france hotels

Hôtel Roche

Corneille Faultless housekeeping and gastronomic menus at this seaside villa. 4 rue G Clémenceau, 35800 Dinard, Ille-et-Vilaine.

 

 

DAMPIERRE – Auberge du Château

Purpose-built in 1650 in rural surroundings just 30 minutes’ drive from Paris. Low rafters and undulating floors. 1 Grande Rue, 78720 Dampierre, Yvelines.

CRÉPON – Ferme de la Rançonnière

Tapestries and fine furniture are scattered about this fortified old farmhouse. Huge breakfasts of eggs and cream. Route d’Arromanches, 14480 Crépon, Calvados.

Hôtel Cléry

The team at this small 18th-century chateau are dedicated, enthusiastic and welcoming. A tree-lined drive leads up to the elegant white façade but, despite the splendid Louis XV wrought-iron staircase, there is no formality in the pale, simply furnished interior. Some of the bedrooms are in annexes. rue du Chateau, 62360 Hesdin-l’Abbé, Pas-de-Calais.

Château de Locguénolé

A vast lawn extends from the château down to the Blavet estuary, popular for sailing, and the park hugs 2km (1 mile) of coast. Inside, wood-panelled rooms are filled with tapestries and antiques. Sweat off a fine seafood dinner in the Turkish bath. Route de Port-Louis en Kervignac, 56700 Hennebont, Morbihan.

HESDIN-L’ABBÉ – Château de la Râpée

The decoration inside this 19th-century Gothic mansion is slightly eccentric (lots of antlers, carpets as wallcoverings), and public rooms can be a bit dark. But the location is tranquil, with fine country views, bedrooms are light and spacious and there are grounds to wander round. Serious classic regional cooking.

Hostellerie du Moulin

A half-timbered flour mill with cob walls and tremendous character, where the original workings are still operational and provide a focal point in the rustic sitting room. It enjoys a perfect setting too, beside the millstream set in fields. Pretty bedrooms with low rafters are tucked away in nooks and crannies. 2 rue du Moulin, 77940 Flagy, Seine-et-Marne.

LOUVIERS – Hôtel La Haye-le-Comte

Keep fit with tennis, pétanque, croquet, golf and mountain bikes. 4 route de La Haye-le-Comte, 27400 Louviers, Eure.

LAPOUTROIE – Les Alisiers

Great views from this modest farmhouse. Small but snug bedrooms. The kitchen specializes in Alsatian dishes. 5 Faudé, 68650 Lapoutroie, Haut-Rhin.

KAYSERSBERG – Hôtel Résidence Chambard

Ancient buildings with upmarket restaurant and pleasant rooms. 13 rue de Général de Gaulle, 68240 Kaysersberg, Haut-Rhin.

ETRÉAUPONT – Le Clos du Montvinage

Cheerful and spacious hotel located in the town, with pleasant, well-equipped bedrooms. 8 rue Albert Ledant, 02580 Etréaupont, Aisne.

Hôtel des Berges

One of the most highly regarded restaurants in the country, L’Auberge de l’Ill, has a number of select and beautifully furnished rooms, with a lush garden on the banks of the River Ill. It is run with verve by several generations of the Haeberlin family. 4 rue de Collonges, 68970 Illhaeusern, Haut-Rhin.

Manoir de Kertalg

Forest walks, tennis, fly fishing, riding and sandy beaches are all within easy reach of this miniature chateau. It has all the qualifications: stone-built, with steep slate roofs and dormer windows, and set in a vast park. Decoration is refined, and, though it’s officially a B&B, you can book a seafood supper. Route de Riec-sur-Belon, 29350 Moëlan-sur-Mer, Finistère.

Le Manoir du Butin

This classic 18th-century half-timbered Norman manor is outside town, in shady grounds within spitting distance of the sea. The rustic, heavily beamed interior is warm and comfy, especially on chilly evenings when the fires are lit. Great regional cuisine and a large selection of Calvados vieux. Phare du Butin, 14600 Honfleur, Calvados.

La Chaumière

Just outside the colourful little port, this timbered farmhouse is typical of the region. Set amid orchards, it is now a Relais et Château hotel boasting sea views, a friendly staff, well-decorated bedrooms, and good honest Norman cooking. In the same ownership is the nearby La Ferme Saint-Siméon. Route du Littoral, Vasouy, 14600 Honfleur, Calvados.

Les Moulins du Duc

This converted mill is set in manicured gardens amongst the wooded hills of Finistère, just above the lowest tidal reaches of the Belon. The mill itself is a restaurant offering very serious food – particularly seafood, owing to the location near the coast. Accommodation is in comfortable cottages dotted around the grounds. 29350 Moëlan-sur-Mer, Finistère.

