The Ultimate Honeymoon in Provence

The destination: Crillon Le Brave, Provence, Southern France

Crillon Le Brave is a tiny village in the Provence region of France, famed for producing some of the best wine and food in the world. Most of the village has been restored as part of an intriguing and luxurious hotel of the same name.

Why Honeymoon Here?

Set on a hill overlooking picturesque green vineyards below, everything about Crillon Le Brave softly screams relaxation. The hotel boasts 2 restaurants; a local farm to table bistro and its award-winning restaurant run by world renowned chef Jerome Blanchet. The nearby Mediterranean means that the weather is almost always warm and breezy, and then there is the mountainside pool, perfect to cool down in if things gett too hot for you.

Romantic Rooms?

The rooms are spacious and opulently decorated. Each room is unique as they are furnished with locally sourced antique furniture and restored in a traditional style. In many ways, staying at the hotel is a romantic step back in time.

Spacious bathroom

Heavenly toiletries from the spa

Private balcony

Modern meets rustic living area

Classic four poster bed

Romantic Dinning?

This is where Crillon Le Brave really rises above the competition. The hotel is very serious about using fresh local produce. No ingredients are used from outside of a 40 kilometre radius and the fact that the hotel organises truffle hunts gives you an idea of the type of ingredients you can expect to hit your plate.

We had a wonderful lunch at the hotel and ordered the beef tartar. The waitress arrived with the raw ingredients in a tray and made it fresh to order in front of us. Hotel Crillon Le Brave prides itself on its fresh, organic and locally sourced cuisine.

Lazy afternoons spent enjoying great food

The view through La Grange

The menu

Our table

The first terrace

Romantic Activities?

The hotel complex has converted the old cellars into a state of the art spa, which offers couples massages as part of the honeymoon experience. The setting is homely and romantic and a striking alternative to the usual clinical and antiseptic hotel spas.

We decided to have a relaxing massage and by the time we left the spa my body felt like it had melted and been remoulded whilst I had been asleep for the last 10 hours.

Which is a compliment. A big one.

Private changing room

Relaxing atmosphere

The scent of lavender fills the room

Welcoming waiting area

Getting out of the Hotel?

The surrounding area is a green paradise for anyone who loves food, wine, cheese, or cycling.

The hotel offers free rental of hybrid bikes to explore the local area and will pack you up a tasty picnic for you to share whilst enjoying the panoramic views. The nearby Mont Ventoux is a famous challenge in the cycling world but the hotel can recommend more relaxing local routes that will let you take in local wineries, restaurants and farms.

And if you’re feeling really romantic (or want to test the strength of your relationship) they even have a tandem bike to take out.

Want to Splash Out?

The hotel offers plenty of luxury and we’d highly recommend taking in a massage at the spa. However, if you’re looking for a splurge the hotel is in driving distance of the glamourous marinas of St Tropez and Cannes, or the Casinos of Monaco.

Overall Romantic Rating?

It’s a quiet, rustic and romantic getaway for couples of all ages who aren’t afraid of getting active and enjoying the good things in life: great food, great wine and romance.

Last modified: 21st April 2017