France - regional highlights

Provence • Les Alpilles

"The future of modern art lies in the south of France" proclaimed Van Gogh in 1888. We stay in just the corner of Provence that so captured Van Gogh’s imagination, and from where he painted many of his most famous masterpieces.

Here, between Arles and Avignon, we find some of the most sensual, wild landscapes of Provence – white limestone crags, brilliant green vineyards, gnarled olive trees, swirling cypresses whipped up by the mistral and fields full of sunflowers and lavender.

We stay in the small, typically Provençal town of Maussaneles- Alpilles full of tree-lined avenues, shade dappled squares and cafés from which to watch the world go by...

This welcoming, family run hotel is set just outside Maussane-les-Alpilles, with pretty gardens, a delightful shady terrace and a heated outdoor swimming pool. Journey time from Marseille is just under 1 hour and is quicker still from nearby Nimes and Avignon airports.