Hôtel Crillon le Brave
provence, france · ★★★★
The Verdict
Worth it for your honeymoon?
Hôtel Crillon le Brave occupies an entire hilltop village in the Vaucluse — 34 rooms and suites scattered across seven restored medieval stone houses along the lanes of the eponymous village, sitting on a bluff that looks directly across to the Mont Ventoux pyramid (1,909m) ten kilometres east. The village is named for Louis-Balbe-Berton de Crillon, the 16th-century soldier of Henri IV, and the hotel was created in 1989 by Peter Chittick (a Canadian who fell in love with the village) and is now under the Five Star Alliance. Unlike the apex flagships built around an estate, Crillon le Brave is the village — guests walk between buildings through the village lanes, breakfast on a terrace overlooking the Comtat plain, swim in the cliff-side pool with the Ventoux directly opposite, and dine at La Madeleine (the property's restaurant in the former village bakery). The Mont Ventoux location is the defining geographical point: this is the most celebrated mountain in cycling history (the 'Giant of Provence', the Tour de France's most famous climb, the mountain where Tom Simpson died in 1967), and the property runs a serious cycling programme with the best French country-hotel bike fleet. For honeymoon couples who want a village-immersion property in the Vaucluse north of the Luberon — closer to the Côtes du Rhône wines, the Mont Ventoux drama, and Avignon — Crillon is the canonical choice.
- ✓Prioritise spa & wellness
- →Need a strictly adults-only resort
- →Want a direct beachfront
- →Prefer boutique & intimate properties
Score Breakdown
87/100
Book Your Stay
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At a Glance
Room Recommendation
Which room to book
The Suite Le Brave occupies the top of one of the village towers with 360-degree views — the Ventoux pyramid east, the Dentelles de Montmirail mountains north, the Luberon massif south, and the Comtat plain west. The Suite Junior Vue Ventoux is the entry-level room with the canonical Ventoux view from the bed; it's the standard honeymoon choice. The Maison du Vigneron is a standalone two-bedroom house at the edge of the village with its own walled garden, ideal for the splurge or for parents-of-honeymooners joining for a few days. Avoid the village-interior rooms without view if budget allows — the Ventoux view is the property's defining feature.
No Surprises
True cost breakdown — 7 nights for two
Based on mid-range rooms, premium-economy flights from Europe, full dining and signature experiences. Adjust for your actual travel profile.
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Room (7 nights avg $1,430/nt) | $10,010 |
| Flights (2 pax, economy/premium) | $1,800 |
| Airport transfers / seaplane | $200 |
| Dining & drinks (beyond room) | $8,008 |
| Excursions & experiences | $700 |
| Spa / signature treatments | $300 |
| Tips & service (8%) | $1,441 |
| Total estimated | $22,459 |
Day by Day
Your 7-night honeymoon itinerary
Arrival via Avignon
TGV to Avignon (Paris in 2h40) or fly to Marseille (MRS) and drive 60 minutes north. The approach to Crillon le Brave climbs from the Comtat plain through Carpentras up to the village — the first sight of Mont Ventoux on the horizon is the trip's setting moment. Welcome glass of Côtes du Ventoux on the cliff terrace, a tour of the village with the concierge, and a first dinner at the casual Bistrot in the converted village bakery.
Mont Ventoux Day
The mountain itself. Two options: serious honeymoon couples drive up to the 1,909m Bald Mountain summit via the Bédoin road (the classic Tour de France climb, 21km from the village to the summit with 1,617m of elevation); relaxed couples drive to the Chalet Reynard mid-station at 1,420m for the lunar above-treeline views without the full climb. Stop at Bedoin's lavender plains on the return (peak last week June through mid-July). Late afternoon at the Crillon pool with Ventoux at eye level. Dinner at La Madeleine.
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Day
Drive 40 minutes west to Châteauneuf-du-Pape — the canonical southern Rhône wine day, with tastings at Domaine du Pégaü and Château La Nerthe, lunch at La Mère Germaine. Return via Avignon for an early-evening walk on the Pont d'Avignon and the Palais des Papes. Late return for dinner at La Madeleine's tasting menu paired with estate Côtes du Ventoux.
