What are the historical features of the La Magdeleine building?

La Magdeleine is an 18th-century Provençal bastide, the former residence of the d'Albertas family, now a 5-star boutique hotel in the heart of the village of Gémenos. It is nestled in a 2-hectare wooded park with century-old plane trees, between Marseille, Cassis and Aix-en-Provence.

What are the check-in and check-out times?

Check-in is from 4:00 pm and check-out is before 12:00 noon. To adjust these times to your work or travel constraints, please contact our reception team, who will do their best depending on availability.

Do you have secure parking and Wi-Fi?

Yes. Free private parking under CCTV surveillance is available to all our guests, with no prior reservation required. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property: rooms, lounges and terraces.

Yes, dogs of all sizes are welcome at La Magdeleine for €25 per night. A resting mat and a bowl are provided. Please let us know when you book.

What dining options are available at La Magdeleine?

Chef Mathias Dandine oversees two dining experiences: the fine dining restaurant La Magdeleine - Mathias Dandine, awarded 1 Michelin star and 3 Toques by Gault&Millau; and Le Café Magdeleine, a bistronomy restaurant ideal for lunch on the terrace, tea time or a relaxed dinner.

Is it necessary to book to dine at the fine dining restaurant?

Booking is strongly recommended, whether you are staying at the hotel or visiting from outside.

How is breakfast served and what do you offer?

Served from 7:00 am to 10:30 am, breakfast is a generous, entirely homemade buffet: a variety of breads including gluten-free options, pastries, honey from the estate, homemade jams, fruit tarts, seasonal fruit, brousse du Rove cheese, matured cheeses and gravlax salmon. A continental breakfast is also available through room service.

Do you offer brunch, and is it open to non-residents?

Yes. Sunday brunch at Le Café Magdeleine, served from April to October from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm, is open to everyone. The menu changes every week depending on what the market has to offer. We recommend booking a few days in advance.

What facilities does the Spa & Wellness Area offer?

The area includes a sheltered outdoor jacuzzi with water heated to 38°C, a sauna, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness corner and a massage room opening onto the lavender garden. In summer it is enjoyed on the patio in the heart of the garden, and in winter in the treatment room inside the bastide. It is reserved exclusively for our guests.

How do I book a treatment or massage at the spa?

Treatments and massages are provided by our professional therapists and must be booked in advance, subject to availability, either solo or as a couple. Feel free to plan your programme with our team when you book your stay.

Is the outdoor swimming pool open all year round?

Our large outdoor swimming pool, in the heart of the park and surrounded by sun loungers, is open seasonally during the sunny days of spring and summer. It is closed in winter, when the jacuzzi and sauna take over.

Do you offer typically Provençal leisure activities?

Yes. A pétanque court is available to our guests in the park, and boules can be borrowed from reception. We also offer a giant chess set, board games, electric bike loans, and tours of our wine cellar with wine-tasting workshops on reservation.

What is there to visit near the hotel?

In the heart of the village of Gémenos, at the foot of the Sainte-Baume massif: Aubagne, birthplace of Marcel Pagnol, 5 minutes away; the Calanques and Cassis 20 minutes away; the Paul Ricard Circuit at Le Castellet 20 minutes away; Marseille and Aix-en-Provence 35 minutes away.

How do I get to La Magdeleine by train or plane?

The hotel is easily accessible via the A50 and A52 motorways. By train: Marseille Saint-Charles station is 25 minutes away (high-speed lines; Paris 3 hours, Lyon 1 hour 30 minutes) and Aix-en-Provence TGV station is 30 minutes away. By plane: Marseille-Provence airport is 45 minutes away.

Is the hotel accessible to guests with reduced mobility?

Due to the historic layout of the bastide, we cannot guarantee full accessibility: a few steps lead into the building, and some corridors, the lift and certain doorways are narrow. We can still welcome guests with reduced mobility, preferably accompanied. We invite you to contact our team before your stay so that together we can determine the most suitable arrangements.

