Escaping to higher altitudes for some fresh mountain air is the perfect antidote to the busy coast and summer temperatures of the Côte d’Azur. Read on to discover the Monaco Life list of top rural hotels in the region.  

From remote hotels with pristine mountain views to châteaux replete with luxury spas and excellent restaurants, there are some wonderful high-altitude resorts and venues to be found if you know where to look.

Thankfully, we do. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best. 

Pure Montagne Resort & Spa 

Found in the Vésubie valley, around an hour and a half from Monaco or a little longer if you take the scenic route, the Pure Montagne Resort & Spa reigns supreme as the finest “aparthotel” in a region sometimes described as a “Niçoise Switzerland”.  

34 suites and rooms across five chalets sit alongside a Nordic-inspired spa, lounge rooms and a bar that make this destination the perfect place to unwind in stunning natural scenery. Here are tonnes of activities to be discovered outside too, from bike rides and hiking to wild swimming and the Vésubia Mountain Park, of which the hotel is a partner.  

Fiocco di Neve Relais & Spa

Next up is the Fiocco di Neve Relais & Spa – meaning snowflake in Italian – in the Piedmontese village of Limone. This place is a bit harder to reach at the moment than it should be as works on the Tende tunnel, which was near destroyed by Storm Alex some years ago, are not yet complete and a provisional date for reopening has been pushed to sometime in 2024. Still, the beauty of this idyllic Italian mountain town continues to draw in tourists and visitors willing to “go the extra mile”. 

The Fiocco di Neve Relais & Spa is found in the town centre, thus offers excellent nearby amenities and services. The rooms are spread across a range of suites suitable for those suitable for family groups to couples looking for a romantic getaway.  

The inclusion of a spa at this hotel makes that a very real probability and it is luxuriously decorated in a way only Italians know how to achieve. The White Restaurant & Lounge Bar is also worth a visit and serves up exquisite gourmet cuisine inspired by regional produce that is backed up a wine cellar housing some 700 different labels.

Domaine Ribiera

The setting of the five-star Domaine Ribiera is perhaps more Provence than alpine, but it is situated in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department so we will leave the classification of this resort up to you.  

Surrounded by greenery, from forests to rolling hills, this place certainly ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to a rural retreat thanks to its verdant locale and 12 hectares of landscaped grounds. But the Domaine Ribiera also comes with heaps of high-end amenities, not least its very own golf course, spa and restaurant, Le Ribiera. 

The hotel has 20 rooms, six of which are luxury suites, and it is part of the Les Collectionneurs network of “hôtels de charme” picked by Monaco’s beloved Alain Ducasse. 

Villa Morelia

Back in the French alps, near the town of Barcelonnette and at the “gateway” to the Mercantour National Park, is the Villa Morelia. An elegant country house, it is set in a hectare of parkland with a swimming pool and boasts magnificent mountain views from every side.  

There are multiple accommodation options, including a Grande and a Prestige suite, as well as a gastronomic restaurant that the Michelin Guide describes as offering “a certain bourgeois charm… a flattering setting for a market cuisine, seductive and faithful to tradition”.  

Château de Taulane

For the first of our recommendations in the Verdon area, we head to the four-star Château de Taulane. This is a great destination for couples and groups looking to blend a spot of golf with some true relaxation at a top-notch spa. There’s also a great restaurant within the grounds, which is open from April through to October.  

The Château de Taulane is a vast 18th century estate, with some 29 rooms typically available, but another 18 on offer if you’re looking to book the place out for an event or wedding. One thing to note is that if you were hoping to get away with your pet in tow, no animals are permitted at this address.

Hôtel & Spa des Gorges du Verdon 

Finally, we come to the Hôtel & Spa des Gorges du Verdon, which is located at almost 1,000 metres above sea level in the heart of the Verdon area. This four-star hotel is also very close to the jaw-droppingly beautiful canyon that makes this region famous. It is home to a Cinq Mondes Spa that will also take your breath away too.  

Each of its 30 rooms and suites, including one duplex for those needing extra space, opens onto a gorgeous panoramic view of the surrounding landscape that promises to “lift your spirits” and fulfill those desires to escape from the urban coast.  

There’s an onsite restaurant with an equally lovely terrace, as well as a sister restaurant called Le Styx in the nearby village.  

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Photo credit: Pure Montagne Resort & Spa