We are the Banfields. Tom, Liz & Ava

Originally from London we moved to France 19 years ago with our baby daughter Ava. She’s now a beautifully fierce teenager who navigates between the gallic and the London with joyous ease.

We landed at Hotel de l’Orange in the spring of 2016 having been in the area and mad fans of Sommieres since 2009.

Before us, came Philippe de Frémont, before him, Colette Engstrom, and before both of them the Espanet & Leblanc families - that’s it - in over 500 years of existence. I’ll write a blog about all we know one of these days - if you’re interested, keep an eye out..

Liz is from a 5* hotel & restaurant background and Tom among other things a painter and decorator, lover of tepees and a fan of yarn around an open fire, by way of ski competitions and efforts to save the amazon. He sports an unfeasible amount of facial hair, especially in the heat & a legendary capacity to be the last man standing.

We love Sommières for its authenticity and variety; the lethargic charm of sun kissed Provence blended, sometimes awkwardly, with a tougher Mediterranean, less romantic but brimming with vitality and passion.

Around here, one can still catch the fading whiff of the riviera of Bardot’s heyday, feel the warm nostalgic waves of Jean de Florette’s country idyll and live for simple pleasures; the amazing Saturday morning market crammed full of gastronomic delights, the market where treasures are unearthed, oysters devoured, wine guzzled, to be finished off by a glorious poolside siesta.