In the very heart of the Coteaux Varois vineyards of Provence, Alain Ducasse and Bruno Clément have transformed an 18th-century country house into an intimate and truly exceptional inn: The Hostellerie de l’Abbaye de la Celle. This 10-room inn, on the site of a 12th-century royal Abbey, is steeped in history and surrounded by natural beauty.

The inn’s lovely garden supplies the incomparable kitchen of the Hostellerie with a year-round bounty of vegetables, fruits and herbs, including many rare species. These become the daily inspiration for the chefs, all of whom are former students of Ducasse’, in creating memorable menus based on the simple country cooking of the region. The result is a world-class dining experience that is pure Provencal.

Also inspired by the garden are the names of the inn’s 10 charming guest accommodations: Blackberry Bush, Chestnut Tree, Rose Garden, and more. The Charles de Gaulle suite, one of five rooms within the main house, is named for the former president, who sojourned here while in office. The inn’s five other rooms are located on the convent grounds overlooking the vineyards. Each has been lovingly furnished with antiques and unique objects Ducasse has collected in his travels throughout France.

This is a place where guests can savor life’s simple pleasures: lounging by the heated swimming pool, strolling through the park and garden, or feasting on a picnic lunch in the beautiful countryside. There’s tennis in the village, golf at two nearby courses, horseback riding and motor sports – all within minutes of the inn. And in the evening, after a memorable dining experience, guests might relax with a fine cigar in the cigar lounge, a superb glass of wine at the veranda bar, or a good book in the cozy sitting room.

L’Hostellerie de l’Abbaye de la Celle is one of four exceptional inns in the Alain Ducasse Country Inns collection. Two others in Provence include Domaine des Andéols and La Bastide de Moustiers. The other is L’Andana in Tuscany.

L’Hostellerie de l’Abbaye de la Celle

10 place de Général de Gaulle, 83170 La Celle en Provence

France
Phone:  + 33 (0) 4 98 05 14 14
Fax: + 33 (0) 4 98 05 14 15
Owners: Alain Ducasse and Clément Bruno

Reservations:

E-mail: contact@abbaye-celle.com or
click here to visit the hotel's website directly.

10 rooms and suites
Airports: Toulon (45 km); Marseille (65 km); Cannes (97 km); Nice (128 km)
Credit cards accepted at hotel: American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Diners, JCB
Air conditioning: yes
Currency: Euro
Open: year-round