Iconic Life

"I lived in the Alpilles with my brother for the first two decades of my life. My family still lives there. This small range of mountains between the Camargue and the Luberon formed a stunning backdrop when we were born; during our childhood, it became our playground.

Every time I come back, I’m as fascinated as ever by the white limestone mountains, where the mistral blows. Amid this rocky desert, pine groves suddenly appear, giving a sign of life, a touch of greenery and a bit of shade. These arid slopes finish in the canal of the Vallée des Baux, where olive groves and vineyards thrive. The Alpilles are synonymous with olive oil, markets, santons, bullrings and bulls. Home to Ancient Roman ruins, the amphitheatre in Arles and Glanum, the history of previous eras mingles with resolutely contemporary culture, including the Rencontres d’Arles photography festival and Avignon Festival.

Several villages surround this small mountain range as if providing protection; we instinctively chose Les Baux-de-Provence to launch our collection of luxury properties with hotel-worthy services. Les Baux-de-Provence is a microcosm of everything the Alpilles have to offer: it boasts a historic medieval citadel, L’Oustau de Baumanière, a culinary icon which flies the flag for the entire region, and Carrière de Lumières, a world-famous multimedia venue. At the heart of these three wonderful sites in the Val d’Enfer lies L’Étoile des Baux. Nestled against the cliff, L’Étoile des Baux is a sumptuous Provençal mas, partly built into the rock and featuring 8 en-suite bedrooms and a huge square swimming pool which looks out over landscaped gardens. L’Étoile des Baux has everything you need to enjoy a wonderful stay and explore this incredible region. A region to discover through the pages of ICONS - the collection of self-published guides we launched last year based on the destinations where Iconic House homes are located."

Thibaud Elzière, Iconic House cofounder

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