Houses with art galleries, artists’ studios or shops selling furniture and ornaments kan you find in our selection of charming B&Bs, country houses (gites) and small hotels
Galerie Passère
Forcalquier , FranceJust off a narrow street at the heart of the pretty mediaeval village of Forcalquier is the Passère Gallery. The paintings and sculptures in the window invite you in to see more. The gallery opens onto a pretty courtyard with a fountain, off which are another gallery and a staircase leading to the old vaulted cellars. Exhibitions of work by local artists are regularly held there. But this beautiful eighteenth-century building is also home to a B&B. There is a studio apartment overlooking the courtyard, with a bedroom, a bathroom and a kitchenette. On the first floor of the house are the “Moutons” and “Bayadères” double rooms, each with a children’s bedroom and a bathroom. They are decorated in warm hues and the walls are hung with works of art by the owner, who is a painter and sculptor. She lives here in the summer and welcomes travelling artists and guests for a few months. On hot summer days, you can take a dip in the pool surrounded by a small garden at the side of the house. A beautiful place to stay in the Alpes de Haute Provence, a multi-faceted region with both nature and culture.