As you can imagine by the altitude of our location, Christmas at La Verrière is beautifully snowy, cosy and magical. It’s the season for truffle hunting and skiing but there are also fascinating and absolutely adorable Christmas traditions in Provence that we recommend looking out for. The Christmas period in this region stretches from 4th December to 2nd February which helps to make a stay in Provence in the winter so special. Here are some Christmas highlights…
With years of experience as a Director of Programmes in the world of Think Tanks, Nicole Rolet really is the ‘host with the most’ and is an event planning expert. Along with her incredible hospitality team at La Verriere, she has created bespoke events for government ministers, top CEOs and even royalty. The people at La Verriere certainly know a thing or two about putting on corporate getaways, weddings, conferences and meetings. Here are just a few of the ways in which hospitality at La Verriere goes beyond the normal boundaries.
Imagining a medieval priory as being somewhat basic in what it is has to offer is entirely understandable. But La Verriere is far from basic. Tucked away on the edge of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a large part of the charm of this whole house hire is its idyllic seclusion. But rather than being a slightly provincial or ‘shabby chic’ place to stay, La Verriere oozes with eco-luxury accommodation and provides guests with a ‘medieval meets modern’ taste of Provence - from the beautiful setting, to the gastronomic organic and locally sourced food, to the biodynamic wines produced from the estate’s ancient vineyards.
Sustainability is sometimes associated with living simply and austerely. This is not the case at La Verrière.
Our goal from the start has been to preserve the integrity and history of the abandoned medieval estate and its prehistoric terroir, while enhancing its exceptional character with sustainable, organic and biodynamic practices - in the priory, in the vineyard and in the winery. Since we began renovating the property in the 1990s, we have worked hard to restore and protect the delicate ecosystem that existed long before the Templars farmed the land in the 9th century. We are located high up in a mountain saddle within the heart of the Mt Ventoux UNESCO Biosphere Reserve completely isolated, with no neighbours or contaminants, creating a perfect laboratory for pioneering practices that forge new thinking about caring for our surrounding nature, our planet and our health.
That makes sites with this designation very special indeed. Whether they are areas of amazing natural beauty or profound cultural significance, these sites are some of the most visited in the world and include Machu Picchu, the Pyramids of Giza, Angkor Wat, the Great Wall of China, the Roman Colosseum, the Acropolis of Athens and Stonehenge. So being able to have the exclusive use of La Verrière, a 9th-century medieval priory situated in the heart of a UNESCO world heritage site, is a unique and wonderful experience.
Discerning travellers are increasingly moving away from traditional 5* hotel accommodation in favour of hiring extremely high-end houses for their trips. Travel giant AirBnB responded to this change in trends by launching a service called AirBnB Luxe, extending their traditional ‘low cost’ accommodation by offering exceptional, luxury, properties to hire. AirBnB co-founder, Brian Chesky explained this decision: “Today’s luxury traveller is craving more than just high-end accommodations; they seek transformation and experiences that leave them feeling more connected to each other and to their destination.” Here are just some of the reasons people are choosing ‘whole house hire’.
