The Luberon and the Alpilles along the vineyards

Start your day at Château Virant, on a hillside dominated by a rocky barrier – this winegrowing estate is an invitation into the heart of  Provence. The estate is spread over 153 hectares of clay-limestone soil which gives this special character to the Cheylan family’s wines. They are not just winegrowers and you can discover the olive oil that they have been producing for more than 5 generations.

After visiting the live grove, head for Rognes and Villa Baulieu. This sumptuous Provencal guesthouse is located in the crater of Provence’s only volcano. As far as the eye can see, there are vineyards and a formal French garden where lifestyle and gourmet food blend for an exceptional moment. And don’t stop there, head for the Château de la Gaude to visit this prestigious estate. With its view of the Sainte-Victoire mountain, this high-quality vineyard enables the creation of “haute couture” wines in biodynamics. So much more than just a vineyard, the estate is also a hotel and spa with a gourmet restaurant where the “wine-food” pairings will be sure to win you over.

In the shade of the plane trees in Sannes, you can see its château in the distance: you’ll soon come across its old windmill before reaching the estate’s cellar. On the menu, discovering wines and sylvotherapy sessions in the formal French gardens. In the spring, the château is a venue for the young couples who come to tie the knot in the Luberon. After this relaxing break, head for the village of Cadenet for lunch. Welcome to the Bastide du Laval: on the hillside, the oil mill and its olive grove are a real Provencal show. Take your time and wander around the olive fields with a beautiful wide open view of the Luberon.

Time for a tasting: enjoy it before setting off for one of the most beautiful villages in France, Lourmarin. Wander around its cobbled streets, forage around in the typical little shops, and last but not least visit the Château Saint Pierre de Méjeans where historical and artistic heritage blend so beautifully. And to end this lovely day, head for Lauris and visit the Domaine de Fontenille. A winegrowing estate by day and a luxury hotel after nightfall, stay in this establishment which has been designed as a family home. Don’t forget to visit the chai!

You leave early in the morning for the typically Provencal village of Fontvielle. After a small cup of coffee on the village square, head for Château d’Estoublon for a tasting of olive oil and wine. You’re warned, this will be a stay under the sign of a “home-grown” terroir!. The Château is a magnificent stately home and it will take you on a trip to the heart of the Alpilles. It’s already time for lunch, head for Le Moulin de Castelas and a delight for the senses. Located just below the Château des Baux, Catherine and Jean-Benoît combine savoir-faire, passion and rigour but have not forgotten their olive-growers’ sensitivity. Every year they create beautifully strong olive oils!

After these tastings, a cultural break is what you need and what better than a visit to the Carrières de Lumières for a really arty digestion. The exhibitions change from year to year but you will never be disappointed by this immersive, colourful experience! After a busy day, put down your bags at Le Mas de Baumanières, a Relais & Château hotel in a unique setting which is an institution in the region. Enjoy your evening and dine at La Cabro d’Or for an unforgettable “wine and food” pairing!

After an immersive stay in the landscapes of the Luberon and the Alpilles, head back to Aix-en-Provence and enjoy your last moments to the full! What about visiting the Atelier Cézanne where the painter who left so many paintings of the beautiful Montagne Sainte-Victoire and so many other moments of Aixois life used to work? After this cultural break, wander around the little streets of the town of a thousand fountains and get your fill of this lifestyle inimitable. Meet local producers in the market Place Richelme, in a café Place de la Mairie, and walk in the shade of the plane trees on the Cours Mirabeau … but don’t forget your tasting of the Calissons du Roy René before you have lunch at l’Hôtel de Caumont! Provence’s secrets will all be revealed!