Le Mas de Chabran is unlike anywhere else you’ll probably ever stay – it certainly was for me. It’s not a hotel per se, but a rentable serviced villa with a level of privacy, comfort and quality that is very hard to come by, especially if it’s to be matched with picture-perfect design in every corner like this place.
Taken over from a former olive oil mill turned bourgeois family home which was falling into disrepair, Le Mas de Chabran is the baby of architect Alain Meylan and interior designer Liliana Atilova, who transformed it into an eight-bedroom luxury property. It’s part of a growing collection of five, soon to be seven, villas in the area, each thoughtfully restored to preserve original features and decked out with exquisite antique furniture, tasteful artworks and top-notch facilities.
What they’ve created is almost dreamlike, but it’s quite hard to imagine until you’re here. Large windows view out onto rolling fields where horses graze lazily with their foals. Super-sweet strawberries grow in the kitchen garden and are picked fresh, laid delicately onto homemade pistachio tarts. Fresh flowers cover a wall at the entrance, filling the hallway with gently floral aromas. Le Mas de Chabran will exceed the most idyllic, wild, fairytale vision of the south of France you’ve ever imagined – like a living, breathing Pinterest board.
Why stay at Le Mas de Chabran?
Stay here for a genuinely special experience. The property is can host just 16 people in total, with five star hotel-standard services included in the weekly rate, and would be a great option if you’re looking for somewhere to hire out for large gatherings, friend reunions or romantic escapes. You’ll receive warm hospitality from the get-go – like you’re stepping foot in a family home – and hyper-personalised attention to detail throughout.
The house itself, all limestone on the outside and natural clays and materials on the inside, is nothing short of extraordinary. Before it became a home and a château-style wing was added, it was an oil mill, and it leans into this history: with a handful of century-old olive trees dotting the grounds and decorative mill stones taking pride of place beside the heated salt-water swimming pool. You can even still find the large, heavy olive-pressing machinery in one of the downstairs lounges – an industrially elegant reminder of the area’s heritage.
Outside, majestic trees branch out over the Renaissance-style gardens, creating a soft dappled shade over the lawn where robot lawnmowers dutifully trim the grass. Here, you can request a private yoga class or a horseriding lesson for the kids, and towards the bottom of the garden, there’s a vegetable patch and an original, beautifully-restored chapel with 17th century features and rainbow-tinged stained glass.
What are the rooms like at Le Mas de Chabran?
Each and every room is unique. It highlights the original features of the building – such as large bay windows gazing out over the water fountain – and the fireplace, which has been thoughtfully preserved.
But it’s the modern touches that will really bring your stay to life. Around the back of my room there was a sleek open wardrobe and a bathroom with a walk-in shower, twin sinks and Diptyque toiletries. The bed was large and comfy, with tasteful accent cushions nodding to the black and gold artworks on the stone-painted walls. It also came with a television, a coffee machine, mini bar and coffee table books. All have en suites, though some rooms are in the newer wing of the building and are larger than others, so bear that in mind when booking.
What are the best things to eat at Le Mas de Chabran?
Breakfast is included and it is pretty damn excellent. It’s laid-back and delicious: a continental spread of pastries from local artisanal bakeries, fresh berries, cheese, meats and bread, all laid out for you under the jasmine and wisteria pergola each morning. Everything is sourced from nearby where possible. Eggs – laid by the chickens from the garden, of course – are also available on request.
There’s no restaurant on-site here – but you can ask for your own private chef add-on service, either for certain meals or the whole experience. This was a highlight of our time, and gave us the opportunity to sample regional dishes such as soup au pistou and fresh artichokes with lardons. If you want, you can cater yourself, and make use of the spectacularly equipped kitchen – or else wander into one of the local towns and work your way around the restaurant offerings (L'Oustau de Baumanière, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant, is a short drive away).
What is the service like at Le Mas de Chabran?
The service is five-star, but is also designed for you to hardly know it is there. A gardener, pool boy and villa manager and concierge are included in the rate, daily housekeeping is readily available, and a concierge is readily available to assist in booking transport and making local recommendations – but somehow, it never feels in-your-face.
What are the facilities like at Le Mas de Chabran?
The facilities are truly top-quality. Art lovers will appreciate the eclectic collection of pieces throughout the estate, some made by the owner. There’s a spacious, tastefully designed games room with table football and chess, a large lounge with a huge TV, a gym, spa treatment room and sauna in the restored wooden-beamed attic space, an outdoors swimming pool and even a boutique shop featuring unique items like candles made by local artisans.
What is the area like around Le Mas de Chabran?
A 50-minute drive from Marseille Airport takes you through flat, open fields (look out for native white horses), setting the scene for the wild, rugged beauty of this corner of southern France. Le Mas de Chabran itself is just a ten-minute walk from the picturesque village of Maussane-les-Alpilles, where you can wander around a weekend flea market or drink a glass of vino outside one of the insanely cute wine bars.
As much as the charm of property will tempt you to slow down and let each day unfold naturally, if you’re looking for culture and activities, you’re not going to get bored in the surrounding area. Head down to the coast and book a horseback ride along windswept coastal trails, sample local vintages at nearby vineyards, or (if it’s a rainy day) visit the extraordinary Carrières de Lumières, where masterpieces by French painters are projected onto towering limestone walls.
Why you should book a stay at Le Mas de Chabran
Book a stay here if you want to experience Provence at its finest and most luxurious. It will come with the expected pricetag, but if you want a place which is beautiful and feels properly private, then this goes above and beyond anything else on the market. If you’re looking for somewhere smaller, you can also check out one of their other properties: each retains the same standard of design and bespoke service.
DETAILS
Address: D17C, Chem. du Mas de Chabran, 13520 Maussane-les-Alpilles, France
Price per night: Starting at around €4,500 per night
Closest transport: Avignon TGV is a 40-minute drive away