Dentelles de Montmirail & Gigondas
Drive 30 minutes north to the Dentelles de Montmirail — the small but dramatic limestone-pinnacle range whose vineyards produce the Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and Beaumes-de-Venise appellations. Tastings at Domaine Santa Duc (Gigondas) and Domaine de Durban (Beaumes-de-Venise muscat). Lunch in the village of Gigondas at Les Florets terrace under the rock spires. Afternoon walk through Séguret (officially one of the 'plus beaux villages de France'). Quiet dinner back at the Bistrot.
Roman Provence — Orange & Vaison-la-Romaine
Drive 35 minutes north-west to Orange — the Théâtre Antique is one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the world (UNESCO, with the 36m-high stage wall still standing) and hosts opera festivals in July. Continue 30 minutes north to Vaison-la-Romaine for the Roman ruins of Vasio Vocontiorum, the medieval upper town, and lunch at La Fête en Provence. Return via Crestet (a hilltop village with an art centre). Spa back at Crillon, then dinner.
Gordes & Sénanque Lavender
Drive 60 minutes south into the Luberon for the canonical Provence postcard — Gordes village (the medieval hilltop fortress, the most photographed silhouette in Provence) and the Abbaye de Sénanque (the Cistercian monastery whose lavender fields fronted by the 12th-century church are peak last week June through mid-July). Lunch at Le Mas de Tourteron. Return via Roussillon for the ochre cliffs. Final dinner at La Madeleine.
Final Morning & Departure
Final breakfast on the terrace facing the Ventoux, a last swim in the pool, and the drive to Avignon TGV (35 min) or Marseille (60 min).
Honest Assessment
What to know before you book
The village is built into a steep hillside — staying at Crillon involves walking up and down lanes between your room, the restaurant, and the pool; this is part of the charm but worth flagging for guests with mobility issues.
Mont Ventoux summit is closed from late November through mid-April due to snow — winter honeymoon stays can drive only to Chalet Reynard at 1,420m.
La Madeleine's tasting menu books 3-4 weeks ahead in high season — reserve at time of room booking.
The pool is positioned beautifully on the cliff edge but is single-tier and not large — Crillon is not a pool-day resort.
The hotel closes from early January through mid-March; the strongest honeymoon windows are May-June and September-October.
Rates EUR — entry-level Ventoux-view rooms run €420-650/night in shoulder, with the Maison du Vigneron and Suite Le Brave at €1200-2200.
Pre-Arrival
Email to send the hotel
Subject: Honeymoon inquiry — Hôtel Crillon le Brave Dear Crillon le Brave team, We are planning our honeymoon [DATE]-[DATE] and are interested in a Junior Suite Vue Ventoux [or Suite Le Brave / Maison du Vigneron]. Please advise on availability, La Madeleine dinner reservations, the spa couples treatment, and any honeymoon-package inclusions including the cycling-fleet access. Thank you, [Your names]
Send 2 weeks before arrival. Fill in names, dates, and preferences. Hotels respond to personalised requests.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Good for honeymooners?
Crillon le Brave is the strongest Vaucluse village honeymoon hotel — the Mont Ventoux view, the village-immersion architecture, and the Côtes du Rhône wine country at the door. Honeymooners are a significant share of the shoulder-season guest mix.
Best time to visit?
Mid-May to mid-June and mid-September through October — warm, dry, Ventoux summit accessible, vineyards green or harvest-ready. Lavender last week of June through mid-July is photogenic but busy. Avoid August (36°C+, Vaucluse villages partly closed). The hotel closes mid-January through mid-March.
Book in advance?
34 rooms — book 4-6 months ahead for May-June and September. The Suite Le Brave and the Maison du Vigneron book 6+ months ahead for honeymoon dates.
Adults-only?
Not adults-only, but the village geography and the wine-country focus keep the guest mix overwhelmingly couples and adult cycling groups outside French school holidays.
Best room type?
Suite Le Brave (top of the village tower, 360-degree view) for the splurge; Suite Junior Vue Ventoux for the canonical standard-tier choice; Maison du Vigneron for the standalone-cottage option. Avoid no-view interior rooms.
How to get there?
Avignon TGV is 35 minutes by rental car (Paris in 2h40 by train); Marseille (MRS) is 60 minutes; Nîmes TGV is 50 minutes. The hotel arranges private transfers. A rental car is essential — the Vaucluse villages are not on public transport.
Same Vibe, Different Destination