Does the hotel have electric vehicle charging stations?

We do not yet have a dedicated charging station, but a 220 V socket is available in the car park with an extension cable. The installation of charging stations is planned.

Is it possible to hold a private or corporate event at La Magdeleine?

Yes, the bastide hosts weddings and family celebrations, as well as corporate day meetings and residential seminars, board meetings and product launches. Set in a 2-hectare private park, 4 modular, fully equipped function rooms (Garlaban, Sainte-Baume, Magdeleine, Orangerie) and a dedicated team create tailor-made events. La Magdeleine can be partially or fully privatised.

What room configurations are available for family stays?

Our 28 Provençal-style rooms and suites feature a bathroom with bathtub or shower, air conditioning in summer, bathrobes and slippers. For families, the Family Suite (up to 68 m²) offers two bedrooms and a small lounge with a fireplace, while the Suites (41 to 50 m²) accommodate up to 4 people with views over the park. A baby cot can be added to any room, and both restaurants offer a children's menu. For larger groups, the villa Le Mas des Soubeyrans (sleeping 8 to 10) can be booked for private use.

Living the Provençal moment

5-star hotel in Provence

A family homein the heart of Gémenos

At the end of the drive, La Magdeleine stands in the heart of the village of Gémenos, between Marseille, Cassis and Aix-en-Provence. The first thrill of seeing this house of character gives way to the sincere pleasure of being there.

Once the family home of a count, now a charming 5-star hotel, it has kept its soul intact and today welcomes travellers in search of tranquillity and authenticity.

“Like an invitation to live in the moment”

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At first lightin the shade of the plane trees

It is a morning like any other, and yet unique at La Magdeleine… The homemade breakfast is served in fine weather on the terrace or in the comfort of our lounge.

With delight, summer and winter alike, we take time to indulge, plan family outings for the day, and savour these precious moments for two.

“At La Magdeleine, every morning is a promise.”

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The morningas you wish

The day continues around the outdoor pool, in the heart of the park, in the fortified villages of Provence or along the trails of the Sainte-Baume Regional Nature Park.

Or in the vineyards, or in Aubagne in the footsteps of Marcel Pagnol. And so many other treasures that make Provence so charming.

“A morning to the rhythm of the cicadas.”

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Time for a breaka gourmet one, before…

Back at La Magdeleine, at noon or later, Le Café Magdeleine is the setting for lunches and spontaneous cravings, with market cuisine or a delicious tea time.

At any time of day, we love to meet there. Wide open onto the terrace and gardens, and cosy when the cold weather sets in, Le Café brings Provençal hospitality to life.

“A taste of the Provençal art of living.”

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An afternoon,just like at home

Then you imagine a day that suits you. Gentle and soothing at the Spa & Wellness area, sheltered in a patio in the heart of the garden from spring, inside the 5-star hotel in winter.

Lively and joyful, between board games, pétanque outside, the vegetable garden and reading in the lounge… Young and old come and go in the family home; everything is simple and easy.

“Little daily pleasures in a country-chic spirit.”

Wellness area

In the evening, at the tableof Mathias Dandine

True to the soul of traditional houses, the chef loves cooking for others and welcomes you for a gourmet dinner at the restaurant La Magdeleine – Mathias Dandine.

Following the scents and flavours of the Provençal terroir, he shares a contemporary and daring menu.

“A family table, Michelin-starred cuisine.”

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Sweet dreams under the starsof Gémenos

Time to retire to your Room or Suite; each one unique, spacious, welcoming and naturally refined, just like La Magdeleine.

After a last game of pétanque in the cool of the evening or a digestif by the fireplace in the lounge, tomorrow is another day under the Provençal sky.

And for large families, we welcome you at the Villa Le Mas des Soubeyrans.

“Stay, savour, enjoy the moment at La Magdeleine.”