La Bonne Étape
Classic Provençal family auberge elevated to Relais & Châteaux level. Think warm stone walls, antique furniture, red shutters, ivy-covered facades, and a dining room that takes itself seriously without losing the conviviality of the South of France.
Book the Michelin-starred restaurant well in advance, especially for weekends — it closes Monday and Tuesday (except by advance reservation), so arriving mid-week to mid-week works best
Why It Matters
Michelin-starred restaurant continuously since 1964. Relais & Châteaux member since 1971. The same Gleize family has owned and operated the property across multiple generations — Jany Gleize now works alongside his daughter Jane as head chef, continuing a culinary tradition that includes a famous lavender honey ice cream served in its own beehive. The organic vegetable garden is central to everything on the plate.
A 4-star Relais & Châteaux property in a beautifully preserved 18th-century post house on the Route Napoléon, midway between the Alps and the Côte d'Azur. The Gleize family has run this place for four — now five — generations, and the whole operation revolves around food: a Michelin-starred restaurant, a relaxed bistro, an organic kitchen garden, and cooking classes with the chef himself. The 18 rooms and suites are traditional in feel, with antique furniture and the kind of calm that comes from a genuinely family-run house rather than a branded hotel.
Where You'll Stay
5 room types available
Classic Room
Around 25 m² with a distinctive atmosphere that mixes antique and contemporary touches. These are the most intimate rooms in the house. Bathroom with bath and/or shower.
25 sqm
Deluxe Room
Around 25 m² with a private terrace on the ground floor or a balcony on the top floor — both overlooking the garden or pool. Available with king-size bed or twin beds. The outdoor space is the key upgrade here.
King or Twin · 25 sqm
Junior Suite
Around 35 m² with a proper lounge area separate from the bedroom. Views of the garden or pool and the surrounding hills. Good choice if you want genuine space to spread out rather than just a slightly larger double.
King or Twin · 35 sqmJunior Suite Deluxe
Around 35 m² with a living room and bedroom. Comes with a terrace or balcony depending on the floor, garden views, and the most generous layout the hotel offers. The pool-facing version is the best room in the house.
Double or Twin · 35 sqmSuperior Room
Around 25 m², practically all with views of the garden or surrounding hills. Bathroom with bath and/or shower. A solid mid-range option with good natural light.
25 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
The hotel can arrange canoeing and hiking excursions in the surrounding area. The Durance River and nearby gorges offer good options.
Bicycle hire available. The hotel sits in good cycling terrain in the Durance Valley with routes into the surrounding hills and villages.
On-site tennis court available for guests. Fee applies.
Hands-on cooking lessons with Jany Gleize, learning to cook Provençal cuisine using garden produce and regional ingredients. Classes are flexible in structure and bookable via the hotel's website. A genuinely unusual access to a chef of this calibre.
The Valensole lavender plateau is within easy driving distance. The hotel can advise on the best routes and GPS coordinates for peak bloom season (late June to early August).
Walk through the hotel's working organic vegetable garden — the same one that supplies both on-site restaurants. A mix of heritage vegetable varieties, aromatic herbs, wildflower areas, and fruit. Staff can guide or you can explore independently.
Explore the roads of Haute-Provence in the hotel's charming vintage 2CV named 'Jade'. A quirky, low-key way to see lavender fields and local villages without the formality of a guided tour.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
3 meeting rooms with a maximum capacity of 80 people. Suitable for private dinners, seminars, and small corporate events.
Qualified babysitting service can be arranged on request (fee applies).
In-house bar with a large selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Elegant setting — a nice pre-dinner spot before the Michelin-starred restaurant.
Landscaped garden with a mix of flowers, fruit trees, and a formal vegetable garden. The terrace is available for outdoor dining and relaxing.
Large outdoor pool open from spring to autumn. Pool-facing junior suite terraces are the prime spots to enjoy it. Guests rate it highly — wide and deep enough for serious swimming.
Dogs and cats accepted in guestrooms (not in Superior rooms or around the pool). Supplement of €20 per day. Must declare at booking.
Complimentary on-site parking in a garage. Valet parking also available. Handicapped parking provided.
Electric vehicle charging available on-site at €20 per charge; €7 for hybrid vehicles.
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Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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