The Essence of the Riviera - "Villa Marie****"

If you seek peace and quiet to let down and relax yet want to be close to the holiday fun and glamour of St. Tropez on the Riviera coast of France, you could not do better than staying at the charming Villa Marie Hotel in Ramatuelle (which the smart-money set has always preferred to its clamorous neighbor, St. Tropez) just beyond the edge of town. It drips with the moods and colors of the Riviera, the turquoise sea in the distance and the turquoise pool at your feet, the breeze wafts the distinctive aroma of the umbrella pines that is so distinctive of the Côte d'Azur.

Built on a gentle hillside, the ground steps down from the hotel with all it rooms at the top of the property to the restaurant housed in a separate building which itself steps down to a flag stoned terrace which houses the indoor/outdoor bar and lounge as well as an outdoor terrace for passing the time, having a drink, light lunch or snacks. On this level, under the main restaurant is also found a gift shop and beauty/spa center with 6 private treatment rooms. It is only a few more steps down to the pool.

The style of the hotel owes much to the Italians and to Nice with its ochre, yellow, red and soft pastel color palette with some of the rooms in a very cool and tranquille traditional tones of grey. The floors are either flag stone or terra cotta tile. The public rooms are stylish rather than homey. The emphasis here is life out of doors whether that is the covered patio in the back with tables, chairs and sofas that leads to an over grown private garden, or the sun drenched terraces, gardens and pool. The bar is built with glass walls and roof, so it is flooded with light. The glass walls open all around letting in cooling breezes filled with the scent of the sea mingled with that of the pines, sage, wild thyme, rosemary and lavender - lots of lavender. In fact, the driveway turning circle welcomes you with a profusion of lavender as does the golden gravel pathway that is lined with it as you enter the hotel.

Unlike most of their other hotels in this small, family created and run hotel chain based in the French Alps at Megève, this hotel was built as a hotel. When Jocelyne and Jean-Louis Sibuet decided to create one of their hotels in St. Tropez, they came across this property which was run down and a little sad. What they saw was the incredible view over the Mediterranean sea. They tore it back to its walls and resculpted the buildings and grounds to do a total make-over, They terraced the hillside making areas for different types of activities. They were a bit stuck with the rooms since they did not want to completely tear down the hotel and start from scratch. But these too they stripped back to the walls and installed "open plan" bedrooms with modern rustic bathrooms straight out of a glossy "home and garden" magazine. They added balconies to extend the rooms to the great out-of-doors.

Each of the 39 rooms is unique in its color palette and its furnishings even if the shape and size are often the same. They are filled with antiques some of which are more elegant and others of which are comfortably used. New old style beds are used, often 4 posters, some of wood, some of wrought iron. Color schemes vary from the earth tones if Tuscany to pastels; from bright reds against white to soft greys and lavenders. Each is different. You might want to make your color preferences known when you make your reservation.