Crillon le Brave occupies an entire hilltop village at Place de l’Église, twelve ancient stone houses linked by the same narrow Provençal lanes the hamlet has always used. Sun-warmed terraces open onto vineyards and silver olive groves, with the great bald summit of Mont Ventoux commanding the horizon. Thick old walls hold the cool of centuries through the hottest afternoons, and the light moves across the stone from dawn until dusk.

The property reopened this spring in glorious form, adding three newly renovated houses, a completely reimagined spa, a second pool and Maison Tilleul, a generous space built around cooking, gathering and retreats. La Table du Ventoux anchors the dining with a confident, produce-led kitchen under Chef Thomas Lesage. The hotel sits within the Maisons Pariente collection, alongside Le Coucou in Méribel, Lou Pinet in Saint-Tropez, Le Grand Mazarin in Paris and Le Saint Roch in Courchevel 1850.

Autumn and winter bring a rich programme built around the finest producers in the region. Truffle farmers, winemakers, a ceramicist and a florist all host across the season, each one bringing guests closer to the traditions of Provence.

Harvest at Chêne Bleu

Chêne Bleu reaches its finest weeks at the end of summer, a few kilometres from the village at Chemin de la Verrière in Crestet. Its vineyards climb to 550 metres in the dramatic limestone peaks of the Dentelles de Montmirail, facing Ventoux, where altitude and clear southern light ripen Grenache and Syrah slowly and beautifully.

A Vintage of the Senses runs on Saturday 26 September and follows a precise, unhurried rhythm. Welcome and registration open at 10.30am over coffee, followed by a guided walk through the vines at 11am and an introduction to the estate terroir. A winery tour and an explanation of the winemaking process begin at 11.30am, with a guided tasting of the estate wines at midday.

Lunch at 12.30pm is the centrepiece, a “Table du Potager” menu created by Chef Guillaume Delauné with considered food and wine pairings drawn from the surrounding countryside. Each participant receives a bottle of the estate’s Astralabe cuvée carrying a personalised label. An optional Art of Blending workshop follows at 2.30pm, a one-hour session of guided tastings and practical exercises in the role of cellar master. Comfortable outdoor footwear is recommended, and registration closes four days ahead of the date.

The weekend continues at the table with a masterclass led by Chef Thomas Lesage, whose cooking handles the black diamond with precision and restraint. A tasting alongside the farmers and a long, generous dinner complete the experience.

Autumn wellness

Pink Vitality arrives first among the season’s retreats, running from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October with accommodation included. Created by Claire Borwin, the two days centre on women’s health, covering anti-inflammatory nutrition, hormonal balance, natural cycles and herbal medicine in clear, practical terms. Sensory workshops on oils, herbal tea preparation and spa treatments punctuate the programme, with the kitchen serving as the teaching room.

Her credentials are substantial. A nutritionist, registered dietitian and educator for more than twenty years, she holds university diplomas in phytotherapy and aromatherapy, specialises in the intestinal microbiome and is pursuing advanced studies at the Sorbonne on the microbiome and health.

Alongside a private practice, she trains healthcare professionals in nutrition and nutritional support. Places are secured by pre-registration with the hotel. Claire returns mid December for Chocolate, a retreat built around pleasure and balance. Certified in chocology, she leads conscious tastings, revisited pastry workshops and conversations about chocolate as a festive and comforting food. Two winter days in the calm of the village make a fine close to the year, and pre-registration applies.

Halloween in the village

The Enchanted Autumn Escape takes hold on Saturday 31 October, when the whole village turns its hand to the occasion. Spooky face painting and a pumpkin-carving workshop fill the afternoon, followed by a candy hunt through the lanes at nightfall and fireside storytelling once the cold sets in.

A parent and child cooking workshop rounds out the programme, with pairs making pumpkin gnocchi together. The festivities are included for any stay covering the night of 31 October, and the workshop is bookable separately for two.

The black diamond

Winter in the Vaucluse keeps its best secret underground. Lands of Truffles runs across two dedicated weekends, in November and again from beginning of December, guided by the Jaumard brothers, truffle growers from father to son. The hunt itself is peaceful work told through stories.

The stay runs to three nights in the house category of choice, with daily buffet breakfast, a welcome drink on the first evening and a seasonal three-course dinner at La Table du Ventoux. The following day brings the truffle hunt with the Jaumard brothers and a themed lunch with food and wine pairings.

A Ventoux wine masterclass fills the Saturday, followed by a cooking class and a three-course dinner with Ventoux pairings that evening. Chef Thomas Lesage handles the black diamond, letting the product lead. Pool, spa and fitness access, valet service and complimentary parking are all included.

Boots by Aigle

Weather on the mountain turns quickly once the season shifts, and the hotel has answered with a handsome wardrobe created in partnership with Aigle. The label’s iconic rubber boots and a lightweight windbreaker are available to borrow or buy at the Atelier du Tilleul, ready for the truffle grounds, the harvest, a bike ride through the hills or a day on Ventoux.

Aigle has built its name since 1853 on handmade rubber boots produced in France, extending that craft across everything it makes for outdoor life. Durable, beautifully functional pieces designed for all weather sit naturally alongside a property built around the outdoors.

The art of brunch

The Art of brunch pairs a creative workshop with Sunday lunch, and the December edition gives the morning to floral design, from 10am until noon. Nicole Marcoe, the American florist behind Nicole Renee Flowers, leads it. Recently settled in the Vaucluse, she works closely with local blooms, hand-selecting each stem for ephemeral compositions drawn from the countryside around her. Her workshops are built as gentle sensory interludes, unhurried and quietly sociable.

With the first cold days over the village, the session takes a warm and festive turn. Participants craft a natural, poetic wreath for the home or as a gift, working in botanical textures and resinous scents under the soft winter light of Provence. All materials are provided, and everyone leaves with their own finished piece.

A florist for more than fifteen years, she worked between the East and West Coasts of the United States before moving to Provence, and her work has been exhibited at the De Young Museum in San Francisco. Each participant leaves with their own finished piece.

The year ahead

Around the church, a labyrinth of 17th and 18th century houses carpeted in Virginia creeper hides a secret passage here, a panoramic terrace there. Cooking classes run all year at Maison Tilleul, reason enough to settle in while the rest of the region empties out.

The five-star hideaway keeps its best invitation for late spring. A Taste of Provence fills five days from Friday 7 to Tuesday 11 May 2027, when the vineyards and olive groves come back into their own.