Auberge de Noves – Luxury in Provence, France
Our Stay in Photos
Patrick and I have had a love affair with France for quite some time now. Our ménage à trois started off early into our relationship and then as our relationship grew so did our love of France, so much so, we got engaged and honeymooned there. We have visited many of its cities and towns but there are still many to explore. We have stayed in some fantastic hotels, from the eccentric to the beautiful, from round towers to châteaux.
One of the hotels we look forward to returning to is Auberge de Noves in Provence. It’s a luxury hotel just outside the town of Noves and 12km from Avignon. The hotel is a 19th Century Manor, steeped in history and run by renowned Michelin Starred Chef Robert Lalleman who is the third generation of the Lalleman Family.
His grandparents Robert and Suzanne Lalleman bought the house as a ruin in the 1950’s and renovated it to the glory you see today. Robert’s grandparents and parents also achieved three Michelin Stars for the restaurant at Auberge de Noves and so paved the way for his culinary genius. For an interesting interview with Robert Lalleman visit bonjourparis.com. You’ll find Auberge de Noves listed in the ‘Châteaux & Hôtels Collection‘.
In the heart of Provence, in the middle of a 20 acre private park, and surrounded by oaks, olive trees and pine trees, the typically Provençal estate and its old chapel offer 23 En-Suite Rooms: 10 Standard Rooms, 9 Superior Rooms, 2 Junior Suites and 2 Apartments.
The hotel features one of the finest restaurants in the area and a wine cellar with 30,000 bottles.
We stayed at Auberge de Noves for a weekend in July. If you are planning on driving through the South of France remember that roads can be very busy at weekends during peak season so it’s a good idea to check in somewhere for the duration of the weekend and carry on with your trip during the week.
We couldn’t have chosen a better place to spend our weekend. Surrounded by romantic scenery, in a beautiful room, with a Michelin Restaurant and a Michelin Starred Chef in charge, minutes from the historical city of Avignon, it was absolutely perfect.
Our Room
Each room in the hotel is differently decorated. Our room with balcony looked out onto the wooded parkland. The windows and balcony doors had shutters that added to the authenticity and romanticised our French manor room.
The room was elegantly furnished with a writing desk, chest of drawers and side tables, all antique. Wooden beams ran the width of the bedroom and one wall had whitewashed open stone work, giving it an earthy feel. The decor was tasteful and perfectly matched the manor, the woods outside and the sunsets that were spectacular each evening.
The Food & Drink
In harmony with the seasons, my cuisine is based on intuition, caprice, obligations, good humour and wrath! Always with the sole objective of putting a satisfied smile on the faces of guests, gourmets and gourmands who come here to savour it – Robert Lalleman
After a smooth check in at reception and the delight of our room, we headed downstairs to the sunny weather and the restaurant which is open on the terrace during summer months.
We were greeted by Robert himself who shook our hands, welcomed us and offered us some lunch without a menu … a nice salad perhaps? … I agreed on a Salade Nicoise €22, Patrick, Foie Gras €22 and both of us agreed on the wine menu. We ordered a bottle of Hauts de Smith Rosé €36, simply because of the name (my maiden name is Smith). The salad was one of the best I’ve eaten, Patrick devoured his Foie Gras. The wine was chilled and delicious. A fantastic start to what was a memorable stay.
Our whole stay was just as smooth, relaxing and as delicious as that first lunch in the restaurant. We spent our days swimming in the pool, walking the Hotel Manor grounds and exploring Avignon.
Our nights were spent dining on the finest food and drinking the finest wines. Robert Lalleman is a fantastic Chef and his Michelin Starred excellence shone through his dishes. On the first night we both chose the Menu Decouverte – the discovery Menu, which at €125 per person included 7 courses that took us from Homemade Foie Gras to Grand Marnier Souffle.
For wine we ordered a bottle of Noel Saint Laurent €33 and Gigondas Terrasse €41.50. On the second night we both chose the Gourmand de Nature – Gourmand Menu. This was €75 per person without the cheese trolley and included four courses that ranged from Monkfish to Peach Compote. For wine we ordered Royere L’Oppidum 2011, €39, twice because it went down a treat.
Each night was a culinary delight and every course was fresh, beautifully presented and delicious. The restaurant terrace was a beautiful setting, so open, spacious and fresh. It was magical to be surrounded by trees with the sun setting and glimmers of candles burning … oh and the Lalleman family dog (whose name has unfortunately slipped my mind) who patiently waited for the smell of something he liked and then sat politely by your foot at your table, amusing and sweet for us as dog lovers.
Breakfast each morning was fresh bread, cheeses, eggs, tea, coffee and cost €18 per person. Each morning I also received a fresh rose. Magical.
Room rates depend on the season and the type of room you choose but expect prices to range from €165 to €680 per night.
Further Reading: Chateau Grand Barrail Hotel, Saint-Emilion, France
PIN: Auberge de Noves, Domaine du Devès, Provence, France
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