quiche or a salad. There’s an honesty bar down here, too.

If you eat out, you can try a different village every evening: La Veranda in Ménerbes offers steaks and pasta; Belle de Nuit in Oppède Le Vieux has a well-priced table d’hôte menu; you can eat in the square at Le Fournil in Bonnieux, which offers fancy Provençal food that’s sourced from the hills around you; and Le Vivier in L’Isle-sur-La-Sorgue is a local favourite and carries a Michelin star. Want more inspiration? The team are ardent foodies and love sharing their hot tips for local dining - just ask!

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Organic produce

Activities

• Discover the Luberon villages: Gordes, Roussillon, Oppède, Ménerbes, Bonnieux and Lacoste are on your doorstep, a collection of impossibly beautiful hilltop villages. A rich programme of cultural events runs throughout the summer, not least Pierre Cardin’s opera in a quarry in Lacoste. The chateau is his country retreat; previous owners include the Marquis de Sade, who lived here before being carted off to the Bastille
  
• L’Isle-sur-La-Sorgue to the north is home to one of Europe’s biggest antiques markets. It takes place every Sunday, about 350 stalls that wind through the narrow streets of the old town and spill out across the water
  
• Head to Avignon for a day of culture: visit the Papal Palace, walk to the end of its famous bridge or enjoy the annual festival (mid-July-early August) for theatre, opera, classical music, exhibitions and lectures set against the backdrop of its spectacular architecture
  
• The wine fields of the Dentelles (30km north). Discover Beaumes de Venise and taste its remarkable Muscat (best served with a plate of foie gras). You’ll find beautiful mountain villages, hills to climb for fantastic views. Chateauneuf du Pape is close, too, but there’s a greater sense of discovery here, and fewer tourists
  
• Mont Ventoux is the iconic mountain of Provence. Every other year the Tour de France climbs up it - Lance Armstrong did so in 55 minutes, which is simply ridiculous (ordinary humans take a day!). Views from the top stretch to Nice and Mont Blanc. If you come, it is worth ascending from Bedoin in the south and descending to the north, as this is how the cyclists do it
  
• St Remy and beyond - you’re very close to a triangle of motorways that take you places very quickly: spin off to St Remy (where Van Gogh was incarcerated); Les Baux for the imperious Carrières de Lumières; the Camargue (black bulls, white horses), Arles (for all things Van Gogh and a fantastic summer-long photography exhibition), Nîmes (for the best-preserved Roman amphitheatre in Europe), Pont du Gard (the famous Roman aqueduct) and Uzès (one of France’s best-reserved Medieval towns)
  
• Back at the hotel, stretch out by the beautiful heated pool and read a book, wander around the ornamental gardens and help yourself to fruit from the orchard, play a game of boules or curl up in the lounge and watch a film with a glass of rosé from the domaine

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Historical sites
• Museums / galleries
• Shopping / markets

Kids

The property is not suitable for children under the age of 16.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Domaine les Roullets is midway between Oppède and Ménerbes (2km from each), in the heart of Provence.

By Air:
The nearest airports are Marseille (60km away) and Nimes (100km away). From here, your best bet is to hire a car, but the hotel can arrange for a taxi to collect you if you prefer. You can pick up a hire car at any airport or TGV station.

By Train:
If you'd prefer to travel overland, take the Eurostar from London to Lille, then catch the TGV high-speed train to Avignon (30km away). The journey time from London is about 6 hours, which makes it barely any longer than flying once you take check-in into consideration. The hotel can arrange a transfer from the train station.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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