3 Best Hotels in Les Baux-de-Provence, Provence

Just outside the village, amid terraces and formal gardens sheltered by rocky cliffs, the five buildings of this fabled hotel contain guest rooms that are breezy, private, and chic. It seems as if everyone who's anyone—from Queen Elizabeth to Elizabeth Taylor—has headed to this oasis for some luxe Provençal pampering. The rooms are regularly refurbished, and the property also has villas that are more contemporary but still sumptuous. At the three-Michelin-star L'Oustau restaurant, chef Glen Viel attracts culinary pilgrims who revel in his updated classics. The food is also fine at the Cabro d'Or bistro, a more casual and affordable option. Unwind with a massage at the spa, enjoy a swim in one of the three pools, or play a round of golf. Other on-site activities include cooking classes, wine or olive oil tastings, and tours of the kitchen garden, where 40% of the restaurant ingredients are grown.

With sumptuous decor, an idyllic setting amid olive groves and gardens, impeccable service, a spa, an 18-hole golf course, a pool, and a choice of rooms and suites or villas, the Domaine de Manville is as ideal for a romantic getaway as it is for a family retreat. The hotel's two, beautifully restored, 18th-century buildings contain haute Provençal–style rooms and suites (more like small apartments), most of which have a private terrace or balcony that takes advantage of magnificent views. The duplex family suites also have multiple bathrooms, and each of the ultracontemporary, full-service villas—large enough for eight—comes with a private pool and a golf cart for getting around the property. You don't have to leave the grounds for a fantastic meal, thanks to the Michelin-starred L'Aupiho restaurant, well-priced bistro, garden bar, and glassed-in winter garden (for breakfast or afternoon tea). Golfers will love the boutique, which has everything they could need for a day on the green.

Featuring interior details like heavy old beams, a stone fireplace, and terra-cotta tiles, this graceful, shuttered, family-owned mas, set on manicured grounds dotted with tall pines, feels centuries old, but it was built to look that way some 30 years ago. The refined, modern guest rooms have air-conditioning, large bathrooms, and such charming touches as throws on the settees and comfy cushions on the bed. You can have a drink on the terrace and cool off in the olive tree–shaded pool, beside which dinner (the prix-fixe Provençal-Mediterranean menu is €70) is served.