La Fleur Bleue is located in Le Crestet, a tiny village 40 kilometers northeast of Avignon, between Vaison la Romaine and Malaucène at the foot of Mont Ventoux. Owned by a Dutch couple who decorated the house in the Nordic style with Provençal influences, it offers both fine dining and accommodations (gîtes), to those seeking a quiet rural holiday in the Provence. The restaurant, located at the east side of the house, is open 6 days a week, for lunch and dinner. Guests enjoy the ambiance of a lovely terrace covered with wisteria. The cuisine is regional French made with local produce; the wine selection focuses on offerings from local vineyards.
The two gîtes are houses, each with its own entrance and terrace, large living room and two separate bedrooms. Guests share an orchard where they can sunbathe, plus a “hot tub”, with stunning views of Mont Ventoux. Each gîte also comes with a fully furnished kitchen: a gas stove with oven, microwave, electric kettle and a coffeemaker.
If you enjoy outdoor activities, you can hike along the nearby Dentelles de Montmirail. Avid cyclists will want to take a shot at climbing the fearsome Mont Ventoux, which has featured in many a mountain stage of the Tour de France over the years. Swimmers can head to the Toulourenc, the Ouveze, or Lake Paty.
David Worm, the house chef, gives cooking classes (cours de cuisine) in January, February, March, April, May, October and November for 85 € per person. It includes four hours of teaching, with ingredients, recipe and a table d’hotes dinner.
The houses are available for rent on a weekly basis (Saturday to Saturday), except in the off season when you can rent them for weekends. 2012-2013 rates are as follows:
– From November to March 520€
– April, May, June, September, October 575€
– July and August 650€
– Weekends (three nights), only in the off season 300€
All prices include linen, cleaning and the ‘taxe de séjour’.
La Fleur Bleue
Chemin de Sublon
84110 Crestet, France
Phone: +33 (0)4 90 36 2345
About Megha Patel
