Hidden behind a rather unassuming wooden doorway is the surprise and delight of Palais Aoma, formerly known as Maison Artishow. Here, we experienced one of our most memorable hotel stays. Ever! This former 15th-century convent is definitely a divine stay. With the owner’s art collection at every turn, you find yourself in a timeless sanctuary, with all mod cons.
From our avant-garde Cézanne Suite — its interiors worthy of gracing the pages of the most beautiful design magazines — to the choice of two swimming pools, a dreamy spa, and glorious grounds, everything about this place gives you the feeling that you’ll never want to leave.
But leave you must, as the town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, renowned as the Venice of Provence, is calling. Known also as France’s enchanting centre for antiques, you begin to see why Palais Aoma is perfectly placed to attract those who appreciate history and the finer things in life. Read on as we share our stay and what we found to see, do and love here.
What did we especially love about Palais Aoma?
Our best compliment to Palais Aoma is that despite its otherworldly grandeur, we found ourselves at home here. The communal areas are welcoming. This is very much a sit down, settle in, and relax sort of place rather than a look with your eyes only and do not touch! The staff go out of their way to help with whatever you need, whether it’s a dinner reservation, the best market spots, or where to go antique shopping.
It’s the kind of stay where you feel completely immersed in the moment, as if time itself has slowed to let you take it all in. Every piece of furniture, every artwork you rest your eyes on, seems to carry its own story. All chosen with such intention that you can’t help but feel intrigued and part of something meaningful. This is more than just extraordinary décor — it’s a curated experience that invites you to pause, notice, and feel.
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue location
For those in the know, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue has many, many charms, but parking is not one of them. Palais Aoma is not so easy to find, as it’s tucked away in a quiet street. We Brits abroad needed our wits about us to find it, or at least a Sat Nav in the know. You traverse narrow streets and need to avoid the pedestrian-only areas.
Parking
On arrival, Phew! The car will be valet-parked in the hotel garage. Finding car parking in the town centre is difficult, especially on Market days, so complimentary Hotel parking on arrival is a real bonus.
Once there, we did not need the car once, as L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is best discovered on foot. The hotel’s location in the heart of the town centre is the best, and all major attractions are nearby.
Our Stay at Palais Aoma
Check in
As those big doors swing open, you are greeted and escorted through the corridors past a big red lips sofa, and some equally impressive artwork to a sumptuous lounge. At Palais Aoma, you won’t find a formal reception desk. Instead, you are welcomed as a best friend would into a home.
With five suites and two apartments available, you’ll never be in a long check-in line here. Our arrival is completed with minimum formalities on Chesterfield sofas in front of a roaring fire, surrounded by intriguing lights!
It’s hard not to be distracted by the array of antique furniture, statues, and sculptures surrounding you. These give an indication of not only the owner’s talents in amassing interesting objects d’art but also this town’s interest in antiquities.
The Rooms
You might find it tough to choose a suite or an apartment as they are all unique and represent a different style. The smallest suite is 55m², and the largest apartment is 130 m².
Our Cezanne Suite
Spiralling up the stone staircase to our first-floor room, Cezzane, I felt like a princess arriving at her castle boudoir (actually, does a Princess have a boudoir? Anyway, you get what I mean!) The heavy rustic wooden doors add to the atmosphere and intrigue. There are no lifts in this section, and the staff are used to helping with luggage with their usual effortless ease.
Once inside, the impressive dimension is a big wow, and the incredible decor awaits further exploration.
Some of the Art Details
The “Cézanne” room captures the essence of the painter with a striking painting by Tony Ramos representing the Sainte-Victoire mountain (a favourite theme of Cézanne). As we walk around admiring different aspects, we’re told the lush ceiling-to-floor curtains came from the ballroom of the Plaza Hotel in New York—nice!
See that coffee table on the rug, that ain’t just any old glass table – it’s a Chodoff coffee table, the prominent New York antiques dealer and furniture designer. When you do your research, after very carefully placing your glass down on it, you learn that Chodoff designed furniture and interiors for the likes of Valentino and Jane Fonda. How freakin’ cool is this?
The Bathroom
An oversized headboard with a partition divides the room and separates the bathroom behind. Here, we find his-and-hers Italian basins and a large shower. The artwork on the toilet door is “interesting”—see what you think.
A very comfortable king-sized bed, opulent linen, and crisply folded towels complete our stay. Palais Aoma has even chosen a scent from Nicolosi Creations’ perfume range to “take you on a Provençal journey”.
Later that day, I find myself writing at the partner desk. It has marks from the ages, and I can’t help but think of the work that has been achieved sitting at this very desk. Were we told the desk was used for Morse code during the war? Even if I’m making this up, this is exactly the sort of place where your imagination can, and should, run wild, with the history you are immersed in.
One night was not enough here; we would have loved longer to appreciate it all in more detail!
Breakfast
We arrive at breakfast to find a giant fried egg on the wall … like you do! It’s a quirky start to the day in a place full of character. We’re the only ones staying in this period as they are renovating and rebranding. Mr Wren cracks open his boiled egg under a massive vintage Pernod poster. We love the wonderful off-beat vibe and spend the whole time grinning at each other!
