L'Auberge Provencale Bed and Breakfast is located in White Post, Virginia, within the boundaries of the Virginia wine country. The bed and breakfast has been in business for over 40 years, presently offering 14 rooms to its guests. Eleven of these rooms are located at what is referred to as the main inn property, and the remaining three can be found four minutes away from the main acreage at their sister property called the Villa La Campagnette. The staff strives to provide an experience to their patrons that stands by the following motto: "Provence without a passport." In accordance with this, the assistant innkeeper hopes that their visitors are able to get away from their busy lives when they stay with her, "as though they are visiting another country entirely." She and the staff at the business put forth the effort to interact with their guests and to give recommendations that can help them fully experience the area that they are visiting.
L'Auberge Provencale Bed And Breakfast has 14 total rooms available for visitors, split between two properties. The first property, referred to as the main inn property by the owners, has 11 rooms situated throughout three buildings. The second location is called the Villa La Campagnette, or The Villa, and has three additional rooms. The Villa is a two-story building and is about a four-minute drive away from the main inn property.
The inside of the main inn property has some of the original hardwood flooring that dates back to when the building was first constructed in 1753. An extension was done in the 1860s, and some of the original stonework can be seen in rooms such as the main inn dining room, which is where breakfast is typically served. The rooms at the main inn property are all based on a Provence décor, but for the most part, they are simply colored in bright shades. According to Celeste, the owner, the most popular room among guests is the room called Renoir. This room is painted in a lighter blue shade and has a private garden entrance and a king-size bed.
There are other rooms available throughout the main inn property for those visiting L'Auberge Provencale Bed and Breakfast. The dining room and the sun room are both available for use and are the main options for where guests can eat their morning breakfast. There is a bar available for those staying at the property that the owner says has "a more modern feel to it" when compared to the historic nature of the rest of the home. The building has a restaurant inside that is open to the public as well as to guests. The only meal that isn't served to the public is the morning breakfast, which is reserved for those staying at the bed and breakfast. Otherwise, anyone can eat at the restaurant for both brunch and dinner.
The Villa is styled in a very similar way to the main inn property, but the building is slightly newer and also offers a pool, which is available for any guest at either location. The Villa has 18 acres of land with trees, gardens, and farmland encompassing it. According to L'Auberge Provencale Bed and Breakfast's website, the villa can be a great place for those that are looking for a more quiet area to be during their vacations. Each of the three rooms at this building contain Provence French country fabrics, art, and antiques.
The breakfast mentioned above is included in the rate of the guest's room and it may include croissants, muffins, coffee cake, some fruit appetizers, or apple dumplings, as well as a main course. Some of the main courses that have been made are scrambled eggs and bacon, quiches, and omelets. Oftentimes, a sweet dish is also provided, some examples being french toast, pancakes, or casseroles. Breakfast is served from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., and the owner mentions that they strive to make accommodations for those who have dietary restrictions.
For those who are looking for a bed and breakfast that accommodates events, L'Auberge Provencale Bed and Breakfast can be a location for such. According to the assistant innkeeper, weddings are a popular event at the bed and breakfast. Corporate retreats and parties that guests are having, such as Christmas parties or baby showers, can be held on-site as well. Larger groups can rent out the whole building if they book it far enough in advance, while smaller events can utilize the dining room for privacy.
A few policies have been put in place that visitors are expected to follow regardless of whether they are participating in an event or not. No pets are allowed at the property, and smoking is not permitted anywhere on the premises. Children under the age of eight are also not allowed to stay at the bed and breakfast due to the property being geared more toward a romantic getaway. Lastly, visitors to the bed and breakfast are asked to respect the quiet hours, which are from 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
The staff at the L'Auberge Provencale Bed and Breakfast has a motto that they work by, that being "Provence without the passport." The assistant innkeeper says that they want their guests to feel like they are getting away from "that hustle and bustle" and to "feel relaxed and welcomed... and to enjoy the quieter aspect of [the] area." She mentions that the staff strives to frequently interact with those staying with them. The staff also has a considerable amount of information about nearby attractions and about the history of the area, which they can share with those who are looking for things to do during their trip. Some places that are recommended to guests to visit are Shenandoah National Park, which offers many hiking trails and outdoor activities; the State Arboretum of Virginia, which has walking trails and picnic areas; and a few of the wineries that are part of the area. Concerning places to eat, the assistant innkeeper recommends their personal restaurant, which is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Two others that she would recommend after the one on-site are the Village Square Restaurant and Hunter's Head Tavern.
The assistant innkeeper believes that they are known for the food provided by their restaurant and also for their location. She says that the people that stay with them are of many ages, both old and young, but that the most common demographic are couples with the occasional small family. Many of their patrons are repeat guests, some of which have been visiting for over 30 years. A number of these visitors have left reviews about their favorite aspects of the business. One person said, "This was a delightful experience and everything was great; from the rooms, the breakfasts, the beautiful grounds, and very friendly and impeccable service." Another visitor said more specifically, "We were looking for a quiet relaxing place to stay and that is what we got. The room was beautiful and we were excited by the treats that the housekeepers provided in our room every morning. Everyone we met from the staff was so nice and welcoming, which helped our trip to be relaxing."
The assistant innkeeper says that one thing that has helped them to be successful is their "perseverance through whatever has come at [them]." The property is open year-round with a busy season that reportedly lasts through most of the year. From around May through November is when rooms are typically full, then there is a slightly slower season from January through March. Though the busiest months are generally from June through October, according to the assistant innkeeper.
The L'Auberge Provencale Bed and Breakfast has been in business for over 40 years. The current owners, Celeste and Alain Borel, have run the bed and breakfast ever since the business's inception, having bought the main inn property in 1981 as a restaurant and then soon converting it to serve as an inn as well. Before it was purchased by the current owners, it was used as a farmhouse that a family lived in. The main building on the land was completed around 1756 by a man named John Bell. A notable point about the history of this location, according to the assistant innkeeper, is that George Washington and his brother were the two that surveyed the land where the buildings were built on. The property only changed hands a few times before falling into the hands of Celeste and Alain.
Once the owners bought the property, they restored the main house, and in 2016 they extended the kitchen and added the bar so that they could fit more guests into those rooms. A few units were also added in the 80s and 90s so as to provide more space for people that were wanting to stay at the bed and breakfast.
13630 Lord Fairfax Highway
White Post, Virginia 22620
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Alain & Celeste Borel
