Road trip in the South: 6 hotels to stop at between Marseille and Nice

Christine Robalo | 5/30/25, 10:00 AM

Curves that smell of heated pine, lunch breaks that are too long, and that end-of-day light that sticks to your rear-view mirrors. There are a thousand ways to take your time... and as many hotels to do it in style.

You think you know this road by heart. It has the taste of youthful summers, overcrowded seaside resorts and ice cream that melts too quickly. And yet, it still manages to surprise. All you have to do is slow down, turn off the main road and let yourself be drawn in by a half-open gate or a terraced garden, and the South changes its face. It's no longer just a sunny destination, it's a series of selected stops, charming houses, places where you'd love to stay another night... or the whole week, in the end. Here are six hotels that will make your trip last.

Maison Juste in Marseille

A hotel without a reception desk, but with an answer. In this Marseilles building, carefully renovated by local architects and craftsmen, you enter via an app, without badge or formality, and discover 18 vast, bright rooms, full of carefully chosen details: antique furniture, kitchenette and beautiful bathrooms. Inaugurated just over a year ago, the house has already won over a small tribe of loyal guests. You can live at your own pace, between a coffee in the large living room, an impromptu sports session or breakfast in the sun in the 600 m² garden. Shared kitchen, self-service coffee, fast wi-fi, and zero unnecessary chatter. A fair, local, sincere, well-thought-out address.

Price: €113 per night
Where? 28 Rue Balthazar-Dieudé- 13006 Marseille. Tel: 04 42 59 02 90
See Gault&Millau's review of Maison Juste

Le Pigonnet in Aix-en-Provence

a stone's throw from the Cours Mirabeau, this century-old bastide has the allure of elegant old ladies. Now under the Esprit de France banner, the house has been renovated - in part - by Jacques Garcia, master of interior design: striped curtains, deep armchairs, saffron-colored walls. The atmosphere is hushed. Two villas have been added to the historic rooms, and a 400 m² spa now offers a full range of treatments. The place has seen the likes of Barbara and Clint Eastwood come and go... Cézanne is even said to have set up his easel here, looking out over Sainte-Victoire. The gardens, with their 29 fountains, a discreet swimming pool and a pergola from which you can watch the light change, are a particular highlight.

Price: €386 per night
Where ? 5 Av. du Pigonnet, 13090- Aix-en-Provence. Tel: 04 42 59 02 90
See Gault&Millau's review of Le Pigonnet

Mondrian in Cannes

Set in the highest building on the Croisette, just a few minutes from the Palais des Festivals, the Mondrian has given new life to Cannes' oldest hotel (the Grand Hôtel, built in 1863). The hotel's feet are planted in its 4,000 m² garden, like a hyphen between the Mediterranean and the heart of the city. Each room - a minimum of 36 m² - opens onto a private balcony behind a large bay window. inside, the design features curved lines, turquoise hues and carpets inspired by the movement of waves. Special mention goes to suite 113, with its 60 m² extended terrace overlooking the sea.

Price: 234 € per night
Where? 45 Boulevard de la Croisette- 06400 Cannes. Tel: 04 93 38 15 45
See Gault&Millau's review of Mondrian

Domaine du Mas de Pierre in Saint-Paul-de-Vence

Eighteen months of metamorphosis for this discreet, family-style estate, nestled among the fragrant hills of the Nice hinterland. Eight hectares of vegetation where century-old olive trees stand alongside works by Folon, César or Sosno, while the rooms oscillate between Provencal charm and Patrick Ribes' Baroque refinement, in shades of blue, fuchsia or soft pink. Children find their kingdom near the Alice-inspired playground, while adults take refuge in the Bastide des Fleurs, a confidential setting around a long swimming pool. The South, in all its richness and restraint.

