Lily of the Valley is the love project of a father and daughter who manifested their dream hotel in the world-famed Côte d'Azur - the Mediterranean coastline of southeast France.
They hired Philippe Starck, a French industrial architect, and designer, to bring Lily of the Valley to life. His two-level structure is made of stone, wood, concrete, and marble.
If you see any resemblance to one of the ancient seven wonders of the world, that's no coincidence. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was an inspiration for the plant-covered building.
The hotel blends in with the environment with greenery on its facade and a low-rising design.
Another unique feature of Lily of the Valley that's unlike most places around here is it's open all year. So, you get to enjoy the winter sun at the French Riviera even when the temperature falls below beach-time levels.
The base of the building is home to what the hotel calls a 'wellness village', where its 82 feet (25 meters) long pool is lined up with the Mediterranean coastline. The sea-facing second floor is host to 44 luxurious rooms and suites.
The hotel's hilltop setting above Gigaro Beach is surrounded by lush greenery with pine trees and wildflowers spicing up the already scenic views of the coast of the French Riviera.
Saint-Tropez, famous for its high-class beach clubs frequented by wealthy yacht owners, is a 30-minute drive, and the little commune of La Croix-Valmer, with several picture-perfect beaches, is 10 minutes from the hotel.
Lily of the Valley has 38 rooms and six suites, and what all have in common are modern Mediterranean-styling, luxurious linens from French company Garnier Thiebaut and marble-laden bathrooms with freestanding bathtubs and/or rainfall showers.
Pool Suite Villa
For fans of saunas, there is a huge wellness suite that is connected to the hotel's spa.
The "Shape Club" - as the hotel calls it is a 21,528 square feet (2,000 square meters) space dedicated to sports and relaxation, where you can find two steam rooms, a sauna, and a snow room with an ice fountain to cool down.
If you are wondering about Lily the Valley's target group, their estimation of 20 minutes of travel to the hotel by helicopter from Nice should be quite telling.
The hotel's Beach Club will spoil you with tasty bites and cold drinks between your sunbathing sessions.
The La Brigantine has all the Italian classics we crave, plus Pépé, the beachside bar, has further snacks and cocktails to ease your appetite.
The miles-long Plage de Gigaro has pine forests on each side, and Lily of the Valley has its own private section of the picturesque sandy beach.
Colline Saint Michel, Boulevard Abel Faivre, Quartier de Gigaro, 83420 La Croix-Valmer, France