I’ve got to hand it to them—the breakfast selection was outstanding. On offer were fruits, pastries, charcuterie and cheeses, and eggs. It was a simple classic French breakfast at its best—just great fresh food superbly presented.
There are two dining areas. In the winter, you can sit at a large communal breakfast table, or in summer, you can choose one of the chairs on the terrace overlooking the water.
The grounds
Swimming pools
You have the choice of both an inside and an outside pool. The inside pool was undergoing maintenance whilst we were there, but even so, we couldn’t resist popping our heads in to find part of an aeroplane amongst treasures here.
The outdoor pool lies in a tranquil courtyard — a rarity in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue’s historic centre.
On the rooftop is a Jacuzzi area. This is part of the owner’s private apartment and can be available to guests upon request. Guests can be invited to drinks on the rooftop, and indeed, the views across the town and the surrounding countryside will make for a memorable event.
Espace AOMA Spa
Those after a wellness moment with the height of luxury are in for a treat. Espace AOMA is led by the owner, Zahara. It is dedicated to the well-being of body and mind. You can choose from massage, facials, and nail services, and there is a lovely yoga exercise room with a private garden outlook. Treatments often include the use of the Hamman, Jacuzzi, and swimming pool.
For more, see their website: Espace AOMA
Who stays here?
If you are looking for a treat to celebrate a special occasion, this is the memorable stay you are after! It’s a perfect choice for a romantic break and art enthusiasts exploring L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue’s antique scene,
Guests come from around the globe, with the majority of reviews written in French, followed by English and German, as shown on Booking.com
Suites start at €370 per night, and apartments with two bedrooms and a minimum three-night stay start at €600 per night.
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Palais Aoma is located in the historic Centre of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a delightful town great for a wander. As it enters the town, the Sorgue river splits into a multitude of small rivers and streams, giving the place a Venice-like quality. This natural phenomenon lies at the root of the town’s history, with 15 waterwheels dotted throughout marking the historical locations of mills and dyehouses.
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is Provence’s antiques capital, the third largest European antiques market after London and Paris. Apart from the antique shops, huge antique markets take over the whole town twice a year: at Easter and in August.
There are two weekly markets on Thursday and Sunday. Thursday’s market is smaller. Antiques, bric-a-brac, and arts and crafts feature prominently at the Sunday Market.
Easy Day Trips from Palais Aoma
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is also perfectly placed for discovering the best of the Luberon and beyond:
- Gordes – A stunning hilltop village just 25 minutes away.
- Roussillon & the Colorado Provençal – Discover ochre cliffs and hiking trails straight out of a painter’s palette. Read our guide here.
- Avignon – History and culture await just 30 minutes down the road – discover our guide here.
Read our Guide to Discovering Lovely Luberon – our tips for the best trip.
How to get to Palais Aoma
The Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Tourism Office provides this helpful guide to transportation in the area, including local taxi options.
By Train from London
We took the Eurostar train from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord in just 2 hours and 17 minutes.
Then a TGV INOUI from Paris to Avignon, where we hired a car for the 30-minute drive from Avignon.
By Car
We were pleased to have hired a car (we booked through Discover Cars, more details here) to enjoy the region.
By Air
The nearest International airports are Avignon-Provence and Marseille-Provence Airport. We have previously flown in with Ryanair from London Stansted. Other operators from London include EasyJet from London Gatwick and British Airways from London Heathrow.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for a luxury boutique hotel with a difference, check out Palais Aoma. Our night in ‘Cezanne’ will long stay in our memories. I loved being surrounded by interesting artworks. The whole stay was sublime! This was such a unique stay and is highly recommended for those who enjoy the finer things in life.
Wren’s Tips for a great stay!
Book ahead for weekend stays – The town gets busy during Sunday market day.
Chat with the hosts—they know all the history surrounding you and have brilliant recommendations, especially for art lovers and foodies.
Pack light – You’ll want room in your suitcase for market treasures and maybe a piece of art…
The Details
Address: 23 Rue Denfert Rochereau, Isle sur la Sorgue 84800
Website: https://palais-aoma.com
Disclosure: Little Wandering Wren was a guest of Destination Luberon. All opinions are my own. Thank you so much for this lovely invitation.
Follow us on Social Media: Find more photos of my travels and stories on Instagram at @littlewanderingwren.
For more travels in Luberon, France, please see:
Discovering Lovely Luberon – our tips for the best trip
A guide to the Ochre Trails of Luberon
Discovering Bastide du Laval, an Organic Olive Oil Mill
A review of Bastide du Mourre, Luberon
Also in the region: How to get the best from an Avignon City Pass
4 comments
Wow, another beautiful resort. The rooms are lovely. You find the best places to vacation. Take care, have a great day!
Thank you Eileen – this was certainly a memorable stay, all those amazing antiques there was so much to admire and appreciate here. We loved this stay!
Wren x
Yes, I enjoyed reading this greatful Post.
To travel is a most wonderful experience.
Thank you so much for your kind words Heidrun! I completely agree — travel truly is one of life’s greatest joys. I’m so glad you enjoyed reading about Palais Aoma. It’s such a special place, and I hope it inspires a future adventure to beautiful L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue!