15 votesLucille and Jacques Bon transformed their 17th century mansion into an elegant guesthouse, luxury hotel, and gastronomic paradise, known as Le Mas de Peint, which sits in a huge 550-acre property in the wild Camargue region. The Bons have a deep passion for the local cuisine, traditions, art, and culture and maintain a friendly and warmhearted atmosphere that pays tribute to the Camargue way of life.
Tucked away in the majestic landscape of Arles, Provence, this rustic mansion is stylishly decorated with antique furniture and contemporary colours of ochre-yellows, lavender blues, and dove greys that complement each other and give off a warm and friendly yet lavish vibe. Glorious gardens, a large swimming pool, and ranches with bulls and horses make this bucolic estate feel like a world of its own.
Dining at the Le Mas de Peint is a homey and communal experience. Meals are served in large rustic tables that are not only spaced near but are inside the kitchen. One can view the giant hearth and black range and watch the chef as he creates his simple masterpieces while enjoying breakfast or dinner. Every table is decorated with fresh roses. Paysan chairs and charming checkered curtains create lovely interiors that are so pleasant to wake up to.
The menu is centered on fresh and local produce. Seafood from the Mediterranean, local farm-raised beef, and Camargue red rice, which is grown in the property, are some of the restaurant’s specialties. The in-house chef Julien Banlier uses aromatic herbs and vegetables grown in the Mas’s gardens. The prix-fixe menu changes daily depending on the harvest and season. Some of the signature dishes in Le Mas de Peint include grilled game hen with roasted baby potatoes and beets flavored with cinnamon, roasted tuna flank with Provencal-style escargots, and beef tenderloin with seared foie gras and black truffles.
