Greetings dear readers and friends. We had the pleasure of visiting the recently opened Mas du Brulat hotel in the village of Le Brulat – a stone’s throw away from the beautiful hilltop village of Le Castellet and part of its commune.

The Mas du Brulat is the second accommodation offering of Olives and Vines, well-known for their beautiful Provençal farmhouse, Mas des Avelines.

We’d heard that they were in the process of renovating a large Provençal village house, Mas de Brulat, (which dates back to 1594) so we were thrilled to attend an inaugural cocktail and have a chance to explore the grounds.

Having visited Mas des Avelines, I knew that the owners had a talent for French deco and a flare for interior designer, and Mas du Brulat more than lived up to that promise. I’ll let the pictures speak a bit for themselves, but the common areas, the rooms, the hotel garden, the bar & the restaurant… well, everything… is tasteful and very elegant.

The hotel has a warm and very welcoming feeling. My favorite experience was lounging around at the bar, sipping rosé and nibbling on the chef’s fancy hors d’oeuvres and tasty crostinis. Sitting on the plush armchairs and enjoying the chatter of guests as they pulled up to the cozy comptoir to chat with staff and locals, was a perfect snapshot of what Mas du Brulat feels like – comfortable, welcoming, and intimate.

A tour of the rooms revealed a careful attention to detail as not only were they stylishly decorated, they also each had well-thought out amenities – like a hideaway coffee bar and pull-out desk for laptops or business travelers. There are five double ensuite bedrooms, one junior suite and two suites with a bedroom and sitting room.

In addition, the hotel has a restaurant, Provençal gardens, and pool. The pool is enormous, has a view of Le Castellet village perched on high, and leads directly to the charming gardens. It probably wouldn’t have been appropriate for apéro hour, but I really wished I’d packed my bathing suit for a quick dip.

For more information about Mas du Brulat, please visit the Olives & Vines website:  www.olivesandvines.eu.

The site also has useful information on what to see and do in the area, including Bandol, Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, Sanary-sur-Mer, and the Calanques National Park.