Think seasonless: plot an autumn escape to the south of France

See Provence at its placid best [View in browser]( [Image]( [HOTELS]( [INSPIRATION]( [OFFERS]( [Image]( The early bird catches the worm. Or so they say. In the south of France, nature saves some of her treasure for latecomers. Stretching from western Aquitaine to southeastern Provence, the south is a canvas of laden vines, lavender fields and cliffs crowned with maritime pines. Though the postcards might suggest otherwise, this painterly vision doesn't vanish come September. As the crowds depart, the towns exhale and the land draws breath before the harvest. In our second ode to the out-of-season stay, we toast the health of southern France in autumn… [READ THE FULL STORY]( [Alternate text]( [Alternate text]( THE DESTINATION THE SOUTH OF FRANCE Known collectively as Le Midi, the southernmost regions are bound up with images of bronzed bodies, golden beaches and vineyards ripening beneath azure skies. But it's only with the onset of autumn that they slip back into their true rhythms. With the harvest over, winemakers in Aquitaine take stock over vats of new wine; in the coastal villages of Provence, the clamour of summer visitors has faded, replaced by the murmur of market day and the click of boules in the square. [Alternate text]( SEASONLESS STAY [VILLA LA COSTE, PROVENCE]( A short drive from Aix-en-Provence and the Luberon national park, Villa la Coste stands amid a landscape that has inspired for centuries. Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh are among the artists who felt compelled to commit its beauty to canvas. Where better to stay, then, than a hotel shaped by some of the biggest names in contemporary art and architecture. Tadao Ando, Tracey Emin and Louise Bourgeois are a few of the luminaries who contributed to the buildings and 600-acre grounds. The result is a monument to creativity that inspires whatever the season. [VIEW HOTEL]( MORE TO EXPLORE IN SOUTHERN FRANCE [Alternate text]( [DOMAINE DES ETANGS, AQUITANE]( Encircled by 2,500 acres of Cognac countryside, this 13th-century chateau is a relic of pre-revolution indulgence. Painstakingly restored with local stone, the ducal manor lords over grounds that include an art gallery, Roman baths, a lakeside tennis court and meticulously-trimmed gardens. [VIEW HOTEL]( [Alternate text]( [CHATEAU LES MERLES, DORDOGNE]( Chateau les Merles overlooks the fields and forests of the Dordogne valley. Its 17th-century bones have been outfitted with interiors that are much more modern, ensuring you won't feel like you're living in a museum. Bergerac is nearby, where the historic centre is lined with half-timbered houses. [VIEW HOTEL]( [Alternate text]( [Alternate text]( [Image]( [Image]( YOUR MEMBERSHIP LEVEL BlackSmith LOYALTY CREDIT $0 Why book with us? [Image]( BEST-PRICE GUARANTEE [Image]( SMITH EXTRAS ON ARRIVAL [Image]( NEW FINDS EVERY MONTH [Instagram]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [YouTube]( [Spotify]( We only contact you with news and offers that we genuinely believe will be of interest and we will never sell your details to third parties. This email was sent to {EMAIL} by Mr & Mrs Smith. [Unsubscribe]( or [update]( your contact details. Registered office: Registered office: Mr & Mrs Smith (Americas) Inc, 60 Broad St, Suite 2415, New York, NY 10004, United States. Company registration no: 443 8845 VAT no: GB802561850