Have you ever been to the friendliest and prettiest region of France that has several names and is the subject of many classy stories? I am of course talking about the Cote d’Azur, also known as the French Riviera, the richest part of France, located on the south east coast near Italy, and actually part of the beautiful Provence. The Riviera is well known for its film festivals, big yachts, playground of the rich and famous, but also the decor of several iconic movies and preferred destination of many royals, renowned artists in history and sophisticated ladies like Brigitte Bardot, Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe.
If you want to feel like a movie star, a classy lady from the fifties or even like a goddess in France, a stay at the Althoff hotel Villa Belrose in Gassin, next to Saint-Tropez will definitely do that for you!
It was the first time in my life to visit this classy region and I couldn’t have been more impressed by the views, the scenery, but especially by the luxury and service of the 5 star hotel we stayed in.
Imagine a drive along the coast with beautiful views of azure blue seas, classy beaches and passing by small villages filled with flowers and authentic stone houses. Arriving at an impressive Florentine style villa located up a hill, towering over the chic but authentic fishermen’s village Saint-Tropez and neighboring medieval towns.
See the cypress and palm trees rise up while being welcomed by the friendly staff on a wide terrace with even more impressive views over Saint-Tropez and the Riviera coast spread out right in front of you.
And taking all this in while enjoying a cold glass of champagne on the quiet terrace will definitely make this French welcome feel divine and fit for a movie star!
That’s exactly what hotel Villa Belrose is all about.
Next to the unique view it offers over the bay, the hotel impresses with its classy Italian architecture with only 40 rooms, 200 m2 pool, spacious and well kept grounds, abundant facilities, Michelin starred restaurant with haute cuisine food and extensive wine list, but above all with its competent, friendly and excellent staff and 24 hours service!
It’s only logical that this hotel is a member of the Small Luxury Hotel (SLH) Group, which represent personal luxury hotels that combine high quality, with authenticity and exceptional service.
And next to that the hotel is also part of the prestigious Althoff Hotel Collection. A luxury hotel group of currently 8 unique locations spread out over Germany, London and the south of France, all offering beautiful architecture, unique interior, style and exceptional personal service.
As a hotel lover and fervent traveler I am not easily impressed, but this hotel definitely did amaze and is amongst the top 5 hotels I have visited so far. A lot of praise I know, but I will try to convince you through many personal and hotel pictures and by highlighting a few of the exceptional features of this hotel, so you can experience it with me.
(Remember to click on the pictures to see the bigger version with description and click on below the picture to scroll through the gallery.)
The view
This is definitely the prize asset of the hotel. The wideness of the view, the variety of the scope and landscape spread out in front of you, the well maintained grounds surrounding it, the proximity to Saint-Tropez, while being privately located up the hill, creating a relaxed atmosphere and maintaining an air of privacy makes it unprecedented!
See and judge for yourself:
And what about these sunset views during dinner:
The Room
With a big mansion in Florentine style housing only 40 rooms you can expect the room to be classy and spacious! With free WIFI throughout the hotel, free parking, valet and butler service, a huge flat screen TV in the room, airconditioning, mini bar, safe, ample closet space, tasteful furniture and decoration including a comfortable king size bed, this hotel and room have everything you need.
The room offered sufficient space and the private terrace with quiet garden views and complementary fresh fruit and water completed the atmosphere.
Not to mention the bathroom which was very spacious, double sinked and with a separate toilet which made it more than comfortable. And of of course I immediately fell in love with the Italian marble decor!
The pool and spa
Villa Belrose has the biggest swimming pool of the peninsula and the best views to go with it. The 200 m2 heated outdoor pool is always kept at the right temperature and the 120 m2 terrace surrounding it offers plenty of room for relaxation and sufficient comfortable sun loungers including parasols.
Next to the pool area you will find a complete gym and beauty center including spa, offering several treatments with the products of ”NIANCE”. Besides the beauty treatments, a relaxation treatment after a day of exploring the French coast is highly recommended here.
The restaurants
Star rated cuisine is served in both gourmet restaurants of the Villa, and make it hard to dine anywhere else. In the smaller pool restaurant ”Le Petit Belrose” lunching is possible all afternoon in a casual atmosphere while enjoying the panoramic views and excellent food.
And for modern Mediterranean cuisine with an Italian touch by the hand of a Michelin star chef, restaurant ”Le Belrose” is open every night with beautiful facilities inside, as well as stylish outdoor dining on the big terrace overlooking Sainte-Maxime in front of you and Saint-Tropez to the right.
We enjoyed a 7 course chef dinner while watching the villages in the bay and Saint-Tropez light up. With beautiful dishes served with such excellence, complemented with perfect wines chosen by our personal sommelier and enjoying the view while the sun goes down behind the mountains, one can only wonder if life can be more perfect.
The surroundings
Located in the hills of the small village Gassin, the hotel is surrounded by vineyards and picturesque villages. Just driving around here is already an exciting experience. Exploring the countryside and the hills of this part of the Cote d’Azur, combined with a visit to the classy Saint-Tropez harbor was the ultimate combination of authentic chicness to me.
Although Saint-Tropez has this renowned harbor, which is perfect for yacht- and people watching and experiencing the luxury lifestyle of the rich and famous, it still has a very quaint and authentic side as well. Just look for the small local beaches around the corner, the fishermen’s harbor with smaller boats, authentic houses and original architecture all around.
Combined with a visit to nearby medieval mountain village Ramatuelle your trip to the French Riviera can not get more authentic. Here you will find stunning nature views, medieval stone houses, tiny streets and plenty of beautiful small restaurants. Some even awarded with a Michelin star, offering authentic French gourmet dishes served on small street terraces surrounded by flowers. Naturally this was love at first sight and should not be missed during a trip to the French coast!
Find out all about my favourite spots in the Cote d’Azur in my next blog post, with many personal pictures following soon! Check out my Hotels & Tips page for more hotel inspiration around the world.
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What do you think of this hotel? Would you choose to stay here while visiting the Cote d’Azur? I would love to hear your opinion, just leave a comment below!
