Hotel

Lou Calen

Cotignac, Provence, France

A unique hotel with an exciting past in the middle of nature and at the same time embedded in a lively Provençal village. The ideal place to recharge your batteries and enjoy a piece of real Provence.

The Lou Calen was founded in the 1970s and has hosted stars such as Brigitte Bardot and the band The Cure. The hotel then reopened in 2021 after the current Canadian owner fell in love with the village. He decided to buy the hotel, which was empty at the time, in order to bring life and culture back to the picturesque village of 2,000 people. Next to the hotel there is an art center, a brewery and soon a library and event rooms.

The 34 rooms and suites of different sizes are spread across the site, which directly borders the village of Cotignac. The huge, blooming garden is beautifully landscaped. Some of the rooms have a view of the garden or you can see the famous Cotignac rock massif. All rooms are furnished differently in a style between a Provençal look and a contemporary interior - spacious and bright. Historical stone walls, parquet floors and tiles have been partially preserved.

In the restaurant, chef Benoit Witz cooks regional delicacies at star level. The menu changes daily and consists of three or four courses. There is a wine bar on the roof terrace in summer with a selection of the region's best wines. La Tuf is a microbrewery that serves delicious hop juice and offers brewery tours all year round. If the village wasn't so charming, you wouldn't actually have to leave the area. It is a place to unwind and relax in a way that is close to nature and chic at the same time.


Rooms + Rates

per night
Doppelzimmerfrom180 €
Suitefrom360 €

Sustainable

ArchitectureTypical Provençal buildings, some of which are over 300 years old, have been extensively restored. The rooms are located in various buildings spread across the three-hectare complex. The restaurant is housed in an old bastide (large country house) and much of the furniture is second-hand.

FoodThe restaurant has been awarded the Michelin green star, which highlights food sustainability measures. The organic garden supplies the restaurant and a majority of the menus are created using organic ingredients. Vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free dishes are also available upon request.

Above all, locals are employed in order to create jobs locally and create incentives for new families to settle. Employees receive a 25 percent discount on all hotel features and services.

EnvironmentA lot is being done here to keep the environmental impact of hotel operations as low as possible. There are solar panels for electricity, a geothermal system for hot water, consistent waste separation and plastic-free rooms. The vegetable garden provides the restaurant with fresh ingredients and at the end the leftovers are composted. The local animals live a good life. Rainwater recovery provides garden irrigation and there are electric bicycles and charging stations for electric cars on site. To further promote the ecological movement in Provence, the hotel has joined the "Convention of Pro-Climate Business" and is continuously committed to a sustainable economic model that respects all living beings.

Well-BeingLarge wellness offer with Ayurvedic massages, Kobido massages or foot massages. A yoga retreat takes place twice a year.


Characteristics

  • Spacious eco-hotel on a three-hectare estate
  • Located in one of the most beautiful villages in Provence - in Cotignac (awarded "Most Beautiful Village in France" in 2022)
  • The hotel's own restaurant has been awarded a Green Michelin star
  • A second restaurant « Le Bistrot » is open Tuesday to Friday for lunch & dinner and offer an amazing brunch with live music every Sunday.
  • Pastis bar with 60 different style of pastis is open : 7/7 11am to 11pm
  • Library with french & english books
  • Vegetables, herbs and fruit from our own organic garden
  • Cooking courses, wine and beer tastings, guided hikes and tours through the village are offered
  • Just an hour from the Côte d'Azur, the Gorges du Verdon (largest gorge in Europe) and the Lac de Sainte Croix
  • Canoeing, golfing, horseback riding, exhibitions in the art center, treasure hunts on the estate, tennis, petanque, workshops and much more possible
  • Also suitable for events and private parties

Hotel34 rooms + suitesRestaurant + cooking facilities in some roomsChildren welcomeWi-FiDisabled accessPoolPets allowed

Features

  • Hotel with 34 rooms and suites, both in the main building and scattered around the grounds
  • All accommodation on site (Mico Zone) with private terrace
  • Some accommodations with private cooking facilities (Providence, Trompine + Pigeonnier)
  • Restaurant, wine bar (on the roof terrace in summer) + brewery
  • Beautiful, heated outdoor pool with sun loungers and a jacuzzi
  • Large wellness offer with Ayurvedic massages, Kobido massages and foot massages
  • A yoga retreat takes place twice a year
  • E-bike rental on site
  • Charging stations for electric cars

Hervé Fabre, Melanie Retamar, Netnomad, Allyson,

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Rooms + Rates

per night
Doppelzimmerfrom180 €
Suitefrom360 €

Location + Directions

By car

Unfortunately, Lou Calen is not accessible by public transport. From Marseille it takes just under 1.5 hours to reach Cotignac (100 km). From Aix-en-Provence it's a good hour (76 km), from Nice it's a good 1.5 hours (124 km) and from Avignon it's just under 2 hours (161 km). The exact address can be found on the website.