Airelles Gordes, La Bastide, Gordes, Provence, France
Well worth visiting for its soul-stirring Luberon Valley views, and its dramatic setting – carved into the very rock face of the hill, built on 12th-century ramparts, and integrated into the fortifications of Gordes – Airelles Gordes, La Bastide is a fairytale of French fabulosity.
Scratch beneath the surface and it's just as spectacular. Plush Louis XV furnishings, exquisite frescoes, a treasure trove of antiques and Provençal tapestries adorn every room; Pierre Gagnaire's Pèir bagged its first Michelin star within a year of opening; and the labyrinthine layout unveils a stunning succession of gardens, terraces and four pools (including one at the super-luxe Sisley spa).