Gironde
This welcoming, family-run address has 14 country-chic rooms styled according to famous local châteaux; several have their own little salon (sitting-room…
Must-see hotels in France
Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville
Prepare to be dazzled – literally. Retro B&W, geometrically patterned carpets, curtains, wallpapers and drapes dress this chic hotel, wedged between…
Nice
This charming but strangely shaped villa dates back to 1890, and it’s packed with period detail – gilded mirrors, fireplaces, cast-iron balconies and old…
Vaucluse
What a place: a ravishing marriage of modern style and rustic Provençal architecture (a couple of the cavernous rooms even have troglodyte-style walls…
Dijon
This inviting three-star in a 17th-century hôtel particulier (private mansion) offers excellent value. The 13 rooms range from cosy, inexpensive 3rd-floor…
Rouen
Rouen’s finest hostelry (owned for the last five years by the Marriott) serves up a sumptuous mix of early-16th-century architecture – Flamboyant Gothic,…
The Jura Mountains
Within this elegantly restored farmhouse, five spacious, en-suite rooms – all with either hardwood or antique tile floors – are decorated with soothing…
Metz
A slick conversion of a 16th-century military arsenal and barracks, La Citadelle sits in a tranquil park in the heart of the city. The light, contemporary…
Champagne
Housed in a splendid neoclassical manor, Les Avisés is a touch of class in the heart of Champagne. Overlooking the park or vineyards, rooms manage the…
Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville
If Joséphine Bonaparte was living in today's celebrity limelight, her nickname would surely be JoBo. That's the philosophy behind the fabulously over-the…
Yonne
Atmospheric Cabalus offers four spacious rooms with sturdy beams, ancient tiles and stone walls in a 12th-century building right next to the cathedral…
Vaucluse
A regal place to stay: an 18th-century mansion once owned by the licentious lothario Marquis de Sade. Today it's anything but seedy; the palatial rooms…
Colmar
Bringing new-wave design to the heart of the old town, Hotel Quatorze occupies a lovingly transformed pharmacy dating from 1830. The 15 rooms and suites…
Bayeux
Located between Bayeux and Longues-sur-Mer, this splendid 18th-century château – set in 13.4 hectares of lawn and woodland – is a handsome and elegant…
The Dordogne
Surrounded by 6 hectares of grounds in the valley 4km south of Domme along the D46, this family-friendly B&B’s rooms are all named after flowers: our…
St-Émilion
New life has been breathed into this soulful two-star hotel since the De Boüard de Laforest family – owners of nearby Château Angélus – acquired it in…
Lorraine
Reclining in its own beautifully tended grounds, this turreted vision of a 19th-century château has grand rooms dressed in flouncy florals and antique…
Lourdes
Twelve kilometres south of Lourdes, this 17th-century farmhouse offers country charm and knockout mountain views. There are three rooms: the most spacious…
Alsace
This cute B&B sits a five-minute walk north of the centre. The spacious, wood-floored rooms are attractively beamed, and the pick of them have fine old…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
No joke. This fabulous childhood-themed hotel is a serious contender for Paris' best-value, most fun address, where you can play 'scrabble' or spin the…
Nancy
Taking a leaf out of the chic interiors book, this B&B combines art nouveau with contemporary design flourishes and boho flair to beautiful effect. The…
Les Terrasses by David & Louisa
Vaucluse
Riverside location, cute rooms, friendly owners and screamingly cheap rates – what's not to like about this little hotel? Okay, the rooms are small, but…
Parc Naturel Régional des Volcans d'Auvergne
It's difficult to picture a more darling place to bed down than Le Pavillon, where downlit rooms are laden with white faux-fur, heart-shaped cushions and…
Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville
The attention to detail at this antique-filled, 19-room hotel is impressive. From the period card table set as if time stopped halfway through a game, to…
Le Marais, Ménilmontant & Belleville
Cheap, brilliant value and just footsteps from the nightlife of rue JPT, Cosmos is a shining star with retro style on the budget-hotel scene that, unlike…
Alsace
Sitting opposite the Musée de l’Impression sur Étoffes and very close to the train station, this lovingly restored townhouse outclasses most of Mulhouse’s…
Parc National des Pyrénées
Surrounded by undulating peaks, Pouquette makes for a fabulous base while exploring the Vallée d'Aspe. Its five pleasantly furnished rooms are painted in…
Alsace
Gasp you might as you crest the hill and gaze out across the vines and the wooded peaks of the Vosges near this elegant guesthouse. The sound is silence…
Colmar
Luxurious but never precious, this hotel occupies the magnificent Maison des Têtes. Each of its 21 rooms has rich wooden panelling, an elegant sitting…
Ajaccio
The warmth of a family-run hotel, coupled with a prime location on a side street in the heart of town, make the Napoléon an excellent midrange choice…
Épernay
Nestled in a shuttered manor house on the Avenue de Champagne, this family-run B&B extends the warmest of welcomes. The trio of sunny, wood-floored rooms,…
Chamonix
Run by the same family since 1908, this welcoming hotel has stunning views of the Aiguille du Midi and Mont Blanc. There are 40 pine-panelled rooms, an…
Lyon
Representing a new wave of affordable lodging that doesn't sacrifice design smarts, Ho36 has transformed an old two-star hotel into an atmospheric spot…
St-Germain & Les Invalides
Excellent value for the style and tranquillity it offers, the Clément has 28 stylish rooms (with beautiful printed wallpapers and fabrics), some…
Golfe du Morbihan
Carnac and its surrounds have more than 15 camp grounds, including this luxury complex of 100-sq-metre sites, with 332 pitches as well as some fantastic…
Montmartre & Northern Paris
Created by the cocktail-loving Experimental group, this is a sophisticated lifestyle hotel in south Pigalle (aka 'SoPi') with cocktail 'minibars' in its…
Southern Corsica
If you’ve the urge – and the budget – to stay in Porto-Vecchio itself, there’s no better option than this cream-coloured waterfront hotel, arrayed around…
Chambres des Quatre Coins du Monde
Nancy
You'll receive a warm bienvenue at this lovely homestyle B&B on Nancy's fringes. As the name alludes, there are four rooms themed on different places…
Southern Corsica
This divine 15-room hotel, 5km east around the bay from Porto-Vecchio, occupies a former family estate amid the seafront eucalyptus, palm and pine. Its…
Épernay
Housed in a beautifully converted 18th-century mansion, this old-town hotel is big on atmosphere, with its skylit tearoom and revamped antique-meets…
