Personalized Well-Being in Provence

The Spa Coquillade in France’s Luberon Valley offers a quintessentially French escape that can be as relaxed or active as desired.

by Deborah Frank

An ornate courtyard with a central fountain and a stained-glass ceiling. The fountain has multiple tiers and a cascading water feature. The stained-glass ceiling is colorful and geometric.

The roots of Provençal heritage run deep at Coquillade Provence (from $400; coquillade.fr), a restored 11th-century hamlet with 62 rooms and suites, a six-bedroom villa, and five brand-new spa pool suites, each with private access to the spa, a private pool, and lush gardens overlooking the vineyards and colorful landscapes of the Luberon Valley and Mont Ventoux. “The Provençal village,” says General Manager Jany-Michel Fourré, “has been kept in the traditional style, whereas the spa is contemporary and the new suites are a mix of contemporary styling with antique furniture found at the local market fairs. The villa is a traditional Provençal farm through and through; its view of the lavender fields, and the red poppy fields that bloom in May and June, is magnificent!”

It was the Swiss founder’s vision when he bought the former peasant village to reflect in the restoration its history and allure, transforming it into the ultimate Provençal retreat. And he succeeded. Accommodations are spread across a collection of bastides, or country houses, on a 100-acre estate studded with historical vineyards, cypress tree alleys, and 300-year-old olive groves. “We make our own wine, olive oil, and honey,” says Fourré. Indeed, the cuisine at Coquillade is expertly paired with full-bodied vintages from the estate’s acclaimed Aureto winery. Aureto is also the only winery in the region to offer wine tastings and tours in the nearby ancient Bruoux Mines.

An indoor Moroccan-style swimming pool with arched entryways and white columns. In the center of the pool is a four-poster bed. The pool deck is tiled and there are two chaise lounges visible.

The property’s vineyards contribute to the new wellness program launched this year that centers around terroir-driven spa treatments with a focus on hyper-local ingredients. Vinotherapy with grape-based oils and scrubs are part of the spa menu that also features botanical and medicinal plants in collaboration with a local herbalist. In addition to the existing hiking and cycling programs, new retreats have been developed with the on-site naturopath, and unique fitness classes, such as Aquafit, join the excellent Pilates and yoga sessions available.

In the cycling mecca that is the French countryside, Coquillade’s on-site BMC Cycling Center attracts Tour de France aficionados and hobby cyclists alike with its unrivaled selection of BMC bikes built in Switzerland. Guided bike tours are available, from a cardio fitness workout scaling the legendary Mont Ventoux to peacefully pedaling e-bikes through hilltop villages while discovering the art of living locally.

The award-winning Spa Coquillade is the largest spa in the region, spanning 21,527 square feet with 11 treatment rooms, an ice fountain, sauna, hammam, cold room, Kneipp treatments, indoor pool, outdoor hot tubs, and cabana lounges with vineyard views. Its signature scalp massage and face-to-foot reflexology with lomilomi-type ceramics are not to be missed. For antiaging facials, Swiss skincare brand Nescens’ sublimator treatment is both relaxing and plumping. French women are renowned for their all-natural beauty and it’s easy to discover their secrets here.