Christmas in Provence. Miraculously, so far so good.
Last weekend, my husband and I decided to take Gracie to the
beautiful hotel, La Mirande, in Avignon for a hot chocolate after
Christmas shopping and boy, it did not disappoint!
This little hotel is definitely in my top 10 favorite hotels in
France. Situated on a narrow little cobblestone street with a view of the Palais
de Pape, La Mirande left me gobsmacked.
Formerly a private mansion, as I sat in the sitting room of
the hotel with its hand painted wallpaper, all I could think was, “How/who/what
do I have to do to get a place like this?” Just kidding, no I’m not.
The hotel was having a Christmas luncheon that was f.a.b.u.l.o.u.s.!
Absolutely fabulous. Each room had a buffet with specialty Provençal fare… And
plenty of hot spiced wine.
I honestly don’t think I could justly describe the
perfection of this hotel so I’m going to let the pictures do the talking…
Happy, joyful and perky little Grace.
AND THERE IS A COOKING SCHOOL ALSO!!!!!
Voila! La Mirande Hotel!
La Mirande Hotel4 Place de L'Amirande
84000 Avignon, France
+33(0)490142020
www.la-mirande.fr
Perfect & beautiful! Merry Christmas! xo
ReplyDeleteEllie - With your words and photos, you once again transported me to a wonderful place far from my home. Thank you. Hugs.
DeleteOh my, just sublime! Your blog posts fill, feed, nurture and speak to my soul. My comments seem so inadequate that I hate to write them. Thank you for this! I hope you can go to the cooking school! The cooking school needs you! Merry Christmas, xx Valorie
ReplyDeleteOpen windows and people eating outside!
ReplyDeleteI study every place setting, peer in every basket, admire the textiles. Fabulous, you got it right. Miss you every day when there is no post. vj
Oooo! its beautiful! so cosy so serene! I would like sooo much to be there, to feel a little peace. Merry Christmas with all your beloved near you! Kisses from windy Athens!
ReplyDeleteLove this place. It's wonderful in spring/summer, dining in the gorgeous gardens! There's a really beautiful church nearby too in a lovely little square. Best wishes, Pammie
ReplyDeleteSWOONING..............better get back to my SALON and finish the wrapping for my PERKY< HAPPY SONS!!
ReplyDeleteI was wanting a HOT chocolate TODAY..................Maybe that will be the next break!!!
Next up to is to create my Christmas Eve menu..........from YOUR BOOK!People right sidebar you TOO can get HER FABULOUS CHRISTMAS BOOK!!!
XO
Old world luxury indeed! Beautiful. I love the table linens and place settings. One can only dream.
ReplyDeletePerfection! I want to live there. So many details are just perfect. Sounds as though you enjoyed being there as much as we enjoyed the photos. Thanks for sharing them, and happy holidays to you and your family!
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure. I wish I could see it in person; some day, perhaps. I am especially in love with their cooking school kitchen with its collection of white confit pots. "Perky little" Grace looks just like her Mommy...lucky girl. XOXO
ReplyDelete"Miraculously" Christmas in Provence is going well? Pah! Christmas in Provence is zee Best! Truly. Wait until next week when the festivities really kick up and you will see...Although I don't think that you could be off to a better start than La Mirande. Family-owned and run, it is one of the finest properties in all of the South of France. Although Gracie doesn't look so thrilled...hee hee. Now it is time to start preparing your "13 desserts" and to order your "buche do Noêl"!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I have only heard raves about the cooking school...and the chef's table Friday night dinner too if they are still doing those. Something to look into?
Spectacular! The woodwork around the bar is so gorgeous. And love the red and white wallpaper.
ReplyDeleteWhy are there no lights on that massive tree? Is that a thing over there? I'm causing an American energy crisis with my 26 light strand tree. I caved and used red LED outside (they look really good, not the weird alien glow of white LEDs). But on my tree I used incandescent multicolor, which is kind of a fun change. I've only ever used white. Merry Christmas!
Every YEAR I want WHITE on the TREE and the ITALIAN wants mutli~colored.Guess who WINS every time!!!
DeleteIt's OKAY...........He is a GOOD GIFT GIVER SO THAT SAVES HIM!
The outside is a MESS HE HAS WHITE and colored hanging off the roof!!!!
