593 Best Hotels in France

This classic, vine-covered 16th-century home once hosted Emperor Maximilian (as well as Victor Hugo and Napoléon Bonaparte), and some of its guest rooms are emperor size. Regally discreet, it is notable for its walled, tree-shaded courtyard and an interior filled with Aubusson tapestries, porcelain, and Provençal antiques. Rooms are not state-of-the-art and can seem more than a little grandmotherly, but it's all part of the old-world experience. Two suites have views onto the Papal Palace. The highly acclaimed restaurant, La Vieille Fontaine, is among Avignon's best.

Set back on a quiet side street off the bustling Champs-Élysées, this opulent hotel's glass facade reveals a private garden and extravagant jewel-toned rooms filled with stylish furnishings favoring splashes of leopard. Swanky marble-clad common spaces, a restaurant, and original artwork are the chic finishing touches.

Although it's been in business since 1855 and has occasionally played host to some famous guests (Francis Bacon and François Mitterrand among them), the Bordeaux of today has contemporary furnishings and simple, tidy rooms—the best of which look out on the garden courtyard. The owner, Monsieur Manant, is very helpful.

Time-burnished if not time-stained, this old-fashioned hotel was built in 1817 on a site where parts of the abbey once stood. It provides rooms that are, for the most part, spacious and well appointed with eclectic, modern furnishings; some overlook a quiet garden, while others have views of the abbey church.

This centrally located budget hotel offers comfortable rooms equipped with the full range of modern amenities. There's also the adjoining restaurant, George Blanc, which has been glamorously taken over by the great chef of the same name. As expected, it is rising to the top of local gastronomical charts.

This 17th-century stagecoach stop is a convenient base that's frequented by a mixed bag of travelers seeking respectable lodgings at reasonable prices. Any room will do, but for ultimate coziness ask for one of the chambres mansardées (dormered bedrooms) under the eaves overlooking the Valée du Hédas.

Deep in the shuttered Vieille Ville, this quiet, convivial hotel occupies an 18th-century nobleman's mansion with a magnificent stone-floor entry and a delightful walled garden; some guest rooms are furnished with period pieces and charmingly incongruous murals, while others have been redecorated in a sleek contemporary style. This a good choice for bargain-hunting romantics—splurge on a suite for affordable luxury and an extra bed.

A family-run hotel in a foursquare stone building, the Harlay is conveniently situated by the bridge linking the train station and downtown. Guest rooms are soberly decorated—the best overlook the River Oise and are soundproofed with double glazing.

This old private home has, fortunately, fallen into the hands of a loving and very hospitable owner, who has refinished 18th-century double doors and fitted rooms with restored-wood details, white-tiled bathrooms, and antique bedroom sets. Some rooms are more modern than others—ask for one overlooking place du Marché, where you can watch café life from your balcony. A generous breakfast buffet (€11) is served in the dining room.

This small hotel with exposed wooden beams and traditional styling sits on a side street in a 17th-century hôtel particulier (a grand town house) that's just a few minutes from the Centre Pompidou and the numerous bars and cafés of Rue Vieille du Temple. Choose either chambres classiques or chambres de charme; the latter are larger (and pricier), with more elaborate furnishings like Louis XIII–style four-poster canopy beds and marble bathtubs. Overall, the establishment is impeccably kept by a welcoming staff. A classic French breakfast is served in the vaulted cellar.

Located below the cathedral in the heart of historic Metz, this 17th-century hotel was once a coaching inn that welcomed luminaries including celebrated philosopher Madame de Staël. Its stately stairwell and offbeat rooms are decorated with antique bric-a-brac, heightening its old-world charm. Rooms are comfortable if not luxurious. Ask for a cathedral view to admire the stunning nighttime illuminations.

There are enough half-timber walls and beams here to fill a superluxe hotel, but the happy news is that this is a good budget option—even better, this 17th-century building is found on a narrow pedestrian street just behind Rouen's cathedral. The pretty Normand style begins in the lobby, extends to the large dining room—outfitted with grand 17th-century-style chairs and a historic fireplace—and crescendos in the flower-laden patio, a green oasis picturesquely framed with walls of timber and stucco. Guest rooms are petite but neat and comfortable; solo travelers get a small discount for a single room here.

Looking like an illustration out of a book by the Brothers Grimm, this hotel is set in a 16th-century house with a central tower, steep mansard roof, country shutters, and rusticated stone trim; inside, several guest rooms have grand timber beams and folkloric furniture stencils, making this a truly charming base for touring a truly charming town. The place blends so beautifully into the heart of medieval Riquewihr that the only modern note will be your car, which you'll be allowed to drive to the hotel even though the town center is pedestrian-only.

The most desirable rooms at this simple yet welcoming 1950s hotel have balconies with sweeping panoramas—so who needs luxury fittings and fabrics when you can have a view of the old harbor for a reasonable rate? Even the kid's breakfast (€5) is half the regular price. The hotel is about a 10-minute walk from the bustle of the town center, an advantage in peak season.

This prosaic old town option has 12th-century exposed stone walls, a 15th-century spiral staircase, weathered wood everywhere, and homey touches like cream-color linens. Among the many pluses are good beds, flat-screen TVs, and free (although sometimes weak) Wi-Fi.

