Has anyone stayed at La Bastide et La Ferme de Capelongue in Bonnieux, La Bastide de Marie in Menerbes or Auberger La Feniere, between Lourmarin and Cadenet??? Three couples are going to meet for a few days in June (last minute decision) so I've got to get hopping. Any other suggestions?

What about www.auberge-presbytere.com in Saignon. Do a search on this Forum for it!I have not stayed there but had dinner at the restaurant a few times and will definitely stay there in future!

Enjoy the Luberon!

I've never stayed at any of these places, but I've dined at the Marie & la Feniere. We met up with friends who were staying at the Marie.

Of these two, the Marie is in a much better location for touring Provence, and the setting is very scenic - you dine outside amung the vineyards. The food is pretty basic, but good. I don't know if this is a plus or minus about the Marie, but when we were there, almost everyone else was American. Lots of kids running in/out of the dining room. The bartender was 'recruited" from England because he spoke English (he actually told us that), and all the waiters spoke English. It really didn't feel like we were in France. We spent a couple of hours chatting with our friends in the beautiful lobby & then had a 2 hr dinner. The Marie requires that you have dinner or lunch at the hotel.

La Fenerie is an excellent restaurant with rooms. Our meal there was supurb. The setting is not as nice as the Marie, but the food is much more imaginative and "French".

I would stay at the Marie (if the "Americanization" does not bother you), and have 1 dinner at La Fenerie.

Stu Dudley

thanks for posts so far. Stu's info on Maire helps me decide against it. I juste looked up the Auberge Presbytere and have emailed them. Still eager to hear about La Bastide et La Ferme de Capelongueand any additional recs. Merci

We loved the Marie! Our time there was without seeing any Americanization. It is expensive but my birthday choice that year.
The Presbytere is delightful and a better choice to mingle with people if you like. It is less expensive and more of a local experience. The wife's art works grace the rooms. dining by the fountain across from the lavoir a pleasure. They get their cheese from the goat farm nearby where we stayed one year in Sivergues.
The Capelongue has become very expensive since the chef at the Moulin de Lourmarin took over(the moulin now affordable) I believe it is his parents place.

If you want to find it on the net, the restaurant is not 'Fenerie' but "La Fenière" Chief: Reine Samut. Beautiful lodging and beautiful dining!

Good info, thanks. I'm waiting to hear back from the Marie and La Feniere. Ivee, were the rooms at L Feniere decent size or postage stamps? How out of the way is it for touring the area?

Comparded to the Marie, it will take you about 30 mins less to drive to Aix. About the same time to drive to Bonnieux; 30 mins longer to Gordes; 20 to Roussillon; 30 mins more to Vaison, l'isle Sur la Sorgue, Lavender fields around Sault, and all destinations north. To get to/from these places, you'll be driving over the very pretty Combe de Lourmarin, which is also very twisty & winding. My wife does not like to drive it at night. In many cases, you also need to drive through Bonnieux - which is a perched medieval village not designed for cars. You could drive around Bonnieux, but that will add time to get to Gordes, l'Isle sur la Sorgue, etc.

It's about 15 mins longer to St Remy, Arles, and Les Baux. Perhaps 25 mins longer to Avignon. Quite a ways to the Pont du Gard, & Uzes.

I also think the area around the Marie (and the Luberon in general) is much prettier than the are around Lourmarin (actually, La Feniere is at the south end of Lourmarin - by about 1 or 2 K.)

Stu Dudley

Rooms are absolutely nice size and decoration. Beatiful gardens with pool as well!

Just got word from the two other couples that they want to stay at La Feniere, so I booked us for two nights. After the two nights at La Feniere, I have two "free" nights before our three night stay in Cassis. Where would you recommend we base ourselves for the free nights?

Well in between would be around Aix. The best,but expensive(out of my price range, is Villa Gallaci and best resto(I did eat at Clos de Violette)
We stayed in an inexpensive hotel in town because of the luxury of it's own car parc. Le Manoir, Yet it's charming but next time I'd eat breakfast elsewhere but things may have changed, as it was years ago but it is still a bargain I'm told.

We followed Stu's advice and had a great dinner at Le Feniere.

Have enjoyed our stays at the Bastide de Capelongue.