Hôtel Crillon Le Brave, Provence

Not many hotels made as strong an impression on us as Crillon le Brave, but not many manage to blend a quintessential provencal look with the luxury of five-star standards — in a stunning location.

A picturesque settlement with a history spanning centuries, defensively perched on a steep hill, with narrow alleyways winding through stone dwellings and secluded courtyards opening to mesmerizing views: that’s Crillon le Brave. It’s a tiny village, a traditional hamlet, in Provence’s Vaucluse, south of France. And at least half of that village is now a five-star hotel.

Hilltop

Taking its name from the location, Crillon le Brave is integrated into the village in a cluster of rustic buildings that date from the 17th and 18th centuries. The structures climb alongside narrow pathways up to an old church that appears to be part of the hotel. A classic townhouse with green shutters is the point of entry.

Cutting through the building, guests come out to a sprawling courtyard terrace — where La Madeleine opens for alfresco dining in the evenings — and get the first glimpse of the beautiful views. It’s one of many such spaces at the Crillon le Brave.

The hotel’s beautifully restored and upgraded buildings retain the original character and peculiarities of the village houses. The structures rise from cascading terraces, platforms, or balconies, and weathered staircases and pathways flanked by stone walls link up the nine buildings of the property.

The views

On the way to our suite, we walked through the hotel’s herb garden and checked out a stone fountain and grand cypress trees. We stepped into the iconic pool area and climbed to the La Table du Ventoux restaurant’s shaded pergolas. The restaurant and the pool are placed to make the best of the breathtaking views of the valley.

Speaking of the views, our suite was on the top floor of Maison Roche, the oldest house of the hotel, and we were simply astonished by the panorama our windows afforded. From the east, we saw a seemingly endless vista of the valley, and to the south, the room overlooked the entire hotel, with the iconic sight of the swimming pool and cypress trees in the center.

Designed for comfort

The interiors demonstrate that Hôtel Crillon le Brave, while it embraces the heritage of the stone houses, is also a private refuge with luxe credentials.

The honey-colored stone of the buildings provided the architect Charles Zana with a backdrop to create supremely elegant spaces, specifically adapted to each unique guest room. The high-quality furniture harmonizes with the spirit of the place, while old prints and art provide a new dimension to the timeless Provence style. For example, our room was decorated with original floral specimens collected and framed in the 19th century.

Some of our favorite spaces include the bar, beautifully furnished and centered around a magnificent fireplace, and the Spa des Écuries, located in stables with vaulted ceilings. The stone troughs used to feed horses are now filled with lavender.

A TechnoGym fitness center housed in the former chapel offers free weights and yoga. And one of the terraces houses an outdoor pétanque space, providing a venue for this quintessentially French pastime. All of this reflects the sense that the hotel is designed with one principle: to ensure a comfortable and deeply relaxing stay.

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in our opinion

Hôtel Crillon le Brave is a boutique hideaway that fuses the authentic style of a traditional hilltop hamlet with contemporary luxury. Its maze-like spaces offer a sense of discovery, while the service and cuisine make the experience truly special.

Hôtel Crillon le Brave is one of the Seven Best Hotels and Resorts for a Great Road Trip in Provence. Don't miss it!

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What we love

• Crillon le Brave is deeply integrated into the landscape of the original hamlet, offering an authentic Provençal village experience. Every part of the property has a unique layout and character, drawn from its history.
• The guest accommodation is delightful. The hotel has sixteen rooms and eighteen suites, designed in a contemporary style by the architect Charles Zana. The living spaces are large and authentic, with carefully curated art and decor. The bedrooms are supremely comfortable, the beds have fine linens, and the bathrooms have a lot of space. Above all, there is a deep sense of complete peace and privacy. There are only sixteen rooms and eighteen suites at the hotel in total.
• Amazing views from the top of the hilltop dwelling, with the enormous Mont Ventoux capping the horizon. The hotel's location on the South-Eastern side of the hill ensures mesmerizing sunrises and cool evenings.
• The service is driven by the principles of "generosity, empathy, and goodwill," and the staff truly embraces them. Everyone is always smiling, always happy to aid and assist.
• The cuisine is another part of the experience that we loved. Both restaurants are wonderful in their own right. At the fine-dining, formal La Madeleine, the oft-changing menu features inventive dishes that use local produce to whip up artful meals.
• One of our favorite spaces at the hotel was the bar on the ground floor of Maison Roche (our room was on the top floor of that house). The bar has a vaulted ceiling and a huge fireplace, and its decor includes unique art and designer furniture. It's a great place for relaxing in an intimate atmosphere.
• The swimming pool, with its dark green tile, amazing views, luxuriant loungers, and the iconic cypress trees at one end, is pure eye candy.
• A spa located in former stables is lovely. It has three treatment rooms, including one double, and the menu includes massages, exfoliation, and face and body treatments. Sports treatments, meditation, or yoga sessions are also available.

What you should know

• The concierge will recommend the trail up the Mont Ventoux (6263 ft, or 1,9 km high), famed as one of the difficult stages of the Tour de France. Probably best to avoid it unless you're an expert hiker.
• Families with children are welcome. The personnel can provide a baby cot (free for under-threes) or an extra bed (extra charge applies) if you stay in a suite. They can also arrange to babysit.
• La Madeleine restaurant is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 7:30 PM to 9 PM. By the way, there are also some restaurants outside the hotel, just a short stroll away.
• As you might have guessed by now, the cobblestone streets and heritage buildings of Hôtel Crillon le Brave make it the kind of place that isn't easily adaptable for guests with disabilities. Only three rooms are accessible, but the hotel isn't suitable for people with severe mobility difficulties and is flat-out inaccessible to wheelchairs.
• Small dogs are permitted only if you stay in Prestige rooms and request in advance. Among the notable guests of Crillon le Brave were the actress Keira Knightley and Sophie Turner (the Game Of Thrones star).
• The pool area is perfect for a boutique hotel the size of Crillon le Brave, but still, some younger guests habitually "booked" the loungers before breakfast. Pet peeve.
• We explored Provence by car and documented it through our Instagram Stories — check them out!