Need to know
Rooms
21, including two suites.
Check–Out
11.30am. Earliest check-in, 3.30pm.
More details
Breakfast isn’t usually included in the room rate, but it’s worth the extra cost. The daily breakfast menu of patisseries, cold meats, cheeses, yoghurts and fruits is served in the dining room (€30 a person).
Also
Owners Guillaume and Frédéric are art-mad, and it shows: every room is adorned with modern pieces, either from Guillaume’s gallery in Paris or from their private collection. The château’s former wine cellar has been transformed into a chic exhibition space, which hosts vernissages in partnership with international galleries four times a year.
Please note
Le Champ de Lunes is currently closed, but La Cuisine d'Amélie remains open.
Hotel closed
The château is closed annually from 7 January to 13 February.
At the hotel
Pétanque court, meeting room (for up to 40 people), private vineyard, free WiFi throughout, laundry service, free on-site parking. In rooms: TV, air-conditioning, minibar, Suzanne Kaufmann bath products; suites also have tea- and Nespresso coffee-making kit.
Our favourite rooms
For secluded luxury, couples will love the Executive rooms, some of which have a private terrace dotted with chairs and potted geraniums; inside, they’re traditionally decorated with intricately carved wooden furniture and black-and-white photographs.
Poolside
The large, unheated pool is open from April to October. It’s set amid verdant lawns, and is surrounded by sunloungers and shaded spots to sit in on long, lazy summer days.
Spa
A light, airy space, the intimate spa has a hammam, a fitness centre (kitted-out with high-tech equipment) and one treatment room. The menu of massages, facials and mani-pedis is extensive; there’s also the option to get your make-up done, or have a private hatha yoga lesson. The gym and hammam are open until 10pm, in case you fancy an evening steam or a late-night go on the elliptical (to compensate for an excess of fromage…).
Packing tips
Pack like an off-duty Jane Birkin: pale denim, white linen and sandals; chillier winter climes call for Parisian black cashmere and glossy hair.
Pet‐friendly
Four-legged Smiths are welcome to stay in any room for free. See more pet-friendly hotels in Provence.
Children
Children of all ages are welcome. Extra beds (€45 a person, a night) and baby cots (free) can be added to Executive rooms, the Park View Prestige rooms and both suites. Babysitting (which must be booked a day in advance) is available for an extra cost.
Best for
Domaine accommodates children of all ages, so you can bring everyone from tiny tots to truculent teens and they won’t mind. Although there are some on-site activities, there’s no crèche or kids club.
Recommended rooms
Families should go for one of the suites, which are super-spacious and ideal for larger broods; alternatively, the Prestige Duplex room has a superking-size bed, plus twin beds on a mezzanine level (an extra bed can be included, too).
Activities
It’s all very wholesome here, and children are encouraged to enjoy some good ol’ outdoor fun: splashing around in the pool, exploring the grounds, and discovering the custom-designed ‘Children’s House’ (a former dovecote now stocked with games and toys). Older children might find a tour around the kitchen gardens interesting, where the chef will teach them how to harvest fruit and vegetables. Smiths of all ages will have a soft spot for the Domaine’s donkeys, who are very docile and amenable to petting.
Meals
Both La Cuisine d’Amélie and Le Champ des Lunes have children’s options, including sausages and chips, and simple meat or fish dishes with fresh vegetables.
Babysitting
Babysitters must be booked a day in advance. The hotel has audio monitors that guests can borrow, and many of the rooms are close enough to the restaurant to have reception.
No need to pack
Travel baby cots; baby bedlinen; highchairs.
Also
All the common areas are easily accessible with a buggy, so you’ll find it’s easy to get around with a tot in tow.