Hotels and Spas

In Monteux, Betty has opened a bed and breakfast that is a great place to stay. An authentic Provencal farmhouse, an extraordinary garden and a bohemian spirit distil a charm to which we put up no resistance.

By Jean-Dominique Dalloz - October 14, 2011

Through the elegant gate, you only need to take a few steps inside the garden to feel the magic take hold. Water from a fountain trickles over old watering cans, the old farmhouse’s covered verandah, an abundant garden… And Betty welcomes us, as if we were members of the family returning to Provence from distant travels. Seated around the table covered with a lovely, simple linen tablecloth, we savor the tea perfumed with fresh mint from the garden, and thoroughly enjoy the cakes Betty has just served. At the end

of the verandah, a hopscotch made outof stones leads down to the pool, where we’ll most probably go later for a dip. For now, we let ourselves be overcome with the garden’s peaceful calm. We look at the olive trees, the lemon verbena, and the succulents. The surroundings are largely the result of Betty’s green thumb, and she’s made the garden a succession of private places, where you can find your inner calm. Shadow plays with the sun, flowers sprinkle the vista with bright colors. Three donkeys seem to watch us

with amused looks, while the cats tease two black-and-white Golden Retrievers. Betty Morgand opened this unique bed and breakfast in May, and it has been full since the summer. Nothing surprising about that, as the place distils a bewitching charm. A respectable size, the bedroom is equipped with a mini kitchen and decorated with natural materials, in a Mediterranean loft spirit. A compulsive bargain hunter (L’Isle-sur-La-Sorgue, a key destination for Provencal antique and second-hand shopping, is only a few kilometres away), the charming owner of the Mas de Bohême has managed to create an atmosphere that pays tribute to the place’s initial beauty. Nothing is fake in this décor, and we have a hard time leaving when it comes time to say goodbye.

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Le Mas de Bohême
2235 chemin de la Crozette Monteux
Tél.0608575295
www.lemasdeboheme.com