Our family gateway in Provence at Terre Blanche

Last April, we spent 3 days of pure relaxation at Terre Blanche, a high-class hotel set in an enchanting setting. Then we continued our discovery of Provence by staying at Le Mas de Pierre in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. I highly recommend this idyllic circuit.

After landing in Nice, it took us only 40 minutes to reach the hotel. The road to Terre Blanche is very beautiful, especially the area along Lake St Cassien. This large lake surrounded by forests is reminiscent of Canadian landscapes and provides a sense of immediate change of scenery. And to think that the sea is only 30 minutes away…

We had opted for a rental car, an option that I highly recommend as the surrounding area of the hotel is full of places to discover: picturesque Provencal villages perched on the hillside, lake, forests and nature reserves, shopping destinations, beaches, etc.

Upon our arrival, we particularly appreciated the attentions reserved for our son. During the check-in, the receptionist presented a cart filled with stuffed animals. He chose a little zebra with which he fell asleep tenderly every night. The kid’s-club program has been explained in a clear and attractive manner.

On the bed of Achilles, a unique welcome gift awaited him: a set of boules games, a nod to Provence. I do not hide that it was the first time that Achille played this French game and it took him some time to understand that this game has to be played outside. As a result, it was his father who had to retrieve all the balls lost under the bed, hihi.

Being highly sentimental, I could not help but shed a tear of emotion when I discovered the picture frame placed on the bedside table of the parental room. A picture of our family, caught on our Facebook account was placed in this frame. An amazing surprise that makes you feel instantly at home. A note accompanied this picture: « Family is where life begins and where love never stops. » So beautiful! So nice of the hotel!

For me, Terre Blanche symbolizes the best way to spend family holidays. Indeed, the hotel has found the right balance between luxury and relaxation. The staff is very kind and the facilities have been designed to please young and old alike.

The spa of the hotel is very beautiful and it is the largest spa in France with its 3.200 m². In the afternoon, children are welcome to the spa’s indoor pool. The large outdoor pool, heated to 28 degrees, has a shallow end, specially designed for children. There is also a children’s pool inside the mini club.

Every week, a sports activities’ program is offered to adults. These classes are complimentary and take place until four times a day. I enjoyed the yoga and aqua boxing. Meanwhile, my husband had a great time on the jogging tracks that run along the golf course. In the meantime, our son was having fun at the kids’ club. The two animators are really kind and come every day to greet the children at breakfast, which boosts their confidence for the day. Achille always came back from the kid’s-club with an original DIY: custom keychain, hand painted mask, etc. He also loved feeding Luc, one of the resort’s three donkeys. Next to the hotel’s main restaurant, there is a playroom which is perfect for children and teenagers. Our son loved to join his holiday buddies in between two meals.

Every week, a sports activities’ program is offered to adults. These classes are complimentary and take place until four times a day. I enjoyed the yoga and aqua boxing. Meanwhile, my husband had a great time on the jogging tracks that run along the golf course. In the meantime, our son was having fun at the kids’ club. The two animators are really kind and come every day to greet the children at breakfast, which boosts their confidence for the day. Achille always came back from the kid’s-club with an original DIY: custom keychain, hand painted mask, etc. He also loved feeding Luc, one of the resort’s three donkeys. Next to the hotel’s main restaurant, there is a playroom which is perfect for children and teenagers. Our son loved to join his holiday buddies in between two meals.

There are no rooms at Terre Blanche… but only suites! Perfect for families, these suites can even be connected to each other. Our suite was 60 m² and had a large terrace overlooking soothing Provencal landscapes. The sofa bed in the living room where our son slept was very comfortable. A television was placed facing this sofa bed. One afternoon, my son wanted to rest, so we called the concierge who came to present Achille a nice cartoons collection to watch in the DVD player of the suite. The bathroom is huge and very convenient for families owing to the large shower and bathtub. One small important detail: the floor of the bathroom is heated, which is very pleasant. Every evening, before bedtime, calissons (traditional French candies) were placed on our bed. One evening, we even received a small bag of herbs to infuse in a hot bath.

To get around the resort, the hotel offers guests a fleet of golf carts. You simply give a call to the front desk and book your chauffeur to the spa, restaurant, golf, tennis or any other place of your choice. The kid’s-club has its own buggy, with seat belts, which takes kids to the Kingdom of Children.

In the hotel, the restaurants, and the alleys of the resort, more than 200 works of art decorate the scene. Original creations by Bernard Venet, Niki de Saint Phalle or Joan Mirò. These are from the private collection of Dietmar Hopp, the German owner of the hotel, who made a fortune by inventing the SAP software.

I could still talk about the Jardins des Senteurs, the playground, the fine cuisine, the honey produced on site, the succulent breakfast buffet … but the best is that you discover all these wonders for yourself.

To conclude, I would say that relaxation and fitness were the keywords of our stay at Terre Blanche. This Provencal getaway has left us amazing feelings and we have only one desire: to come back!

One night, the hotel restaurant was full. The concierge has therefore reserved a table for us in the surroundings: Le Temps des Cerises. I recommend this charming little restaurant located in Fayence that offers creative local cuisine, in an authentic setting.

Located less than 5 minutes from Terre Blanche, Les Ecuries de Baracka offers pony and horse rides. Achille loved his pony ride! (7€/15 minutes)

Grasse, the world’s perfume capital, is located near the hotel. The Molinard house offers visits and perfume workshops with sweet scents of candyfloss and candies dedicated to children.

Love,

Sophie