La Palud-sur-Verdon Verdon Gorge, France
Renovated
2015
Price
$$
Rated for
Wellness Design LocalOutside the door
Canyon ridge lodge
Everything here faces the gorge. The lodge sits 938 metres high, surrounded only by mountain trails and limestone crags.
What it’s good at
Notable
A Cinq Mondes spa with counter-current indoor swimming and canyon-facing thermal baths.
What they say
Michelin Selected
Michelin
the rooms are modern in style, all differing in their color schemes, and they come with balconies or terraces as a reminder that the real spectacle is outside.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
La Palud-sur-Verdon sits just down the road, surrounded by the hiking paths and climbing cliffs of the regional nature park.
The rooms
Modern guest rooms look straight toward the canyon, each stepping out onto a private terrace or balcony above the valley.
The pools
Bring a swimsuit.
The heated outdoor pool looks across the mountain ridges, and an indoor pool sits under glass with counter-current swim jets.
The spa
Two private cabins host Cinq Mondes face and body rituals, with side-by-side massage tables in the duo suite.
The baths
A jetted balneotherapy tub looks out across the mountains through a wide picture window. Nearby sit two hammams and a sauna.
Restaurant
Le 938
Chef Sandrine Gorce cooks regional Haute-Provence fare, served on an expansive terrace looking out across the valley.
Hotel Bar
The wood-topped bar serves drinks in the lobby lounge, beneath woven pendant lamps and a panoramic forest mural.
How it began
Hendrika and Maurice Schaeffer opened the original lodge in 1973, when travel through the Verdon was just beginning.
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.