Le Mas de Pierre

Located outside St. Paul de Vence, this Relais & Châteaux property draws lots of French families who want to be in the hills of Provence with a nice pool area and relaxed resort vibe.

• The beautiful Provençal setting
• The excellent restaurant
• The three-bedroom villa with its own pool which can be rented by the week or month and offers the best of hotel amenities and privacy

In the countryside outside of St. Paul de Vence, this Relais and Chateaux property has been called a poor man’s Château St. Martin, and while it is certainly not as elegant or expensive as the five-star chateau property in nearby Vence, it draws lots of French families who want to be in the hills of Provence with a nice pool area and relaxed resort vibe.

The hotel sits on six acres beneath the walled town of St. Paul de Vence and is built around a former stone farmhouse. Within its garden of ancient olive trees are scattered forty-eight rooms in smaller country-style cottages. Sunny Provençal colors and fabrics brighten the rooms, many of which have small terraces. At the center of the property is a large pool surrounded by cabanas, where families and couples gather to relax between their excursions to explore neighboring hill towns, small museums or the many gourmet restaurants in the region.

In stark contrast to many of the properties in this area, which barely tolerate the presence of children, Le Mas de Pierres truly welcomes them (among other family-friendly touches: kids under 12 aren’t charged for breakfast) and many French families come here every year for long weekends. Two-star Michelin chef Michel Rostang oversees the restaurant’s menu and there is a small spa on property.

In the spring of 2015, Le Mas de Pierre opened the new Provencal-style wing “Bastide des Fleurs,” a restored stone manor house set back near the hotel gardens. The six spacious, contemporary, white-on-white suites were designed by Patrick Ribes to have the occasional splash of floral-themed canvases and woodwork. Expect personalized service and a restful atmosphere: after breakfast on the private patio, most guests dive into the bastide’s pool or lounge in their full-service cabana.

Families who are not overly fussy but want to be in a lovely part of Provence.

Those who want to be right on the sea or who expect flawless, elegant service should book elsewhere. This is a step down in price and perfection from places like Chateau St. Martin or the Hotel du Cap d’Antibes.