La Bastide de Moustiers

Located in the woodsy heights of Haute Provence, this intimate auberge and superb restaurant (by Alain Ducasse) is still at the top of the list of classic romantic hideaways.

• The Bastidon cottage, with a private garden perfect for families
• The boutique, filled with the best local olive oil, books, jams and porcelain
• The proximity to the gorgeous Gorges du Verdon, a haven for outdoor enthusiasts

This charming country inn sits in a peaceful valley minutes away from the Gorges de Verdon—a miniature version of the Grand Canyon, with emerald rivers and cascading waterfalls. The 13-room property was opened in 1995 by the multi-Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse. The 17th-century Provencal house, which once belonged to a master potter, has become a classic study in rural chic—an intimate backcountry retreat with reliably remarkable cuisine, surrounded by ten acres of fruit groves and carefully tended vegetable gardens in a wild corner of Haute Provence that has escaped over-development.

The cheerful, comfortable rooms and two suites of the red-tile-roofed stone bastide are filled with the celebrated white earthenware of Moustiers, which is just up the road, as well as with antiques selected by Ducasse himself. Each is decorated in keeping with its name—-Poppies, Pumpkin, Raspberry, Almond, Bee—with flowered quilts, four-poster beds and spacious bathrooms that have both tubs and showers.

The chef (Ducasse-trained, bien sur) presents two ever-changing menus of dishes made from the finest and freshest local products. Serious foodies, political bigwigs and celebrities often drop in for lunch (hence, the helipad) on the lovely shaded dining terrace lined with lavender and providing a panorama of the lush countryside and distant ridges. Advance booking is a must.

Follow your meal with a stroll through Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. The quaint village, built above a towering rock face and divided by a deep crevasse crossed by little bridges, is chockablock with shops carrying its famed white faïence, made from the exceptionally fine local clay and decorated with delicate arabesques of birds and flowers. If rafting, kayaking, canoeing, canyoning, trout fishing, hang gliding, parasailing, bungee jumping or hiking the Verdon Gorges isn’t your cup of tea, you can simply relax beside the bastide’s pool and listen to nature’s symphony.

For the warmer months, La Bastide de Moustiers is offering gourmet picnic escapades for two to six people. The concept: guests are driven to a secluded spot by the river (in a vintage 1950’s Chevrolet) and left to enjoy Christophe Martin’s moveable feast until they call to be collected. On Fridays and Saturdays, there are also convivial barbecues in the potager vegetable garden, under the olive trees.

Honeymooners, sports-minded couples, foodies, or anyone looking for a restful retreat in a spectacular setting.