Maisons & Hotels Sibuet, one of France’s most innovative hotel groups, opens Domaine de la Baume on Friday 5th July 2013, in Tourtour, Provence – a 12th Century hilltop village, recognised as one of the most beautiful in France. The Domaine will be the ninth opening for Maisons & Hotels Sibuet, and follows the successful launch of the ‘ski palace’ Altapura in Val Thorens in December 2011.Set in 99 acres, the Domaine is the former residence of French Expressionist painter,Bernard Buffet. Providing a tremendous source of inspiration for his later works, the Domaine includes 10 individually designed rooms and suites, each named after his most famous artworks, from Tournesol et Melon created in 1955, to L’Abeille in 1967. The signature Annabel Suite has been created in honour of Buffet’s wife and includes a private terrace, with views over Provence.
Beautiful French grounds surround the property, and include picturesque rivers and waterfalls, an orangery, vegetable garden with beehives, and an olive grove where Provencal-infused house oil is produced. The terrace restaurant and bar will serve the finest seasonal French cuisine; while the vaulted wine cellar will stock a wide variety of French wines, including those produced at Sibuet’s vineyard, Domaine de Marie in nearby Menerbes. A private chapel is also available for exclusive weddings, and a heliport is located within the grounds.
Design throughout the Domaine is bright yet warm, with a colourful reinterpretation of 18th century style. The ochre façade blends with sky blue shutters, while inside, warm colours range from emerald green and deep blue, to pale orange and dusky pink. Cabriolet and Bergère armchairs are interspersed with delicate antique furniture, all personally selected by the Sibuet family.
Tourtour – the picturesque village in which Bernard Buffet spent the last 20 years of his life – is set between the Verdon Gorges and the French Riviera, and is just over an hour from both Marseille and Nice, or 40 minutes from Avignon. The vibrant and charming village sits at 635 metres, with dramatic views over the surrounding Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. The medieval castle, old watermill and eight fountains remain the focal points of the village, which has managed to preserve its traditional, rural lifestyle. The village also includes two bronze sculptures by Bernard Buffet, donated by his wife after his death in 1999.
