At the foot of the Popes’ Palace in Avignon, La Mirande is a famous 18th-century mansion owned by the Stein family. Here, Chef Florent Pietravalle, once a member of Pierre Gagnaire’s kitchen brigade at Le Balzac in Paris, glorifies traditional French cuisine. This deeply commited chef, for whom the key to well-being is seasonal and local produce, has just won his first Michelin star. La Mirande, 4 place de l’Amirande, Avignon (04 90 14 20 20).