La Coquillade

The rows of blue lavender, the subtle nuances of green in forests and vineyards,

the ochre colours of the quarries, and the austere white of the Luberon Mountains towered by Mont Ventoux that due to the white limestone on its barren peak seems to be snow-capped all year round: In the heart of Provence, where breathtaking nature enters a perfect match with history and culture in the trapeze triangle of Avignon, Apt, Arles and Aix-en-Provence and where excellent golf and culinary delicacies are associated with the area, La Coquillade, a small fine first-class luxury hotel located on historical grounds in the middle of vineyards in Gargas by Bonnieux opened its doors in September 2008.

In the middle of Luberon, a landscape with ravines, forests, and mountains located east of Magistrale Languedocienne, you find the real Provence full of unspoilt nature. This is the Provence of Cezanne, Pagnol, Giono and Fernandel – the region of bright light and sunshine, and the famous Mistral wind. This is where Provence seems to become a distilled essence – a perfect essence of nature, history, culture, wine, culinary delicacies, hospitality as well as historical cities – Avignon was once (in the 13th Century) Papal seat – featuring incredible art and cultural treasures.

Around Apt, another corner of the Provence-trapeze, you find the Borie Villages, the Lavender Museum of Coustellet, the famous cedar forest of Bonnieux and the vineyards in Gargas, where first-class hotel La Coquillade has been located. After thorough renovations it rose like a phoenix from the historical buildings and has become the centre of attraction for quality-loving travellers.

First-class hotel La Coquillade opened in 2008, but dates back to the 11th Century as the Domaine de la Coquillade, and features 6 buildings with 28 guest rooms including 9 Junior Suites and 15 Suites. Mr and Mrs Wunderli from Switzerland have not only succeeded in perfectly restoring the old buildings and maintaining the historical ambience, but have also added new life and state-of-the-art technology.

Guest rooms and suites are decorated and equipped with the very best of French and Italian noble furniture and fabric design and – as a bow to nature – an innovative heating and air-condition solution was found for the historical rooms: A geothermal heat pump system controls heating and air-conditioning – without any CO2-emission – using 15% less energy than a conventional heating system. The swimming pool (10x20 m) is heated by solar energy, and the water is used three times for cooling and heating before it finally waters the garden or fills the firewater reserve for the forests.

Located in the hills of Gargas and Bonnieux, La Coquillade offers individual travellers extraordinary views of the Luberon, Mont Ventoux, and the hotel owned vineyards – a veritable prime example of an all encompassing concept of architectonic restoration of a historical Domaine in terms of ecology, safety, and recycling. This combination of a breathtaking location, exceptional hotel facilities, restaurants, vineyards, and natural beauty offers outstanding and extremely attractive holiday opportunities – also in connection with other leisure activities and golf – leaving nothing more to be desired.

La Coquillade is not merely growing wine; it features an exceptional eco-tourism model, where residents and visitors may closely experience how wine ripens, and how excellent wines are produced. The hotel is committed to attentive service, and the Sommelier and Maitre, 30 year old Christophe Renau, having learned from „old hands“ such as the Haeberling brothers and Jean-Luc Rabenel, invites you to enjoy the „Menu de Dégustation“ – delicate haute cuisine with excellent wines of the region – promising great pleasure.

Surrounded by vineyards and a wooded park, La Coquillade offers tennis, relaxation at the pool, mountain bike trails in the region, or enjoyment in the beautiful garden. Or – you may prefer a round of golf! And located in the middle of Provence, in Little and Big Luberon, you find some very good and some excellent golf courses within a range of 45 minutes by car from La Coquillade: Golf de Servanes (18 holes) in Mouries. Two all year open courses near Avignon, Golf de Chateaublanc in Morieres (18 holes, 6033 m, par 72, plus 9 executive-holes) and Golf du Grand Avignon in Vedene (18 holes, 6037 m, par 72). Only about 30 minutes by car from La Coqillade lies the first masterpiece (1992) by Seve Ballesteros in Mallemorte, Golf Course de Pont Royal (18 holes, 6000 m, par 72). The 18 holes of Golf du Luberon await you in Pierrerevert (5750 m, par 72). The Provence Country Club in Saumane de Vaucluse (18 holes, 6099 m, par 72) closes the golf circle around first-class hotel La Coquillade that is belong to the GOLF-PASS Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur and so provide reduced green fees and golf packages.

Time has come to discover French Provence, the Luberon, La Coquillade and golf while enjoying the smell of lavender and thyme and tasting excellent wines.

Bienvenue – we look forward to welcoming you already this autumn for the grape harvest!