Fancy Hotel of the Week – Hotel du Clos
On this particular trip we didn’t set out to stay in fancy boutique-y hotels - our criteria were mostly cost, space for us and the Minx and proximity to beautiful locations, but we really lucked out with the first hotel we stayed in, booked at the very last minute through Splendia, a website specialising in characterful hotels.
The Hotel du Clos is in the little postcard-perfect village of Le Rouret, about 15 minutes from Grasse and 25 minutes from Nice and the bustle of the Riviera, and so a perfect place to relax after our long transatlantic flight to Nice (via Amsterdam).
The hotel – and this is the reason I loved it so – combines the very best in traditional French charm and style with the odd touch of whimsy here and there, which made everything seem lighthearted, modern and fun and added oodles of character. Though frankly the buildings were so beautiful that additional character seemed almost unnecessary.
The rooms are each individually decorated, the staff were absolutely delightful and extremely welcoming to the Minx, and the same people who own the hotel also own a fabulous Michelin-starred restaurant, five minutes away in the village. So, I really can’t recommend this one highly enough.
The bedroom featured the most beautiful fireplace and was decorated in those overlapping shades of dove grey that the French do so well.
I loved the wall sticker of ‘books’ stacked up on the bedside table
the Roman faces fabric on the cushions and curtains
and the Perspex angel light fitting above our bed (with another angel peeking out in the bathroom).
The traditional Provencal garden – fragrant with roses, jasmine and lavender - was a big hit with a certain someone, who particularly loved the fabulously UNtraditional sculpture lurking among the olive trees.
We ate epic breakfasts every morning on the beautiful terrace
- the fromage blanc with rose syrup was a particularly big hit.
In the mornings when I woke early through jetlag, I would knit on our balcony shaded by an ancient olive tree and listen to the sound of church bells and the kids singing in the school next door.
After breakfast we would head to the small but delightful stone pool, made particularly elegant by the use of very dark green tiles, which made it fit much more naturally into the garden landscape.
And we all appreciated little touches such as the antique jelly moulds used as keyrings (and were sad not to get one of the three bears)
and the papier mache cow in the reception area.
More photos from the Hotel du Clos, Le Rouret and Grasse, on my Flickr here.
I’m back. Sort of normal service will be resumed, though it’s school vacation and a busy time for ‘mirrormirror’ so other things also need to take priority. I’ve been missing you though.
I want to go to there. Seriously, I need that kind of vacation SO VERY BADLY.
Gorgeous, gorgeous photos P!
Posted by: Carrie | 19 July 2010 at 07:27 PM
welcome back! looks like you had a fabulous time! france never disappoints.
Posted by: mlle paradis | 19 July 2010 at 08:41 PM
What a beautiful hotel... definitely one to put in "the list"...love the trompe l'oeil sticker stack of books, how ingenious....and those adorable sheep...gorgeous photographs, thank you for sharing these....M
Posted by: Melanie at Food Post Ink | 19 July 2010 at 09:01 PM
Gorgeous pics and love the jelly mould key rings. So much to love in these pics and I must check out Splendia, I hadn't heard of it! Looks like you had a great time.
Posted by: blanket | 20 July 2010 at 04:16 AM
What a lovely hotel, really want to go at once.
Posted by: protoworkannie | 20 July 2010 at 08:20 AM
That looks like a fabulous hotel, one for my list! So pleased you had such a great holiday x
Posted by: Liz@VioletPosy | 20 July 2010 at 10:41 AM
A lovely article and a great stay!
Thanks a lot for your mention, we highly appreciate. And moreover, the occasion for us to see how our customers experience our hotels.
I'm glad you like it. By the way, great pictures!!
Best regards from sunny Barcelona,
David Bennet - Splendia Community Manager
Posted by: David Bennet | 20 July 2010 at 01:31 PM
looks like heaven there. south of france is just beautiful and i'd LOVE to have one of those melted cheese with rose syrup.... swoon...
Posted by: lou | 20 July 2010 at 02:07 PM
i recognise those sculptures! they are by Otmar Alt, and made an appearance in bradford a few years ago, dotted around the city and in lister park.
Posted by: bushra | 20 July 2010 at 05:31 PM
Ooh Bushra, I was hoping someone would know who they're by! Will look into him further...
Posted by: Paola | 20 July 2010 at 06:04 PM