Château des Alpilles

We were on our way to another place when we had a major travel hiccup with our rental car. I remembered that Chateau des Alpilles was nearby and night was falling. They took us in without reservations, (we weren’t pretty) and even helped solve our travel problem -- calling to the hotel we never reached, getting our hefty deposit refunded, etc. We ended up staying for a week of pure bliss. We stayed in three different rooms and all were great. The facilities are first class. The 1802 Chateau has been well restored. The rooms have high ceilings, Pierre Deux wallpaper and fabrics, as well as antique armoires and art. The baths are elegantly modern. The little ’chapel’ is a furnished in a minimalist theme and is quite elegant and private. The staff is superb: they made everything look easy, even though we couldn’t have been their easiest guests. In the evening, you wander out and sit under the plane trees. The cigalles are singing, and the frogs are tuning up for their evening arias. One of the staff brings you appetizers and your drinks. You tell him which of the several entrees you would like for dinner and when you’re ready, you wander into the dining room for an incredible meal. Only hotel guests can dine here. The food was magnificent. The hotel dining room is closed on Wednesdays, so we had to eat at a Michelin starred restaurant in St. Remy -- nice, but not as good as Chateau des Alpilles. I give these folks an A+ This is one of those pricey places that is truly worth it.