Price: €284 per night
Where ? 2320 Rte des Serres- 06570 Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Tel. : 04 93 59 00 10
See Gault&Millau's review of Domaine du Mas de Pierre

Anantara Plaza in Nice

Overlooking the sea, the Anantara Plaza unfurls its saffron façade over 140 meters of Belle Époque revisited. Restored by Nice architect Jean-Paul Gomis, the hotel has regained its original volumes, its majestic glass roof, and a rooftop transformed into a panoramic restaurant overlooking the Baie des Anges. inside, soft natural tones, green mohair, blond travertine, discreet marine details and photos of a mythical Riviera. The rooms and suites, designed by a Madrid studio, combine marble, dark wood, brass and contemporary comfort. Aix-en-Provence skincare products, Monegasque organic coffee: local, precise luxury without ostentation.

Price: €451 per night
Where ? 12 Avenue de Verdun- 06000 Nice. Tel: 04 93 16 75 75
See Gault&Millau's review of the Anantara Plaza

Les Roches Blanches in Cassis

Clinging to the white cliffs that gave their name to the place, the establishment seems suspended between sky and sea. Once a manor house, turned into a hotel in the 1920s, the address has seen Churchill and Piaf pass through its doors, but today it's the Aleppo pines, terraced terraces and Cap Canaille in the line of sight that steal the show. The garden unfolds in tiers, and the pools nestle like secrets: a black mosaic swimming corridor, a turquoise basin evoking the Caribbean. In the 45 rooms and suites, light is everywhere, even in the bathroom. Few frills: calm, taste, a few Art Deco nods, and that rare feeling of being exactly where you belong.

Price: €662 per night
Where ? 9 Av. des Calanques- 13260 Cassis. Tel: 04 42 01 09 30
See Gault&Millau's review of Les Roches Blanches

