Behind the walls of what appears to be — and certainly is — a classic farmhouse hotel in southern France, is something more: a place for artists to live, work, and exhibit, all courtesy of the Leroy Brothers.
Picasso used to live here. So did Chagall, Matisse, Alexander Calder, and Fernand Léger. Perhaps they bumped into Baldwin or Sartre at the local bakery. This is Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a small Provençal village just a few kilometers from the Côte d’Azur. On the edge of town, in a bucolic setting where flowers were grown for the production of Grasse perfumes, is Toile Blanche, a luxury boutique hotel created by another group of artists who work, exhibit, and live at the property — and who invite others to do the same.
Those who couldn’t paint the side of a barn are also welcome. Don’t know the difference between Cézanne and Seurat? Don’t worry. As long as you have a taste for elevated farmhouse living in the south of France — and who doesn’t? — you’ll be fine.
The three owners aren’t just artists, they’re siblings, known professionally as the Leroy Brothers, a “Post-Internet” digital art collective. As the hotel’s name implies, Toile Blanche is a blank canvas on which they experiment. They draw every plan themselves, and think of every detail. Of course there are works on display throughout the hotel, from the brothers, their grandfathers, and many others. “The suites are an extension of the traditional art gallery concept,” explains Grégory Leroy. But Toile Blanche isn’t just a hotel with an impressive art collection; you’ve seen that before. More crucially, it is itself a piece of art in progress.
What started as an old farmhouse with three rooms and a small restaurant didn’t stay that way for long. Little by little, the trio of hoteliers enlarged, transformed, and refined what became both their canvas and their own home. “We bought up neighboring buildings, including an old Spanish hacienda with Las Vegas–style marble and gold interiors, another farmhouse, and a house from the ’80s,” laughs Grégory. “They all have different architectural styles, but in the end, that’s what makes them so charming: each place has its own identity, its own cachet.”
Then the siblings erase it all, and recreate it. This gives the sixteen suites a family resemblance: minimalist lines warmed by natural tones and organic materials, terraces opening onto a splendid Provençal garden and, in some cases, a private swimming pool. But they are all unique.
We still haven’t mentioned the hotel’s masterpiece. Hidden away in the 20,000m² garden planted with pine trees and lavender, somewhere between the pools overlooking the valley and the estate’s two restaurants, a building of modern architecture contains the artists’ studio. Here, guests discover artists in residence, and even have the opportunity to spend an afternoon or evening in their company during the “Toiles Blanche Sessions”, which feature an artist, a musician, and a chef.
For each of these exhibitions, the hotel keeps a souvenir: a work of art that invites further discussion. An apt description of Toiles Blanche.
Book Toile Blanche on Tablet Hotels.
Nuts & Bolts
A bite-sized breakdown of your most frequently asked questions about Toile Blanche.
Who comes here?
Mainly couples, art lovers, who chose Toile Blanche for its artistic universe. In the words of Grégory Leroy: “It’s a marriage between us and the guests.” The owners are careful to limit the number of families present at any one time to ensure the tranquility of the premises.
When’s the best time to visit?
Although the hotel is open all year round, the region is particularly pleasant in June and September. The climate is ideal, without the crowds.
What else is there to do in the area?
It would be a crime not to visit Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Let yourself be guided by its cobbled streets, its centuries-old stone buildings decorated with flowers and its ramparts built on a rocky spur. Art aficionados won’t want to miss the Fondation Maeght, a timeless venue dedicated to modern and contemporary art, exhibiting artists such as Georges Braque, Joan Miro, and Alberto Giacometti, and the CAB Foundation.
What’s a design feature I would miss if you didn’t tell me about it?
It’s hard to pick out one thing in particular when every object has been chosen with care. Even when it looks finished, the hotel never really is. The owners continue to add vintage touches, found items here and there, and of course new works of art.
Best room for a solo traveler? A couple? A family?
Toile Blanche has 16 suites. As its name suggests, the Solo suite is tailor-made for a single traveler. It’s the smallest, but has a beautiful terrace. With its private pool, the Bon Vivant suite is ideal for a couple. Families will opt for the Mas de l’artiste. With its 100m2 and a dressing room that can be converted into a second bedroom, there’s no risk of feeling cramped.
What’s there to eat?
The hotel has two restaurants: the Guinguette, designed as an hors d’oeuvre bar, offers some twenty small dishes, like Provençal tapas, to share. In the evening, the Restaurant offers a bistronomic menu with an emphasis on seafood. Chef’s recommendation: Niçois farcis, a local specialty.
Anything to say about sustainability?
The owners naturally chose to build with terracotta. Wood and organic materials adorn the interiors, and you won’t find any disposable plastic in the rooms. Guests who choose not to use the cleaning service contribute to the planting of a tree every day. And through innovative technologies, the owners aim to achieve zero emissions by 2030.
What’s the final word?
You’ve seen hotels with impressive art collections. Toile Blanche takes the concept a lot further, family style.
Book Toile Blanche on Tablet Hotels.