Nestled in a cove on a quiet strip of sandy beach on the Bay of Douarnenez, this mansion, with its sturdy round tower, is a remote retreat perfect for long, restorative walks; some of the comfortably furnished guest rooms face the water, as does the glass-front restaurant, where reservations are essential. After a seafood starter (sea bream tartare, oysters), try the grilled lobster \"Sainte Anne,\" the turbot with marrow, or the fillet of beef \"Rossini.\"

Capitalizing on the village's gorgeous bay views is just one of this lively, Art Deco–style boutique hotel's many virtues—it also has light-drenched guest rooms (some with private balconies), a spa with a steam room and solarium, two restaurants (one on the beach), and an irresistible wine bar. True to its name, the hotel sits right on Bestouan Beach, so fun in the sun is easy. There's also easy access to both the village and Calanques National Park.

Guest rooms at this erstwhile family winery, in the center of Ribeauvillé and with an ornate Renaissance fountain outside its front door, are modern, spacious, and well positioned for experiencing the atmospheric town by night; those on the top floor have exposed timbers and wonderful views of ramshackle rooftops. As you would expect, given the history of the hotel, the owners can provide expert advice when it comes to wine tours.

With a nod to the work of postmodern designers like Putman and Starck, this stylish boutique hotel is both contemporary and cozy. Rooms are sleek and streamlined, with backlit custom cabinets, glassed-in bathrooms, and fabric or faux-leather wall coverings. A spacious outdoor terrace is off the breakfast room. Head to the bar area and lobby lounge for a predinner aperitif. A small fitness room and sauna also woo guests. Although it's accessible to major monuments and museums, the hotel attracts mostly business travelers.

If you're looking for a room in a chic area with gentler prices, Hotel Delavigne is a reasonable option on a quiet street. The reception area is tiny, but the welcome is friendly and professional and the rooms are clean and comfortable. It is also a short stroll to the Luxembourg Gardens and the neighborhood's best cafés and restaurants.

Directly across the street from the historic art studio Académie de la Grande Chaumière, where drawing and painting lessons are still taught, this hotel embraces the creative history and significance of the neighborhood, once home to many painters and artists. The lobby is an intimate art gallery, while craftsman woodwork gives the rooms a sober, retro-sleek feel. A drawing workspace is available for those who are feeling creative, and artists are welcome to gather at the honesty bar. 

On an elegant square opposite the Théâtre des Célestins, this chic hotel has a sense of theatricality—logically enough because it has long been popular among stage and screen artists (many of whose photographs adorn the lobby walls). The guest rooms are smallish but modern and comfortable, and the friendly reception staff and great location appeal to all comers.

This property exudes Provençal style, with its tiny square with a trickling fountain, venerable plane trees, green valley views, and two massive imposing rocks (and that’s just on the outside). The fireplace in the salon and the bright, mixed fabrics in the bedrooms round it all off. Enjoy breakfast (€15) or dinner in the romantic stone-and-beam restaurant or on the terrace under the trees by the fountain.

Close to the city's key sights, this street-corner hotel is a convenient choice to start a tour of Dijon. Guest rooms are light and soberly decorated with touches of color varying in tones from beige and gray to black and orange. Streetside rooms have Old World wrought-iron balconies, while those at the front of the hotel give you a peek of the Philippe Le Bon tower. A buffet breakfast is served under a vast glass-and-metal veranda at the rear of the hotel. There are also 10 fully equipped apartments in the main hotel building, and six rooms in annex buildings nearby. It's worth upgrading to a superior room, as the standard rooms are on the small side.

Set at an altitude of 3,000 feet, this four-star Châteaux & Hôtels Collection escape has breathtaking panoramas of La Palud's countryside from the breakfast table, plus plenty of activities for non-hikers. You'll also find the right amount of post-day pampering for the whole family, including a spa and heated pool. Traditional cuisine makes up the daily changing menus (with vegetarian options), and the hotel also opened a second restaurant, Le Styx, in town.

Distributed among a trio of three-story buildings set back in a quiet cobbled courtyard, Madame Le Floch's rooms have a distinct grandmotherly vibe because of their flowery wallpaper and lace bedspreads, but they're spacious for this part of Paris. Enter through two massive wooden doors, then proceed to the pretty courtyard and garden, which becomes a second living room in warm weather and is a perfect breakfast spot. Modern touches include Wi-Fi access, room service, and personal safes.

The "great men" this hotel honors with its name rest in peace within the towering Panthéon monument across the street. The hotel's look combines urns and laurel-wreath motifs with plush fabrics and plaster busts of writers and statesmen. All rooms have period furnishings, handsome wallpapers, and interesting architectural details. Book online early for substantial room-rate savings.

The old Auvers-sur-Oise post office is the setting for this charming, functional hotel a two-minute walk from the Maison de Van Gogh and other sights in town. Cozy rooms, with spacious bathrooms, borrow from the great artist's palette for their pretty color schemes. Exceptional prices, welcoming service, and a bright, cheerful tearoom for breakfast, lunch, and teatime all recommend this small boutique hotel.