In a valley of Upper Provence, 23 km N of Orange, 7 km E of Rhone at Bollene: pleasant holiday Logis de France, opposite tall feudal castle now housing Universite du Vin. Friendly staff families .welcomed. Lift, salon, bar; background music. Tasty, generous 'food, served on terrace scented with lavender, or in beamed restaurant (truffles a speciality); varied buffet Bali villa breakfast. Sizeable unheated swimmingpool amid trees; flowery garden; tennis, boules, ping pong.

Several small luxury hotels stand beside beautiful Lake Annecy, in this select resort village. This one, a gracefully converted old abbey, a built by Benedictines in 1694 and has been a villasince 1844: Cezanne once stayed. In its cloister is a trompe l'oeil mural of larger-n-life monks wearing sombre cowls and habits: `Atmospheric, if overpowering Monks cells in two vast galleries are now villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) of varying size, with the original stone-framed wooden doors. Our attractive room had dark wood antique furniture, exposed beams, a lake view. Service was courteous, and the food was good on the set menus. Dishes include char cooked in champagne; perch cooked with butter and herbs. `Impressive dessert trolley. Enjoyable Savoie wines. Copious buffet Bali villa breakfast. Modern paintings hang in the stone corridors and stairways, and in the vaulted basement, a piano bar plays late. The garden is well kept, full of flowers. There is a large terrace under ancient trees; by the lake are umbrellas and loungers. The villahosts conferences. More reports welcome.