Château de Montreuil

The kind of luxury you would expect of a Relais et Châteaux is presented here with real flair, from captivating bedrooms – each one different – and elegant public rooms to the private English gardens. The cooking uses garden vegetables and herbs. 4 Chaussée des Capucins, 62170 Montreuil-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais.

Auberge de la Grenouillère

Nicknamed ‘the Froggery’ by its fans (the walls are lined with froggy caricatures), a Michelin-starred riverside restaurant with rooms. The food, served on the outdoor terrace in good weather, is excellent and good value. Enchanting farmhouse rooms. La Madelaine-sous-Montreuil, 62170 Montreuil-sur- Mer, Pas-de-Calais.

Le Repaire de Kerroc’h

This quayside house built in 1793 has a romantic past, having once belonged to a pirate. Bedrooms differ in style. Old ones have a faded elegance, new ones are decorated in bright vivid colours. All are comfortable. 29 Quai Morand, Port de Plaisance, 22500 Paimpol, Côtes-d’Armor.

Château d’Adoménil

Moated château with turrets and hall, where a convivial air prevails. Rehainvillier, 54300 Lunéville, Meurthe-et- Moselle.

Auberge St-Pierre

On the mount’s main street, you’ll find home cooking and pleasing rooms. BP 16, Grande Rue, 50170 Le Mont-St-Michel, Manche.

Le Cerf

Picture-postcard-pretty inn, known for gastronomic Alsatian food. Modest rooms. 30 rue du Général-de-Gaulle, 67520 Marlenheim, Bas-Rhin.

Château de Brécourt

Splendid Louis XIII château, complete with moat and wooded park, boasting frescoed ceilings and fine furniture. Douains, 27120 Pacy-sur-Eure, Eure.

Le Manoir du Sphinx

The cliffside garden of this lofty hotel leads down to the rocky shore. 67 chemin de la Messe, 22700 Perros-Guirec, Côtes d’Armor.

Les Ajoncs d’Or

Cottagey, granite-built logis that seems frozen in time. Good Breton country fare. Kerbachique, 56340 Plouharnel, Morbihan.

Château de la Motte Beaumanoir

It’s only a B&B, but this 15th-century château with lake and landscaped garden is a great place for a break. 35720 Pleugueneuc, Ille-et-Vilaine.

Belle-Isle-sur-Risle

With a large island garden, it’s hard to imagine a more romantic setting for this late 19th-century mansion. 112 route de Rouen, 27500 Pont-Audemer, Eure.

La Chenevière

In summer the lawns are dotted with sun loungers, and tables and chairs, shaded by parasols, are set out on the terrace. But this refined Norman mansion will not only appeal to hedonists; the airy rooms are aesthetically pleasing too. Everywhere you look are paintings, architectural prints, ancient seals or objets d’art. Escures-Commes, 14520 Port-en-Bessin, Calvados.

Château des Crayères

A champagne buff’s paradise: the park of this graceful Louis XVI mansion is bordered by the cellars of all the great vineyards. Decoration of the grand interior is skilfull and sympathetic, retaining a sweeping staircase, marble columns and wood panelling. 64 bd Henry-Vasnier, 51100 Reims, Marne.

Château de Quineville

The thought of an oldstyle French provincial hotel in a drab seaside resort at the northern end of Utah Beach may not set your pulse racing, but the Château de Quineville – a fine 18th-century building set in 12 hectares of land – is quaint and charming. Golf, riding, tennis and sailing are all nearby. 50310 Quineville-Plage, Manche.

Auberge Bretonne

Home-grown fruit and vegetables feature large in Jacques Thorel’s cooking, which has earned two Michelin stars for this Breton-style Relais et Chateaux inn. The cellar is equally impressive. Tasteful bedrooms. You must book months ahead. 2 place Duguesclin, 56130 La Roche-Bernard, Morbihan.

Hôtel Sud Bretagne

A family-run four-star with an eye-catching blue and white façade. Facilities include indoor pool, billiards and its own ketch. 42 bd de la République, 44380 Pornichet, Loire- Atlantique.

Domaine de Bodeuc

Welcoming touches await guests at this handsome house in large grounds, with recently enlarged restaurant. 56130 La Roche-Bernard, Morbihan.

Le Clos Saint-Vincent

An essential stopover on the Riesling wine route. Excellent cuisine. Route de Bergheim, 68150 Ribeauvillé, Haut-Rhin.

