Retreat-Holidays
Body Mind and Spirit: Accommodation
Much of the accommodation offered to first-time visitors to Gréoux is out of town, which, in this Alpine context, means up very steep hills. Return visitors book their rooms a year in advance in order to get something more central. Because the director of Retreat-Holidays is a regular visitor, we have been fortunate enough to secure options on two very good places to stay in the centre of town - one self-catering and the other offering half board.
Both establishments are delightful, with comfortable, en suite accommodation and very friendly owner-managers. They are both in the centre of Gréoux, with views of the Château, and in the midst of shops, restaurants and take-aways selling very good home-made food (so self-catering doesn't have to be a chore).
Option 1: Self-catering
Le Mas de l'Orangerie has over 20 self-catering studios, each with its own balcony. Retreat sessions will take place in the Mas de l'Orangerie as the leader will be staying there, having fallen in love with the place during a previous stay. There is a car-park between the house and the main road, so it is generally very quiet at night. A path alongside the car-park gives a two-minute short-cut to the main street over somewhat uneven ground.
All the rooms are double or twin, but there is no supplement for single occupancy. The rooms are large and very comfortable, if fairly simply furnished. Each has its own well equipped kitchenette and shower room. Sheets and towels are provided, but not tea-towels.
The bedrooms, public rooms and terrace are wifi-enabled for laptops and there is also internet access from a house computer. Residents and non-residents can buy cards to use either facility.
Option 2: Half board
If you don't fancy the faff of self-catering and would rather have a French meal served to you and your bed made for you every day, we have an excellent half-board alternative at the Grand Hôtel des Colonnes**, a Logis de France which is in the main street of Gréoux. The picture above shows part of the hotel, with the Château de Gréoux in the background.
This photograph of the Grand Hôtel des Colonnes was taken from a balcony of the Mas de l'Orangerie, which is just two minutes' walk away, though the path is a bit uneven.
The hotel has its own bar and there are bars and cafés just outside, but there are no tea-making facilities in the bedrooms.
The bedrooms are fairly simple, but freshly and individually decorated in Provençal style and they have a lovely feel to them. We shall try to secure rooms at the back of the hotel, as these have balconies, but we can't guarantee this. The windows are double-glazed, so that even the rooms facing the street are surprisingly quiet.
Like the Mas de l'Orangerie, the hotel has its own outdoor swiming pool, though this will be of only academic interest in November!
From either place, it is 10-15 minutes’ downhill walk to the spa - and there are free shuttle buses to bring you back up the hill after your treatments.
Mas de l'Orangerie website
Grand Hotel des Colonnes website
Body, Mind and Spirit: Gréoux-les-Bains
Body, Mind and Spirit: Accommodation
Body, Mind and Spirit: Programme