Histoires de Bastide

Rooms

Elegance and simplicity are the buzzwords of the guestrooms. Walls and fabrics come in soothing taupes, natural creams and understated greys, and paintings provide occasional splashes of colour. Floors are made from warm oak, and wood-framed windows look out over the hills to the sea beyond.

All have kingsize beds with Egyptian linen and goosedown duvets, as well as a desk, a chair and a large wardrobe; you also get air-conditioning, free WiFi and a flat-screen TV. The travertine stone bathrooms are tucked behind walls of glass bricks (toilets are separate), and come with bathrobes, hairdryers and toiletries made by Grasse-based Fragonard.

Marius and Le Temps des Secrets has a shower and a Jacuzzi tub with chromotherapy lighting. The other rooms Fanny and Manon des Sources, have a large walk-in shower (no tub) and the former can be set up with twin beds on request. All share the same style and great views, so the choice largely depends on whether you’d like a soak in the bath.

Added in 2015, we're yet to personally view Le Temps des Secrets and Manon des Sources.

Features include:

• Air conditioning
• WiFi

Eating

Breakfast is a highlight, and best enjoyed on the communal terrace beside the breakfast room, where there’s a table and chairs for each guestroom (spaced well apart for privacy). You'll find freshly squeezed orange juice (always a plus), just-baked baguettes and croissants, honey, fruit, and homemade and local jams (including violet and rose varieties).

For lunch and dinner, Tourrettes has a few first-rate restaurants, with prices to suit all pockets. Serious foodies should head to Le Clovis, a dinky little place in the heart of the village, whose young chef Julien Bousseau has won a Michelin star. Menus revolve around changing trios of seasonal ingredients - we visited in October so ate a wonderful starter of 3 varieties of wild mushroom, each cooked in a different way, followed by a memorable main of lièvre à la Royale (hare stuffed with foie gras) and homemade chestnut-flour pasta. Julien is a staunch supporter of local produce, and his approach covers everything from the food and wine to the crockery and olive-wood bread baskets.

Another good bet in central Tourrettes is Chez Grand Mère, a family-run restaurant serving North African dishes at very tasty prices. Going for 30 years, it’s a real locals’ favourite. Wine-lovers should try Le Cave de Tourrettes near the square, which has an impressive range of wines and tasty tapas. And, for hearty fare at giveaway prices, join villagers for lunch at the Café des Sports on the square - there’s little choice, but you’ll get a good meal for a steal. If you don’t mind a drive, try L’Ecole des Filles in Bar-sur-Loup (15 minutes in the direction of Grasse) for modern gastronomic cuisine.

Features include:

• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Stroll the ancient pedestrianised streets of Tourrettes, visit the violet museum, and browse numerous potters, jewellers and silversmiths. Don’t miss market day on Wednesday
  
• Wander half a mile to Histoire de Bastide's private guest swimming pool, set in a verdant garden with south-facing views
  
• Visit the pretty old town of Vence, 10 minutes’ drive away. Shop in its chic boutiques, marvel at the Matisse drawings on the walls of the Chapelle du Rosaire, and catch the Friday market in the square
  
• Drive to Grasse, world capital of perfume. Envelop yourself in scent in the showrooms of some of the big parfumeries, then learn about the fascinating history of perfume at the Musée Internationale de la Parfumerie
  
• Enjoy fantastic modern art at the Fondation Maeght in St Paul de Vence, including skinny bronzes by Giacometti and works by Miró, Chagall and Braque. Afterwards, pop in for a drink at La Colombe d’Or, the hotel-restaurant in the heart of St Paul de Vence, and take a peep at its original Picassos and Matisses, acquired in lieu of the artists’ unpaid bills
  
• Top up your tan and hang out with the jetset on the beaches of the Côte d’Azur, just 20 minutes away
  
• Take to the hills and follow one of the many long-distance hiking trails (sentiers de grandes randonnées). Sandrine can provide maps, or advise on local bike hire if you'd prefer to cycle
  
• If you’re feeling energetic, climb the 1,248m Pic de Courmettes just above Tourrettes, or explore the Gorge du Loup near the village of Pont du Loup (10 minutes’ drive)
  
• Take a course in cooking with flowers (including violets, of course) with chef Yves Terrillon in Pont du Loup; Sandrine can help arrange this

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Shopping / markets

Kids

The B&B isn’t best-suited to children, as there are no extra beds or baby cots. That said, you could book 2 rooms together; Fanny can be set up as a twin room on request.

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The B&B sits in the centre of Tourrettes-sur-Loup in Provence, southern France. It’s 35 minutes from Nice airport and 20 minutes from the beaches of the Côte d’Azur.

By Air:
Nice Côte d’Azur Airport is only 35 minutes’ drive away. It's served by a wide range of international and budget airlines - click on the links below for a list.

From the Airport
It's best to have a car here (see below), as there’s a lot to explore in the area. If you really don’t want to drive and plan on spending most of your time in the village, you can get a taxi from the airport.

By Train:
From London you can take the Eurostar to Lille, then change onto a direct TGV train down to Nice.

By Car:
Car hire is available at both Nice airport and the station - see our car rental recommendations. Parking is available 50m from the B&B.

Detailed directions will be provided when you confirm a booking through i-escape.com.

More on getting to France and getting around