Hotel Brittany

From this well-furnished stone manor the next stop is Newfoundland. Huge bay windows take advantage of the light and views. Bd Sainte-Barbe, 29680 Roscoff, Finistère.

Auberge du Prieuré

Be warned, dinner here is costly in comparison with the good-value rooms. These are split between a new but sympathetic annexe and the house, a 13th-century priory of honey stone, no less lovely inside than out, furnished with solid antiques and mellow fabrics. Beyond the leafy garden with a heated pool, lie orchards and fields. St-André-d’Hébertot, 14130 Pont-l’Évêque, Calvados.

Hôtel de la Plage

With the sea and sandy beach on its doorstep, this hotel is ideal for families if a touch pricey. It combines chic with Breton simplicity; some bedrooms are all white with the odd antique. The dining room offers superb seafood and views from floor-to-ceiling windows. Ste-Anne-la-Palud, 29550 Plonévez-Porzay, Finistère.

La Korrigane

Staying in this fine-looking town house near the harbour is like being a guest in an elegant home. The pale drawing room is furnished with books, photographs and ornaments, and in the bedrooms are easy chairs, antique mirrors and oil paintings. Too refined for children just back from the beach. 39 rue Le Pomellec, 35400 St-Malo, Ille-et- Vilaine.

Le Domaine du Château de Barive

A short drive from Reims, Laon and Liesse, this impressive 17th-century hunting lodge is the perfect place to stay for cathedral touring, as well as sampling first-class cuisine. Public rooms are gracious and formal, though you can dine in a more casual garden room. Vast estate to explore. N02350 Ste-Preuve, Aisne.

Hôtel de la Cathédrale

Off a quiet lane, a warren of rooms in faded yet elegant style. Some overlook a courtyard overflowing with flowers. 12 rue St-Romain, 76000 Rouen, Seine-Maritime.

Hôtel de France et des Fuchsias

The raison d’être of this congenial hotel is its restaurant. 20 rue Maréchal Foch, 50550 St-Vaast-la-Hougue, Manche.

Le Valmarin

Handsome grey-stone B&B in treefilled grounds close to the harbour. Recent change of ownership. 7 rue Jean XXIII, 35400 St-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine.

Le Cheval Blanc

Without spoiling this old auberge, the owners make more improvements inside and out every year. Outstanding food. 51400 Sept-Saulx, Marne.

Manoir de Lan-Kerellec

A Relais et Château manor yet nonetheless unpretentious and intimate, standing on a grassy hillside above the rocky pink granite coast. Not surprisingly seafood is de rigueur in the nautical dining room. There are several beautiful bays a short walk away. Allée Centrale, 22560 Trébeurden, Côtes d’Armor.

Hostellerie le Clos

A jokey exterior of chequerboard and trellis-patterned brickwork, reminiscent of a Disneyland castle, masks a gorgeous little hotel. In the dining room, trompe l’oeil garden scenes divide windows looking out to the real thing. Half-board only at weekends. 98 rue de la Ferté-Vidame, 27130 Verneuil-sur-Avre, Eure.

Hotel Ti Al-Lannec

Child-friendly and good value, with steps down to the beach from its eyrie position, this is a hotel with a heart, run with loving care. Guests find books and fresh flowers placed in bedrooms, many of which have verandas. The sitting room is stunning, as are the garden and the views over the bay of Lannion. Allée de Mézo-Guen, BP 3, 22560 Trébeurden, Côtes d’Armor.

Moulin de Villeray

Formerly a derelict mill, now an idyllic rural retreat, with quiet bedrooms and a pleasant salon where pre-prandial drinks are served. The hub is the restaurant with its beams and massive fireplace. Half-board in high season. Further accommodation recently added at castle nearby. Villeray, 6110 Condeau, Orne.

Kastell Dinec’h

An old stone farmhouse with a leafy garden shaded by conifers, a heated pool and small but appealing bedrooms. NRoute de Lannion, 22220 Tréguier, Côtes-d’Armor.

Le Champ des Oiseaux

Fresh-looking bedrooms and bathrooms nestle beneath old timbers in this glorious 15th-century B&B in the town centre. 20 rue Linard Gonthier, 10000 Troyes, Aube.

La Verte Campagne

Roses cover a farmhouse where bedrooms take second place to food; chef Pascal Bernou has won a Michelin star. Hameau Chevalier, 50660 Trelly, Manche.

La Tour du Roy

This atmospheric inn bristles with turrets outside and attractive features inside. Highly rated food. Lieu-dit La Tour du Roy, 02140 Vervins, Aisne.