The Place
A long-time favourite of this guide, Hotel la Cle des Champs (formerly known as ‘Mas de Garrigon’) continues to please most of our readers, who appreciate its cosy yet sophisticated ambience. We arrived without reservation and were willingly accommodated; the Provençal-style room was very comfortable, the bathroom large and well stocked; the pool was heavenly after a long drive, and the surrounding areas pleasant for strolling; dinner was wonderful. Purpose-built by Christiane Druart in 1979, it has the feel of a traditional Provençal farmhouse, with a jumble of rough-tiled roofs facing this way and that, as if built at random over the years. The hotel stands isolated among pines and scrub, facing the Luberon hills. At the front is a sheltered pool sharing country views with the sunny private terraces of the bedrooms. The place is run more on house-party than conventional hotel lines. Guests are encouraged to browse in the well-stocked library or listen to classical music in the salon before an open fire in winter. Dinner is a convivial affair (note, it is not served on Wednesday), with guests chatting between tables in the intimate dining room which overlooks the pool. You can take breakfast on your private terrace, if you prefer.