The Hotel des Hospitaliers is tucked away among the crumbling ruins of an historic hilltop hamlet, once a stronghold for the Knights Hospitaliers of St John of Jerusalem. The four separate buildings are in perfect harmony with the site’s rich heritage, combining to create a unique, sophisticated setting.
The salon, for example, has a massive stone fireplace and a magnificent oak ceiling. But the real charmers are the terraces: the shady roof terrace, for example, is a magical venue for alfresco dining and the patio beside the swimming pool has panoramic views over the verdant Jabron valley. Favourites among the traditionally-styled accommodations are rooms 5 and 6 (with renovated bathrooms) and 4 (with a French window to a terrace that leads down to the pool).
Service at this Firendly Logis usually comes with a smile. On the last of the season, the little pot of fresh flowers on each table of the half-empty restaurant spoke volumes about an adamant refusal to cut corners. Expect first-rate cuisine that enhances the flavour of the freshest ingredients.
If you yearn for the purest air, the heady scent of lavender and the warmth of genuine French hospitality, then Drôme is your department and Hotel les Hosptaliers is your destination. What’s more, this most romantic of hideaways is so easily accessible. Leave London at breakfast time and Eurostar/TGV gets you to Valence by mid-afternoon.