Fodor's Expert Review Gordes La Bastide

Spectacularly perched on Gordes's hilltop, the 16th-century 10-level Bastide melds its old-world charm with old-world elegance and has even earned Palace status, the only one in Provence outside the Riviera. Along with a trove of 18th-century antiques, designers brought in 4,000 paintings for the guest rooms. There are now three restaurants: the exceptional dining experience longtime customers associate with La Bastide, along with a new gastronomic steak house. Manicured lawns and a broad, elegantly appointed, shaded terrace are geared to relaxation, as is the luxe three-level Spa Sisely, which includes a Roman-style steam room, Japanese baths, and a chromatic pool with breathtaking views of the Vallée de Gordes.