Sometimes the most pleasant experiences are those which happen upon you by surprise, when expectations are particularly low. One such happy accident was a stay at Villa Montesquieu in the sleepy town of Laudun-l’Ardoise, l’Occitanie in the south-west of France.
Having arrived at our rented villa to find that it wasn’t as described in the pictures, my party and I frantically looked for an alternative place to stay for the night. l’Occitanie is a beautiful part of France with all the scenery and charm of nearby Provence, but without the heavy tourist traffic. This does mean, however, less readily available accommodation. Having scoured every popular hotel website, I stumbled upon the villa’s website – modest, like the venue itself.
The villa gave an air of Hotel California mystery on arrival as it became clear that we were the only guests staying in the height of summer (see, you’d never get that on the Côte d’Azur!). The building, a renovated 19th century provincial country house, sits within perfectly curated gardens of water features and trees. Our welcome was friendly and down-to-earth – laid back luxury.
The rooms are impressively large, decorated in light colours and most with a French door leading out to a balcony space overlooking the garden. There’s not a lot by way of amenities, but if you’re looking for a quiet place to read your book in the sun then you’re spoiled for choice; the property is teeming with outdoor sitting areas – so much so that you could easily hide away for a whole day without seeing another human. This is seclusion at its best.
There’s a generous pool area, surrounded by seating if you do fancy some human interaction. And the hotel is more known for its restaurant, which, in stark contrast to the relaxed surroundings, is opulent in its combination of flavours and ingredients. The whole experience feels very… French.
Laudun-l’Ardoise in August is not for the adrenalin junkie or the hungry. Despite being the moment when most tourists visit, August is also holiday season for the locals and you’ll be lucky to find even a bakery open for a breakfast croissant.
Villa Montesquieu is for those seeking quiet, seclusion and a place to be undisturbed while admiring the scenery. There won’t be wild parties or days filled with excursions or even visits to different restaurants. But fortunately you won’t want to leave the villa anyway.
Book now at https://www.villamontesquieu-laudun.com/
wow!! 1Domaine de Métifiot, Provence
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thewanderluxe.co.uk 
Lovely review both hotels sound stylish and welcoming, offering a great base to explore different sides of Brussels.