Le Couvent des Minimes is a stunning 5-star Hotel & Spa L’Occitane set in a 400-year-old stone convent in Mane, Provence. After a top-to-bottom renovation completed in 2023, this historic property emerged not only with fresh modern interiors but as a leader in luxury sustainability. It proudly demonstrates that a high-end hotel **“can coexist with environmentally respectful practices without compromising quality or service”. A crown jewel of its efforts is the spa – the world’s first spa to earn ECOCERT’s Sustainable Spa certification. Powered by the vision of L’Occitane en Provence (the natural cosmetics brand), the spa embraces holistic well-being for guests and the planet. The new geothermal system beneath the convent provides heating and cooling for the entire property, virtually eliminating fossil fuel use for climate control. This geothermal energy also heats the spa’s pools and hot water, significantly cutting carbon emissions. Throughout the hotel, you’ll notice thoughtful touches: motion-sensor LED lighting in cloistered hallways, extensive use of local materials (bathrooms feature creamy Pyrenean marble, and much of the furniture was crafted or restored by Provençal artisans to avoid long transport), and a pervasive sense of calm that harks back to its convent roots. The gardens are a paradise of lavender, sage, and native plants – not just for beauty, but purposefully chosen for drought resistance and low water needs, aligned with the hotel’s water conservation plan. An innovative greywater recycling and drip irrigation system nourishes these gardens, and guests are encouraged to visit the organic herb garden whose bounty (rosemary, verbena, thyme) is used in both spa treatments and the kitchen. For dining, the Couvent’s gastronomic restaurant Le Feuillée and its casual bistrot Pamparigouste prioritize fresh, local, often organic ingredients. Partnerships with nearby farmers mean the goat cheese, strawberries, and truffles on your plate come from just down the road. Even the wine list is rich with organic Provencal wines. The hotel’s commitment to community is such that it favors local suppliers not only to reduce CO2 from transport but to bolster the regional economy. In-room amenities are another highlight: no single-use plastics here. Instead, you’ll find elegant refillable dispensers of L’Occitane products and solid shampoo bars – part of a “zero plastic, zero waste” philosophy that also includes digital check-in, electronic menus and directories (massively reducing paper use). Behind the scenes, housekeeping uses an eco-friendly electrolyzed saltwater cleaning solution (Aquama) to sanitize without chemicals. And on the parking grounds, a dozen electric vehicle charging stations await, powered by the hotel’s green energy mix (including on-site solar panels artfully hidden in garden pergolas). Yet despite these modern interventions, the Couvent hasn’t lost an ounce of soul: you can still attend meditation or gentle yoga in the old chapel, or simply sit in the cloister at dusk listening to cicadas. With its blend of heritage and forward-thinking green initiatives, Le Couvent des Minimes stands out as a fundamentally “authentic and eco-responsible” haven in Provence – proof that a storied building can be transformed for a sustainable future while keeping its heart and history intact.