Airelles Gordes, La Bastide is the grand hotel of the Luberon: a 16th-century palace set into the ramparts of Gordes, one of the most photographed hilltop villages in France. It has 40 rooms and suites, an outdoor pool framed by dry-stone walls and olive trees, a Guerlain spa with an indoor pool under stone vaults and four restaurants, one of them led by the Michelin-starred chef Jean-François Piège.
For a honeymoon, the draw is the view. The hotel's terraces and hanging gardens look straight out over the Luberon valley, so breakfast, a swim and a late-evening drink all come with the same wide panorama of fields, vineyards and distant hills. The interiors are deliberately theatrical, with wood paneling, antiques and furnishings that evoke the 18th century.
It suits couples who want a polished, full-service hotel with everything on site and a village to wander right outside. It is a seasonal hotel that closes in winter and it welcomes families, with a kids' club and a children's pool in summer. Couples who want total quiet may prefer a smaller country estate.
Highlights at a glance
- 16th-century palace on the ramparts of Gordes
- Valley Rooms facing the Luberon
- Outdoor pool among olive trees and dry-stone walls
- Clover Gordes by chef Jean-François Piège
- Guerlain spa with an indoor pool under stone vaults
Why Couples Love La Bastide
Gordes is the setting most people picture when they think of Provence: stone houses stacked on a hillside, a castle at the top and the Luberon spread out below. La Bastide sits on the edge of the village, so you get both sides of it. Walk out of the front door into lanes of cafés and shops. Walk out the back onto terraces that face nothing but valley and sky.
The outdoor pool is the place to be in the afternoon. It is surrounded by olive trees and cypresses and lined with pale golden dry-stone walls, with sun loungers looking out over the landscape. Evenings are about watching the light change over the valley with a glass of rosé. Staff are used to occasions and can set up a private dinner or a surprise in the room.
Rooms and Suites to Book
The hotel has 34 rooms and 6 suites. Rooms come in Superior and Deluxe grades and each is either a Village Room or a Valley Room.
- Valley Rooms are the ones to book for a honeymoon. Waking up to the Luberon from the window is the reason to stay here.
- Village Rooms look over the rooftops of Gordes and are usually less expensive.
- Junior Suites and Prestige Junior Suites add space for a sitting area.
- The One-Bedroom Terrace Suite has its own terrace, a real luxury in a hilltop village.
- Named suites such as the Vasarely, Baron de Simiane and Duc de Soubise suites are the showpieces.
The House of Constance is a separate villa for up to eight guests with a garden terrace, better for a group than a couple. Confirm the view category before you pay.
Food, Drink and the Spa
Four restaurants keep you from needing the car at night. La Table de la Bastide serves Mediterranean cooking on the terrace. Clover Gordes is run by Jean-François Piège, the Michelin-starred Paris chef and is the one to book for a special dinner. La Bastide de Pierres serves Italian food and Beefbar brings a lively summer mood for grilled meat and cocktails.
The Airelles Spa works with Guerlain and is set in a calm space inspired by Provençal abbeys. It has four treatment rooms, a sauna, a hammam and an indoor pool under vaulted ceilings, so it is useful on a cool spring day or after the outdoor pool closes for the evening. There is also a 90 m² fitness studio with personal training on request. Book treatments ahead in July and August, when the hotel is full.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Gordes itself deserves a slow morning: the castle, the steep lanes and the Tuesday market. A short drive below the village, the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque is famous for its lavender rows, which usually bloom from late June to mid-July. The Village des Bories, a cluster of dry-stone huts, is just outside town.
Further afield, Roussillon has ochre cliffs and a marked trail through red and orange rock, while Bonnieux, Ménerbes and Lourmarin are each within half an hour. Couples who like wine can taste at Luberon estates, while those who prefer exercise can cycle the quiet back roads or hike the Luberon ridges. The hotel's experiences team arranges picnics, wine visits and market tours. Summer afternoons in the valley are hot, so plan sightseeing for the morning and the pool for later.
Getting There
Fly into Marseille Provence Airport (MRS), about 1 hour 15 minutes from Gordes by car, or take the TGV from Paris to Avignon, about 40 minutes away by road. Nice (NCE) has more connections from the US but is roughly three hours' drive.
You will want a rental car for exploring the Luberon, since public transport between villages is limited. Gordes is a hilltop village with narrow streets, so let the hotel know your arrival time and follow their parking instructions. If you would rather not drive on the first day, ask the hotel to arrange a private transfer from the airport or Avignon station.
The hotel opens seasonally, from spring to autumn and closes in winter. Check opening dates before you plan a honeymoon in November through March.
Is It Worth It?
La Bastide is one of the most expensive hotels in the Luberon, with rates that climb steeply in July and August. Any figure you see is approximate and shoulder-season stays in May, June or September usually cost less and are more pleasant anyway, with lighter crowds in Gordes.
It is worth it if you want a hotel that combines a famous village, a valley view, a big pool and a range of restaurants in one place. It is also worth it if you would rather not drive every evening. Pick a country estate such as Coquillade Provence instead if you want vineyards around you and fewer people. Pick a rented mas with a pool if privacy matters more than service. Families are welcome here in summer, so expect some children around the main pool.
Insider tips
- Pay the difference for a Valley Room; the view is the whole point of staying here.
- Visit Sénanque Abbey early in the morning in lavender season, before the tour buses.
- Book Clover Gordes for your celebration dinner before you arrive.
- Go in June or September for warm weather without peak-summer prices.
