On this week’s episode, Melissa transports us to the South of France for a conversation with international hotelier Paddy McKillen about art, wine, architecture, and his passion project in Provence, Château La Coste. 

Villa La Coste, a 28 suite boutique hotel, sits on the grounds of the extraordinary 600-acre estate, Château La Coste, where you will also find an open-air contemporary art museum and winery. 

In this episode, you'll learn how Paddy went from working at his parent’s motor repair company in West Belfast to transforming a 300-year-old winery in the South of France into a wine estate and contemporary art park with a boutique 5-star hotel and incredible restaurants on site, including one from the Argentine celebrity chef and king of outdoor cooking, Francis Mallmann. 

 

Between the outdoor art complex and culinary offerings, plus the state-of-the-art spa, immaculate pool area, and ultra-chic accommodations, there is good reason Melissa is excited to highlight the hotel and the massive art park at Chateau La Coste. It features works by some of the most notable names in contemporary art and architecture, with sculptures and buildings from Frank Gehry, Tadao Andao, Louise Bourgeois, Andy Goldsworthy, Tracy Emin, Sean Scully, and Ai Wei Wei, to name a few.

 

The South of France is home to an expansive world of art. On this week’s Destination Hack, Melissa takes you on a tour of inspiring locations, fabled collections, and natural phenomena across Provence. 

 

Melissa’s Art Recommendations in Provence: 

Towns of note: Aix en Provence, Arles, and Les Baux

Attractions in Arles: Parc des Ateliers, Van Gogh Foundation, Musée Réattu, the Luma Foundation, Lee Ufan Foundation

Hotels in Arles: Les Maisons d’Arles (L’Arlatan and Le Cloitre) (Nord Pinus) 

Restaurants in and around Arles: Drum Cafe at the Luma Foundation, The restaurant at L’Arlatan; the outdoor café at Le Cloitre and La Chassagnette.

Other highlights: visit Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, the asylum where Van Gogh painted many of his most famous works; Carriere des Lumieres in Les Baux.