5 south-facing hotels to enjoy autumn sunshine

Mediterranean lovers - and there are many - swear by the off-season. The air is still mild, the light exceptional and the coast finally free of the flood of tourists that invade its beaches all summer long. Whether in the garrigues or by the sea, we've selected a number of charming refuges that are also perfect stopping-off points for discovering the region's most interesting sites.

Villa Camille in Banyuls-sur-Mer

Just a stone's throw from the Spanish border and facing the port of Banyuls, Villa Camille is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful refuges on the Côte Vermeille. At one time a mansion, a girls' school and a summer camp, this XIXᵉ building has preserved its sloping roofs, colonnaded balconies and garden courtyard, where you can enjoy a drink while admiring the comings and goings of the boats. After a break by the pool or at the Nuxe spa, head for one of the 42 warm and cosy rooms, with their Jouy fabrics, soft tones and light wood furniture. It's also an ideal stopover on the way to magnificent Collioure, the starting point for the coastal path that runs all the way to Cadaquès, overlooking the Mediterranean.

• Double room from 125 euros
• 11 Avenue Pierre Fabre, 66650 Banyuls-sur-mer
• www.hotelvillacamille.com

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In Arles, the Hôtel Présent

Lovers of 50s architecture, theHôtel Présent is for you! Nestled in a building designed by two architects who were students of Auguste Perret, this modernist refuge houses 13 rooms furnishedtastes - rosewood, five-star bedding and furniture and lighting by Marcel Brauer or Louis Poulsen... We owe these nuggets to owner and design fan Guillaume le Donche, who has also created a library-bar, a rooftop overlooking the city's rooftops and offers guests the delights of his restaurant, Le restaurant d'Arles. Museums are just a stone's throw away (including the famous Fondation Luma), and let's not forget that the city is also the gateway to the Camargue regional nature park.

• Double room from 120 euros
• 5 Place Voltaire 13200 Arles
• www.hotelpresent.fr

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In Marseille, the Tuba Club

Dreaming of a haven on the water? Head for the Tuba Club, a former diving center frequented in the 70s by the legendary Jacques Maillol, and transformed into one of the most sought-after hotels of the moment. And all in all, just eight rooms - three designed as more luxurious suites, the others inspired by Le Corbusier's minimalist cabanons with cabin beds, rope lamps and sea rush on the floor. From the windows, the azure sea is revealed at 180°, with deckchairs on large flat rocks in the foreground to admire the sunset. Not far away, the bar and two restaurants (Tuba and Bikini) also open onto the sea, inviting locals and travellers alike to sample delicious southern cuisine inspired by the fishing returns.

• Double room from 160 euros
• 2 Bd Alexandre Delabre. 13008 Marseille
• https://tuba-club.com

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In Mougins, Le Mas Candille

Between Cannes and Nice, one of the Riviera's cult addresses. In the heart of a large park filled with olive and cypress trees, this 18th-century Provencal residence has recently been given a facelift by Hugo Toro. A star of the moment, the young architect and decorator has come up with a highly inspired decor for the 46 rooms and suites, featuring soft tones, designer pieces and objets d'art... The hotel also boasts a new spa concept, the Clarins Glow House, and two restaurants led by local and ultra-talented chef Romain Antoine. Last but not least, Mas Candille backs onto the medieval village of Mougins and is close to the French Riviera, which we're finally rediscovering without the crowds, from the Croisette in Cannes to the beaches of Juan-les-Pins.

• Double room from 265 euros
• 17 Rue Clément Rebuffel 06250 Mougins
• https://www.mascandille.com/www.mascandille.com

Hôtel du Couvent, Nice

One of the most eagerly-awaited openings of 2024. Set in the hills above Nice, the former Visitation convent, built in the 1600s, has been transformed into a five-star hotel with 88 rooms and suites, artfully blending luxury and minimalism in perfect keeping with the convent's original style. The hotel also boasts a spa, two swimming pools and a spectacular terraced garden. What's more, it's also a place where Nice locals can enjoy a bakery, a herbalist shop, a guinguette, restaurants (La Table du Couvent and Le Bistrot des Serruriers) and a small local market on Saturday mornings in the Place des Orangers. A rare place, just a stone's throw from the old town and the famous Promenade des Anglais, where you can enjoy your last laps of the year in the Mediterranean.

• Double room from 390 euros
• 1 rue Sainte-Claire 06300 Nice
• www.hotelducouvent.com

In Corsica, at Palm Beach Ajaccio

Just a few minutes from the center of Ajaccio (and its airport), the Palm Beach sits on the white sands of La Marinella, one of Corsica's most beautiful beaches, facing the Bloody Islands. Here, there are just 15 rooms, all decorated in sunny colors and opening out onto the azure waters. Right on the beach, the restaurant serves excellent local cuisine with a few transalpine touches (Massino, the new chef, is Italian), refreshed with Corsican wines. An ideal stopover on your return from paddleboarding, diving, jet skiing or simply swimming in the waters of the Gulf of Ajaccio. A still-secret hotel, perfect for a stay with family or friends.

• Double room from 128 euros
• Route des Iles Sanguinaires 20000 Ajaccio
• www.palm-beach.fr

Marseille or Nice, Mougins or Banyuls, all easily accessible southern destinations, ideal for a long weekend.