Discover the feeling of a true country inn of the South of France. Visit the L'Auberge Provençale Bed and Breakfast in the Shenandoah Valley, just one hour from Washington, D.C.

Your hosts, fourth-generation Chef Alain Borel, from Avignon, France, and Celeste Borel will transport you to a true Auberge of Provence where you can enjoy romantic accommodations and nationally acclaimed French cuisine.

Once an old Virginia sheep farm, L'Auberge Provençale was reincarnated 25 years ago as a French Country bed and breakfast inn catering to those in search of a relaxing getaway. Situated on eight acres, the inn is surrounded by 600 acres of cattle, corn, and soybean farms. In the spring the grounds of this lovely country inn are ablaze with 1,800 tulips and other flowers. Some travelers use L'Auberge as a base for exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Shenandoah and Civil War battle sites, while others are very content to enjoy the relaxed yet luxurious atmosphere of the inn with its splendid mountain and farmland views.

L'Auberge Provençale Bed and Breakfast offers seven luxury guest rooms and four suites tastefully and individually decorated with European furnishings and antiques, allowing you to sleep in country comfort. All rooms include private baths and High speed Internet access, while some feature a cozy fireplace and spacious sitting rooms. More private are two guest houses: one with four rooms and another with three, which feature antiques, faux-painted walls, and king size beds with canopy. Newly added is the Villa la Campagnette, located three miles from L'Auberge Provençale in Boyce, Virginia. This lovely 18-acre property features two suites and a Grand Master bedroom complete with swimming pool, gardens, and peace and quiet. It is perfect for overnight stays, cocktail parties, weddings, and small conferences.

Each morning, you'll be offered a multi-course gourmet breakfast feast featuring fresh homemade croissants, breakfast breads, café au lait, and fresh juices. The first course may include such fare as seasonal fruits in champagne, crepes or buttermilk pancakes with berries and créme fraiche. This is followed by creative egg entrées, perhaps with house-cured Norwegian Salmon, quail, and cottage fries.

Many guests come to L'Auberge Provençale just because of its excellent reputation for gourmet dining. Chef Borel has been featured on The Discovery Channel and highlighted in such magazine as Glamour, Bon Apetit, and Food and Wine. His talents have been acclaimed in a cable program called Great Chefs of the East. He was also invited to cook at the famous James Beard Society in New York City and has lectured about cooking at the Smithsonian Institute. Zagat Survey | USA Today named L'Auberge Provençale as "one of the top ten hotel reservations in the United States."

If you can't spend "a year in Provence," then get away to L'Auberge Provençale Bed and Breakfast in Virginia's Hunt Country. Renew your spirit with cuisine and service that is the center of any true French Auberge. Les Patrons Alain et Celeste Borel, vous souhaite la bienvenue.

You may make reservations for dinner at the historic Mt. Airy Manor House, the inn's own fabulous French cuisine restaurant. Feast in one of its three intimate dining rooms, decorated with antiques, fine art, Provençale fabrics, and an eclectic menagerie of hand-crafted animals.

Using herbs and vegetables from their own garden and fresh ingredients from local farmers, Chef Alain creates elegant cuisine with definite seasonings as in Provence, with a light hand on the sauces -- each a picture to please the eye as well as the palette. Complement your dining experience with excellent wines from the Borels' extensive wine cellar featuring French and American Chateau wines.

During your stay at L'Auberge Provençale, travel the backroads of beautiful Clarke County, nestled beside the Shenandoah River and framed by the gently rolling Blue Ridge Mountains.

Enjoy the local antique stores, horseback riding, hiking, biking, golf, canoeing, or fishing. Let your hosts prepare a lunch for you and take a picnic in this beautiful country. Or simply lounge on the inn's spacious porch with a glass of wine, enjoying the simpler pleasures, a respite from your otherwise hectic world.