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There are villages that you can only reach by slowing down. Listed, yes, but above all, they've remained intact, clinging to the hillside, curled up in a river bend or set at the end of a path that nobody takes by chance. You often arrive at the end of the day, when the light is catching on the tiles, the shutters are slamming gently and the smell of wet wood is wafting up from the alleyways. And there, behind a wrought-iron gate or a monumental portal, is a hotel. Sometimes it's a three-bedroom attic hotel, sometimes it's a five-star hotel in a lovingly restored former maison de maître. Marble has replaced cob, swimming pools have taken the place of former orchards, but the soul has remained. You'll sleep in the folds of the landscape, between centuries-old stone and precise service, in a rare luxury that doesn't seek to outshine the place. Les Bories & Spa in Gordes Here, ancient bories still dot the fields, as if the shepherds had just left. Some have been discreetly integrated into Les Bories & Spa, without breaking the line of the dry stonework. The farmhouse extends over eight hectares of olive and cypress trees, and under the roof tiles are 34 light-filled rooms, some of them in an old farmhouse. Luxury is discreet: plant-covered terraces, an enveloping spa and a glazed pool overlooking the Luberon. A peaceful address, just a few bends from the ochre silhouettes of Gordes and Roussillon. Price: €342 per night Where? 9 Route de Senanque, 84220 Gordes. Tel. 04 90 72 00 51See Gault&Millau's review of Les Bories & Spa Le Bailliage in Salers at the entrance to Salers, a listed village with gray lava houses and sculpted balconies, Le Bailliage has been perpetuating a sincere art of living for three generations. Since 2020, Antoine and Marion Bancarel, heirs to the house, have taken over the reins with discreet elegance. In this 23-room hotel, everything has been thoughtfully redesigned: intimate spa, homemade cuisine, no-frills welcome. The meat comes from the family's own farm, the rooms overlook the old gardens, and the air, at an altitude of a thousand metres, has that taste of meadows that you never forget. A warm and welcoming address, in the image of the village. Price: €124 per night 31 Rue Notre Dame, 15140 Salers. Tel : 04 71 40 71 95See Gault&Millau's review of Les Baillages La Capitelle in Mirmande Behind the light-colored walls of a house once inhabited by painter André Lhote, La Capitelle watches over the rooftops of this Drôme village with its Provencal palette. Eight sober, peaceful rooms, with views of the Ardèche mountains or the Rhône valley, extend the discreet charm of the sloping streets. Just eleven simple, bright rooms, a restaurant with slates that change according to the season, and the quiet attention of Ludivine and Sylvain Croce, who run the house with constancy. Price: €102 per night 1 rue du Boulanger- 26270, Mirmande. Tel : 04 75 63 02 72See Gault&Millau's review of La Capitelle Coquillade Provence Resort & Spa in Bonnieux Set in the heart of a 30-hectare vineyard, this hamlet unfurls its 63 rooms and suites, with their sober, mineral lines, over the landscapes of the Luberon. The Tata Harper spa, 2,000 m² of calm and light, offers lavender and grape treatments in a plant-based atmosphere. In the kitchen, Pierre Marty, a Ducasse disciple with Monaco and Macao experience, orchestrates the Avelan gastronomic table: five-course menu, raw-marinated sea bream from Grau du Roi, poultry Pithiviers... Patisserie by Aurélien Trousse, medallist at the French Dessert Championships. Here, Provence is expressed with precision, right down to the plate. Price: €497 per night Route du Perrotet, 84400 Gargas. Tel. : 04 90 74 71 71 See Gault&Millau's review of Coquillade Provence Resort & Spa Château de Troplong Mondot in Saint-Émilion Restored in 2019, Troplong Mondot cultivates the art of entertaining as an extension of the land. The main building, with its sober, warm lines, houses a communal lounge where the fire crackles on winter evenings. Here you can read, chat or simply watch the day fall over the rows of vines. In summer, the private terrace of each house opens onto the paths lined with low walls, typical of the local landscape. The rooms, divided between several of the estate's buildings, combine blond wood, deep fabrics and unobstructed views as far as the Saint-Émilion bell tower. In the morning, chef David Charrier serves a generous breakfast of seasonal fruit, homemade jams and warm pastries. Nothing ostentatious, but attention to every gesture, in a place that invites you to retreat. Price: €250 per night Château Troplong, Mondot - 33330 Saint-Laurent-des-Combes. Tel : 05 57 55 32 05See Gault&Millau's review of Château de Troplong Mondot Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey in Sauternes Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey watches over the vines like a peaceful old soul. The estate, a famous premier grand cru classé, is now home to a hotel signed Lalique, thirteen rooms and suites subtly laid out in a 17thᵉ century château. Walls in reds and pinks evoking wine, antique beams and chiseled crystal faucets: every detail is a delicate nuance. Settle into the small lounge to enjoy a drink before joining, under the luminous glass roof, chef Jérôme Schilling's gastronomic table. A rare place of discreet elegance. Price: €504 per night 1707 Route des Gourgues, Lieu-dit Peyraguey- 33210 Bommes. Tel : 05 24 22 80 11See Gault&Millau's review of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey Les Sources de Cheverny in Cheverny Les Sources de Cheverny is a gentle hamlet designed for sharing, in the wine-growing lands of the Loire Valley. at reception, the lacquered green box recalls the forest rangers' kiosks. The 49 rooms and suites, designed by Alice Tourbier and studio be-pôles, feature antiques, a bohemian atmosphere and lush natural views. The Caudalie spa, with its sober lines and recycled materials, has slipped into the old building, like a contemporary echo of the neighboring château's beams. On the terrace, sip a wine from the estate, the prelude to a Michelin-starred dinner in the Favori dining room. An elegant address, anchored in this Sologne village with its rich Loire heritage. Price: €279 per night 23 route de Fougère- 41700 Cheverny. Tel : 02 54 44 20 20See Gault&Millau's review of Les Sources de Cheverny Royal Champagne Hôtel & Spa in Champillon Behind the walls of a former coaching inn lies another world: a vast 10,000 m² contemporary hotel, designed by architect Giovanni Pace, where champagne flows more often than coffee. The 49 rooms, suspended between vineyards and classified forest, offer the luxury of not rushing into anything. at the table, Christophe Raoux, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, orchestrates gourmet cuisine served on a terrace bordered by rose bushes and a very real kitchen garden. The spa, immense and hushed, is as much for guests as for curious neighbors. And if you listen carefully, you can still hear Dom Pérignon whispering from the bell tower of Hautvillers. Price: €1,041 per night 9 rue de la République- 51160 Champillon. Tel : 03 26 52 87 11See Gault&Millau's review of Royal Champagne Hôtel & Spa

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