La Maison de Beaumont

A Couple's Passion Project in the Luberon

The owners of this small hotel in Provence are based in New York but spend their summers in Europe. A few years ago, when visiting the region of Luberon, the American-French couple fell in love with the area and in particular with an old village school in Beaumont-de-Pertuis, which they bought and have spent three years renovating.

The house has quite a history. The site dates back to medieval times, but the current building was constructed in the 18th century, shortly after an earthquake damaged much of the town, and the eastern wall was built around what was once the tower of a castle. The new building became the “Demeure Seigneuriale” or home of the King of France's local representative. After the French Revolution it became the town hall and then, in the 20th century, the elementary school. The entrance to the old castle tower was uncovered during the restoration and is now visible, and there is a labyrinth of external cellars that dates back to the 12th century.

Today, La Maison de Beaumont is a unique small hotel made up of six apartments.

The hotel is made up of two studios and four one-bedrooms, each of which sleeps 2-4 guests. The accommodation is self-catering, and each unit has a small kitchenette and a bathroom.

AROUND

This small hotel in Provence is located in the heart of the Luberon, in the village of Beaumont-de-Pertuis, which is a 35-minute drive from the Aix-en-Provence train/TGV station and under an hour from Marseilles' airport. The village is located in the east of Luberon, and has a population of around 1,000 people.

The village is a tangle of rooftops on steep alleyways, crowned by a 1,000-year-old church. It's a great place to stroll through, with ancient walls, cobblestones and fountains. It's also surrounded by hills, which means there are plenty of opportunities for exploring nature, including the 3.5km hike to the Hermitage Sainte-Croix. There is a nature reserve nearby that includes seven artificially created lakes, as well as Lake Aillade which is great for picnicking and fishing. Each May, there is a music festival called Les Sons du Lub', which features a variety of contemporary musicians from around the world.

For those wanting to travel farther afield, Beaumont-de-Pertuis is 23 minutes by car from Manosque, 40 minutes from Aix-en-Provence, and one hour from Marseille.