Provence is a region of lavender fields, sunlit villages, and markets overflowing with olives, cheese, and wine. While it has no shortage of glamorous châteaux and Michelin-starred retreats, Provence also hides a network of intimate guesthouses and family-run country inns that embody the region’s essence.
Here, the luxury is in the scent of rosemary carried on the mistral, the simplicity of stone walls warmed by the sun, and the rhythm of life measured by café terraces and village bells.
La Bastide de Voulonne – Luberon
A charming 18th-century farmhouse turned guesthouse, surrounded by lavender fields and vineyards. Rooms are rustic yet refined, with Provençal antiques and views of the Luberon hills.
http://www.bastidedevoulonne.com
Domaine de Rhodes – Avignon
Located on Île de la Barthelasse, this restored farmhouse offers tranquil rooms and a shaded park with centuries-old trees. Just across the Rhône lies Avignon’s papal palace.
http://www.domainerhodes.com
Mas de l’Ange – Gordes
A traditional stone mas surrounded by olive groves and cypress trees, this guesthouse offers a quiet escape near one of Provence’s most beautiful villages. Interiors combine rustic beams with contemporary simplicity.
http://www.masdelange.com
La Maison de Line – Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
A boutique guesthouse with private cottages and a pool hidden in gardens scented with jasmine. Ideal for exploring the charm of Saint-Rémy, once beloved by Van Gogh.
http://www.lamaisondeline.com
Le Clos Saint Saourde – Beaumes-de-Venise
Built into the rock itself, this extraordinary guesthouse offers dramatic stone interiors, vaulted ceilings, and views of vineyards producing the famed Muscat wine.
http://www.clossaintsaourde.com
L’Auberge de la Loube – La Roquebrussanne
An authentic village inn in the Var, serving rustic Provençal cuisine alongside simple, atmospheric rooms. Perfect for travelers who value conviviality and regional flavor over luxury gloss.
http://www.aubergedelaloube.com
Lifestyle Notes
- Markets: Don’t miss the weekly market in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for antiques, textiles, and Provençal pottery.
- Cafés: In Aix-en-Provence, linger at Les Deux Garçons, once frequented by Cézanne and Hemingway.
- Walking: The lavender fields of Valensole and olive groves of Les Alpilles offer some of the most scenic (and free) pleasures in Europe.
Closing Reflection
In Provence, affordable style means waking up to birdsong, eating bread still warm from the village boulangerie, and finding beauty in simplicity. These guesthouses and inns carry the quiet luxury of authenticity — rooted in terroir, tradition, and light.
For those who seek Provence not as a postcard but as a lived experience, these small-scale stays offer exactly that: intimacy, character, and soul.
My World of Interiors 