Benvengudo means Welcome to our Hotel in Provencal

Just below the famous hilltop fortress of Les Baux sits the boutique luxury hotel Benvengudo.  The name means “welcome” in the local language and it couldn’t be more appropriate.

Walking into the manicured grounds of Benvengudo is like stepping back in time, to a more simple and gracious era.  The hotel provides a rare mix of traditional and modern, and you’ll be reluctant to leave when your stay is over.  You’ll ask yourself – can’t we linger just a bit longer?

Benvengudo began fifty years ago as a simple, four-room county inn and restaurant, built by Daniel and Maryse Beaupied.  Daniel had trained as a chef under the legendary Paul Bocuse before earning a Michelin star of his own.

Guests flocked to the inn for its warm welcome and outstanding food and the couple slowly expanded it.  Over the years they added to the buildings and grounds and today there are 28 luxurious rooms.

Like many of the best French businesses – from wineries to cosmetics – Benvengudo stayed in the family.  Today daughter Carole and her husband Viktor manage the hotel and restaurant and they have taken them to a new level.

Several years ago, they embarked on an ambitious renovation project.  They spent millions to bring the Benvengudo up to modern standards, with upgraded rooms, new furniture and the all-important wifi.  But they were also careful to maintain its authentic Provençal charm and comfort.  Without that, it would be just another nice hotel, the kind you can find anywhere.

The result is a place that provides all the modern amenities while remaining true to its heritage.  I enjoyed having a drink on the terrace next to a lovely stone staircase, looking out over the grounds marked by lavender and roses.

And let’s not forget the food!  Daniel Beaupied may be retired but his high standards live on.  The kitchen is now overseen by Thomas Voisin, who joined Benvengudo from the famous Michelin-starred restaurant Auberge la Fenière in Lourmarin.  You can enjoy local cuisine made with top ingredients – a delicious homage to the bounty of the region.

For an authentic Provençal experience in a luxury hotel, it’s hard to beat Benvengudo.  And now matter how long your visit, you’ll wish you could stay longer.

You can find more information about Benvengudo here.

Keith Van Sickle is the author of One Sip at a Time: Learning to Live in Provence, available at Amazon.

Photo credits:
Images provided by and published with the permission of Hotel Benvengudo.
Photo with the people enjoying Provence thanks to Keith Van Sickle.