32 Best Hotels in Provence, France

Not only does this vast estate 23 km (14 miles) north of Aix have ultracontemporary, pristine-white guest villas—with touches of wood, concrete, marble, and glass for maximum luminosity—but it also has a luxurious spa and pool; a winery; and a sculpture garden with more than 30 installations by the likes of Richard Serra, Louise Bourgeois, and Andy Goldsworthy. There's also an on-site gallery, three restaurants (the gastronomic dining room is headed by three-star chef Hélène Darroze), a chapel, and other buildings designed by five of the world's top architects. Oh, and there's a helicopter pad, too, because that's how guests arrive. But you don't have to be a guest to wander the grounds, which are well worth a look.

Five 18th-century country cottages house this elegant hotel's unusually spacious guests rooms, where the decor mixes Empire-style wallpapers, Asian carpets, gilt moldings, marble-top desks, and heavy drapery with contemporary velvet chaises longues and modern bathrooms. The quiet, stately grounds transport you to another era and place, as though tucked away in the countryside rather than the heart of Aix. A beautiful gourmet restaurant, lounge, sprawling outdoor terrace and bar area, and a luxurious swimming pool heated year-round make this a true standout and Aix's most stunning hotel.