After -my now husband- proposed in the lavender fields at Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque,
we drove through the hills of Provence in golden light.
It was a warm July evening.
Lavender still on my hands.
He smiled, I smiled, and everything felt lighter.
And then… we arrived at Airelles Gordes.
Perched high above the valley.
Stone walls glowing in the evening sun.
The kind of place that feels too beautiful to be real.
Oh, where do I even begin? ✨
Our stay felt like something out of a novel….



THE ARRIVAL
The moment we stepped inside, it felt different.
Warm smiles.
Soft voices.
The kind of welcome that makes you exhale.
Everyone greeted us by name.
Such a small gesture, but it made us feel like treasured guests.
In our room, on top of an antique writing desk, a handwritten note.
Ladurée macarons.
Sun hats and a beach bag.
And two personalised luggage tags with our initials.
Little details that made us feel seen, spoiled, and loved.
We opened the windows and just stood there.
The view over the valley was breathtaking.
I remember thinking…
how can something feel this perfect and this real at the same time?




DINNER AT LA TABLE DE LA BASTIDE
That evening, we celebrated under the olive trees.
Candlelight flickering.
The air smelled of thyme and warm stone.
Pure Provence.
BREAKFAST ON THE TERRACE
Morning light spilling over the valley.
The sound of church bells somewhere in the distance.
Breakfast was served on the terrace.
Fresh croissants, local honey, creamy omelette, and the sweetest berries.
Orange juice that actually tasted like sunshine.
I remember sitting there, holding my fiancé, looking at my engagement ring, the view…
and thinking how unreal everything felt.
Like… how lucky am I?! Can someone please pinch me?!!!



THE POOL
The pool at Airelles Gordes feels like it’s floating above Provence.
Cypress trees, olive groves, and terracotta rooftops all around.
The water so clear it sparkles like glass.
We spent the afternoon between swims and shade,
reading, dreaming, and just being.
(and of course I was also wandering around with my camera capturing all the beauty around me, hehe)
Quiet luxury at its finest.
Simple, sunlit, unforgettable. ☀️



WHAT THIS STAY MEANT TO ME
Airelles Gordes wasn’t just where we stayed after the proposal.
It became part of the memory itself.
A beginning.
The kind of place that reminds you how beautiful life can be
when you slow down and feel it all.
If you ever find yourself in Provence,
go there.
Walk the lavender fields.
Dine under the olive trees.
Wake up to that golden valley light.
And maybe,
you’ll fall in love all over again too. 🤍
Written by Fenja, a Switzerland-based luxury hotel and travel photographer featured by Michelin Guide, as well as Condé Nast, Falstaff, and Travel + Leisure.
Keywords
Airelles Gordes La Bastide , Airelles Gordes review, luxury hotel Provence, best hotels in Provence, romantic getaway France, La Table de la Bastide, lavender fields Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque, luxury travel France, Gordes hotel, honeymoon in Provence
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