Stephen, I adore your posts, but
DeleteStephen, I adore your posts, but I'm not sure why everyone thinks LED lights have to have that "alien glow", because there are warm white LEDs. I bought some a couple of years ago for my tree. Plus they don't get hot.
I even put full spectrum soft white LED light bulbs everywhere in the last house I was in, and they gave off beautiful light.
Lordy! He is so cute.......that it is totally okay! Emily Evans Eerdmans calls it: "A HOT MESS"! (not just any old mess!) I LOVE IT!!!!!
DeleteWe need this expression in our vocabulary!! Aha!
New bucket list destination! Thank you so much for sharing!! Merry Christmas, dear Ellie, and to your dear family and Teddy, of course. How is Teddy doing?
ReplyDeleteOh Ellie! This is too beautiful to take all at once... My stomach hurts with the intense desire to be there! Your posts keep beating each other in awesomeness! You are my best friend.... Or one of them ... I wish I could meet you one day
ReplyDeletePerfection everywhere Ellie plus a cooking school! I am there soon!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
The India Hicks Collection!
It looks marvelous!!! I have a Christmas wish - to be in Provence with you. Alas, I will settle for the "gift" of reading your wonderful posts!!! Big question: are you going to celebrate with the traditional 13 desserts of Provence this year? (We all have to love a place that has 13!!! desserts for one occasion...)❤️
ReplyDeleteBest,
Michelle from Santa Barbara
Its the details! What a treat it would be to do the cooking school there. I'm 15 minutes away, I could go for the holiday brunch ......
ReplyDeletebonnie
Yep. That does look perfect! I am looking forward to following along on more Provencal festivities.
ReplyDeletePerfection. The cooking school kitchen is just what I want my real French kitchen to look like. Glad you had a lovely day out. Heather has made me hungry:-).
ReplyDeleteOMG, so charming. I can barely stand it. Thanks for bringing all of this beauty to we heathens on the other side of the pond! Happy holidays to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteSandra Sallin www.apartfrommyart.com
There is almost too much for me to list that is simply beautiful. My favorites are the drapes in these rooms, the large windows, and the kitchen wherein the cooking school takes place. Of course, your Gracie is the most darling of all. I have to agree with Stephen though - why no lights on the tree? Granted, my tree could use a bit more, but I am getting there. I hope you and your family have a wonderful first Christmas in Provence.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely! I'm so annoyed we missed it when we were in Avignon...guess we'll just have to go back. I made your " shrimp with horsy dipping sauce " for a party and the entire 3 pounds disappeared in the blink of an eye. So very good. (And thanks again for rescuing me). It sounds as though you're enjoying the season. I look for your posts every day and they are the first thing I open. Sending you love, laughter and prayers dear Ellie.
ReplyDeleteI'm on my way. What a beautiful hotel. Every detail has been taken care of. thanks for sharing. xox Mary
ReplyDeleteI didn't know anything about this hotel. You are so good at finding great things. The pictures are wonderful. Now I want to go too.
ReplyDeleteJudy
Thank you so much. We have walked by the hotel and not gone in.....big mistake. Next year if possible for Chocolate chaud. Ellie you spread so much joy all around the world. Wishes of Peace and Contentment for you and your family
ReplyDeleteAli
I love everything about this hotel. The kind of place you want to check-in and stay awhile. I'd be very happy sitting around the Chef's Table in the evening and the Courtyard for afternoon tea...which I understand is home to a variety of birds! A place for all the senses. I was perusing their gift shop, wondering if you grabbed a few bars of soap wrapped in their chinoiserie-looking logo - I would have!
ReplyDeleteToo many beautiful details to list, but I loved it.
ReplyDeleteFor those asking why the Christmas tree has no lights, I think French Christmas trees in general are more simply done.
What a wonderful post! When we were building our house; we stayed there...and it was heaven! So inspirational! I can't find any of my pictures of it; so thank you for providing these wonderful ones!!
ReplyDeleteXXOO
Penny
Could any hotel be more charming??? I don't think so. Provence is full of delights and I am happy to know about another one. You bring so much joy to all of your readers and I know that they all join with me in wishing you, Gracie and David a most blessed Christmas and a wonderful 2016.
ReplyDelete