Le Couvent des Minimes, an ode to Provence
Tectona whisks you to the Alpes de Haute Provence department for a holistic break infused with serenity and beauty. Couvent des Minimes Hôtel & Spa invites you to share a sublime experience for all five senses under the wonderful light of Provence. @Think Utopia
A distinctive history
In 1613, the Order of Minims devoted to preaching and penance, established itself in Provence, where the Marquis Forbin de Janson had a convent built near the village of Mane. Later, from 1862 to 1999, it was occupied by Franciscan Sisters, before becoming a hotel in 2008. It was only in June 2023, after a 3-year transformation, that this jewel of medieval architecture underwent a veritable renaissance.
The 5-star hotel belongs to the L’Occitane group and is today one of the most beautiful venues in the Luberon massif of central Provence.
Showcasing historic architecture
The restoration and fitting out of the convent were underpinned by a respect for its history and the excellence of its hospitality. Thus, the original facades have been preserved. The scene is set as soon as guests enter via the original doors into the former chapel converted into a lobby from where they can admire the impressive framework culminating 10 metres above the Burgundy stone flooring. Eighteen lovingly restored 17th-century stained glass windows bathe the entire space in a special light conducive to tranquillity. Among the treasures discovered during the restoration are frescoes, also from the 17th century, including one of the face of an angel, attesting to the vibrant artistic culture of this spiritual site.
Outdoors immerse yourself in Provence: traditional restanque dry-stone walls surround Mediterranean gardens from which emanate scents of garrigue. One of the students trained by the monks of the monastery, Louis Feuillée, became the botanist of Louis XIV. From his expeditions to Latin America, he would bring back new species of nasturtiums and fuchsia. The restanque plots received the attention of the Franciscan Sisters, who planted fruit trees and vines. The gardening tradition has continued to the present day, with almonds, wormwood, rosemary, olives, and last but not least, lavender, being grown. And not to be overlooked: two ornamental ponds.
Provence soul
Without a doubt, the single most important element that ties everything together is the natural light that bathes the convent and the new buildings housing the spa. Every one of the 48 rooms and suites is in osmosis with the unique purity of the Provence sky and exhibit a soothing palette of colours spanning beige, white, flaxen, grege and, echoing the olive plants outdoors, green. The good life continues in the fine-dining restaurant Le Feuillée, the bistro Pamparigouste and the bar L’Alambic, all three dedicated to the flavours of Provence.
The materials selected for the furniture also blend in with the soft ambience, with oak, linen, sandstone, terra cotta and wicker worked by local artisans.
Absolute wellbeing
Designed to blend into the landscape, the spa covers an area of 2500 m2 divided into a dry zone for treatments and a multisensorial wet zone. You can enjoy Tectona comforts alongside the pools, including the teak sun loungers from the Camarat and Southampton collections, the essential Copacabana deckchair and the modular Exeter sofas. Alongside them, Duxford coffee tables in teak, square and rectangular, further urge you to take a break. Roma parasols provide the necessary shade and respite from the blazing sun, which will be without a doubt the protagonist of your stay.
