This Summer, we finally took the time to stop in Provence in the village of Vallabrègues, which lies on the bank of the Rhône river and has a rich history of wickerwork.
At Belle Vie Paris, we have been long time fans of Atelier Vîme, being inspired by their style, evocative storytelling, premium handmade wicker objects made in France and vintage furniture.
Since 2022, they are opening every Summer a pop up boutique in their beautiful 18th century Provencal mansion called "Hotel Drujon" and this stop in Vallabrègues was the perfect occasion to visit this ephemeral space.
Among the candles, vases, vintage objects and linen, books, ceramic creations from local artists, soap, furniture... there will be for sure something to like from their beautiful curation.
What I really liked is how the Medici vase -the most iconic shape of Atelier Vîme- is being featured throughout the boutique, coming in different material, shapes, sizes.
The outside of the boutique is as beautiful as the inside and we enjoyed having an insider sneak peek at those spaces often featured on their instagram feed.
Next door, hidden in a small street in a private courtyard, we discovered a gem of a hotel, "Maison Salix", recently opened after a tasteful renovation.
The house is 600 years old and the new owners have infused their eclectic style in all its spaces, with a timeless color palette and furniture selection and vintage and contemporary objects from around the world.
In the courtyard, you can relax in the turquoise pool and think about your next adventure in this inspiring region.
It can be walking along the Rhône, discovering the famous must-see places such as the Daudet mill or the Roman acqueduct "Pont du Gard".
Some major cities and villages are also nearby and worth seeing.
Tarascon is just a few minutes away and you can be in Arles in only 35 minutes.
In Tarascon, we found great inspiration at the Souleaido museum, a place celebrating the rich history of the brand and which seems suspended in time.
Vintage fabrics, prints and garments, provençal art creations from different periods and beautiful quilted blankets are all kept there. There is even the ancient print workshop where the famous "Indiennes (indian)" fabric was produced manually with the block print technique, hence their name. The collection of wooden stamps and colors -stored in an amazing color kitchen- is stunning.
