Pavillon de la Torse, Aix-en-Provence, France.

Be assured that your selection of this marvelous B&B will be one of your best decisions of your holiday in Provence. Staying here was a highlight of our time in Southern France. As the gates opened and we drove up the corridor of Plane trees towards the majestically restored house, we felt transported into a previous era. We passed the long, classically inspired swimming pool, water features, and sculptures, to be greeted by Marie. We were shown into the beautifully decorated house, and up the lovely open staircase to our third floor St Estephe rooms. We loved the view out over the pool and grounds. It is hard to believe the house has had so much renovation--it simply exudes a sense of being from a different time, yet well-kept.

The room furnishings and amenities are first-class, with a library on each floor for guests’ use, including free WiFi, computer use (with internet)--and international calling! There are also laundry facilities at one’s disposal. In addition, there is a small kitchen area near the pool for guests.

Marie and Francois serve a delicious breakfast each morning, varying the menu over the period of your stay. We could hear the car leave each morning and return with fresh pastries and such. In addition, every other evening, they treated the guests to a cocktail party on the terrace, serving an array of tasty treats, and a variety of excellent wines and spirits. These soirees were very enjoyable social gatherings.

Marie and Francois will suggest a variety of good restaurants within a 15 to 30 min walk into the main part of town. This is a good base from which to make forays to many locations in Provence, such as the Luberon villages, Cassis, even Arles. Your hosts will enjoy helping you organize your sightseeing and exploration of the surrounding areas, with a good selection of books, maps and driving instructions.

My wife and I stayed at the Pavillon de la Torse for two entire weeks in late September and early October, 2011, while doing day trips by car around Provence. We could not have asked for a better place to stay! The property is gorgeous, the house is beautiful and immaculate, and Francois and Marie are the most helpful, kind, attentive, and pleasant hosts imaginable. The two of them went way out of their way on many occasions, for us and for all the many other guests who came and went during our time there, to suggest and describe places to visit, describe how to get there, and offer any other needed advice or information. There's a reason their TripAdvisor rating is so high -- they are truly, deeply dedicated to their guests. Francois is French (er...maybe that's obvious) and knows the area and culture well (especally wine and cheese!) and is fluent in English; Marie is from Long Island, speaks French, and has a thousand great tips and recommendations up her sleeve. They're both funny and congenial and kind. The breakfasts are fantastic and varied: good strong coffee, delicious breads and jams and cheeses and fruit, as well as the occasional ham, pancakes, eggs, French Toast to die for. There's always something delicious to eat, and interesting to drink, floating around the Pavillon. Francois and Marie strike a perfect balance between creating a social atmosphere, especially in the evenings, where there's a happy hour or cheese tasting or something every other night, and leaving guests to themselves if they want some space and privacy. There are some nice bonuses, too, like a room where guests can do laundry, a computer room with internet access, and a patio area by the pool with a kitchen. There are many fine restaurants a short walk away in downtown Aix, but there's also a nice modern grocery store nearby where you can buy bread and cheese and meats if you want to eat on the patio. In short, GO TO THE PAVILLON and you'll have a wonderful stay. As I said, we were there for two weeks, and if there were any skeletons in the closets we would have found them. We were terribly sad to leave, and would go back in a heartbeat!

La Torse is a wonderful, beautiful place with very kind and accomodating hosts. The grounds are breathtaking when the gates open at night to the lighted alley of magnificent unpruned sycamores towering overhead. It is well-located just 3 minutes from the expressway, yet only about a 15 minute walk to Cours Maribeau and the Vielle Ville on a lit and well traveled street. Breakfast is generous and serene, and there is a beautiful pool in the formal gardens if you'd like a swim.

One warning: The gate is a bit obscured, the street number not lit, and the lighting on their sign is often out. Be sure to get very precise directions or you will spend 10 or 15 minutes trolling to find it. However, it is welll worth the effort to do so.

Marie and Francois have put a lot of love, effort, and pride into their B&B and are warm and welcoming. They provided us with a list of recommended restaurants and a map and offered helpful suggestions for day trips. We stayed at Pavillon de la Torse for three nights in October and enjoyed our lovely room, the beautiful home and grounds, the delicious breakfasts made to order, and a special cocktail hour with some guests from Canada. The guest rooms are large, spotless, and quite comfortable. Guests eat breakfast together at a big communal dining room table. The B&B is located off of a major street but is very quiet at night. There is a long driveway with beautiful plane trees and a parking area for guests on one side. You enter through a gate that is securely locked. There is a pool and beautiful gardens. Since we were in Aix at the end of October, we did not use the pool but it is quite inviting. It is a bit of a hike to the center of town which we did not mind but if you do not like walking, this might not be the best location for you. We loved this B&B and hope to return again in the future.