Bright, decadent and utterly beautiful, Villa Gallici brings more than a touch of Italy to the hills above old Aix! An 18th-century house turned hotel, there's toile de Jouy on the walls, damask at the windows, stripes, chintz, gilding, canopied beds and more shades of crimson than you ever thought possible. But it's outdoors that the mood really turns Italian with stepped terraces, bay trees in enormous pots and bold red parasols around a heated pool. But despite the bold decor, the atmosphere is quiet, hushed and suits those looking for somewhere to escape the world for a few days... with two excellent restaurants to help pass the time, of course.
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Centuries-old cypress trees line the driveway in a perfectly Italian welcome, the landscape behind stepping down past jasmine and plenty of potted pink flowers. Inside, expect oodles of velvet, trompe-l'œil, hand-painted chinoiserie, Louis XV furniture and fresh flowers on just about every surface. Outside, red parasols ring the pool and La Taula Gallici serves dinner under the trees in summer. Downstairs there's a sauna, a jacuzzi and a cryotherapy chamber, which is one way to beat the heat!
In a riot of lavish fabrics and sumptuous furniture, the rooms are as fabulous as the rest of the hotel. Superior are the smallest and can feel tight, but the Elegance and Deluxe categories have much more space and one even has a slipper bath in the middle of the floor. Junior and Terrace suites are entirely damask and velvet, and our favourite has a private terrace overlooking the pool. Two garden villas stand apart from the house, one with a plunge pool, the other a private jacuzzi.
Just downhill is the Place Richelme, where a food market has run every morning for centuries and still ranks among the best in Provence. After browsing the wares, wander into the Quartier Mazarin and ogle at the mansions the local parliamentarians built for themselves. The Musée Granet and its collection of Cézannes is also worth a visit, as are the exhibitions at the Hôtel de Caumont, just around the corner. In July, the Aix opera festival kicks off and fills the old town with both music and people.
From spring, dinner is served in a candlelit courtyard styled like a Florentine palazzo and is the perfect end to a day.
Ask the sommelier to open the wine cellar and book an hour of wine tasting amid the old bottles.
The walk into Aix is short, but downhill.... which means the walk home is not.
Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch
Villa Gallici can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made France trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended France trips featuring Villa Gallici or get advice and suggestions from one of our France specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at Villa Gallici start from around $310, or US$310, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
An aromatic wonderland where lavender whispers sweet nothings to the olive groves, and the light seems to dance with an artist's touch.
