219 Best Hotels in France

In 1882 this ivy-covered inn won Henry James's praise, and, thanks to four generations of the Jeudi family, the author might be even more impressed today—this remains one of the Loire's most wonderful auberges, with guest rooms enchantingly accented in toile de Jouy fabrics and Redouté pink-and-blue pastels. Rooms in the main house are comfortably sized; those in the former stables are larger (some overlook a spacious kitchen garden) and more recently renovated, but the best rooms are the quaint quarters in the separate patio cottage near the terrace. Guests are encouraged to relax among the roses in several charming garden areas or lounge around the outdoor heated pool. After an apéro on the garden terrace, settle in at a table in the \"old\" dining room for one of the best gastronomic meals around, where the wood-beam ceiling, glazed terra-cotta walls, and Louis XVI chairs are almost as elegant as chef Antoine Jeudi's entrées. 

This inn is a popular spot due to the fact that it’s in a half-timber 15th-century building adjacent to the ramparts and has its own garden restaurant (half-board rates are available). The adjoining Croix Blanche has another nine rooms and dining patio with awesome views.

Nestled in the middle of 170 acres of private marshland, this quiet, laid-back retreat has simple whitewashed buildings with equally simple guest rooms that feature terra-cotta tiles, jute rugs, white cotton throws, and large picture windows with hauntingly beautiful views of of rose-color reeds. Technology has found its way here, too, as each room has a TV and Wi-Fi. The cavernous dining hall with Provençal chairs and an enormous hand-carved fireplace is a great place to share stories while enjoying local wine and a hearty plate of selected meats, fresh tomatoes, and regional goat cheese.

St-Germain's only Relais & Château hotel is a quintessential Île-de-France country retreat: surrounded by forest, it's rambling and solid, with shuttered windows and 18th-century-style furnishings. The fine restaurant (closed Monday) features chef Grégory Balland's deft hand in such dishes as sole with mushroom risotto or hare stuffed with olives and foie gras. Dining on the garden veranda can prove a most seductive experience.

This graceful Renaissance château and former nunnery has been transformed into a chic contemporary hotel, combining the romance of the past with every luxurious state-of-the-art amenity. The hotel’s unusually spacious rooms, with gorgeous Italian bathrooms, are full of thoughtful touches, from three kinds of pillows to TV lights that can be switched off at night for sensitive sleepers. To complete the tranquility, guests can enjoy the hammam, Jacuzzi, or massages at the small spa, take a dip in the heated outdoor pool, or stroll among acres of woods and gardens. The hotel is four miles from Domme.

Like a Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, this hotel keeps purring along, decade after decade, offering many delights: a romantic twin-tower château, a Loire River vista, tranquil guest rooms (four of the less expensive are in a charming \"Pavillon Renaissance\"), and an excellent restaurant. Fifty years ago Loire Valley guidebooks praised this domain, and things have only gotten better. Chef Arnaud Philippon's Michelin-starred restaurant is set in two salons, one in brilliant golds, the other lighted with chandeliers and stained-glass windows, lined with tapestries, and spectacularly centered on a neo-Gothic, sculpted-wood fireplace. Be sure to reserve in advance.

Its long and storied history is only part of the magic of this picturesque family-owned château that seems right out of a storybook. Renowned in the 1420s for the quality of its warhorses (Joan of Arc visited to refresh her troops), its generations of owners read like a French who's who. Today, the chateau's acres of glorious gardens are a delight to explore and even furnish the organic vegetables and truffles for the onsite gastronomic restaurant and café. The chateau is also known for its themed world-class art exhibitions, bringing together dozens of works by international contemporary artists. The accompanying hotel, housed in a 17th-century stone grange with beamed ceilings, flagstone floors, and antiques, offers all the charm of a medieval castle with 21st-century amenities. Perfect for a day or weekend, the hotel offers a range of activities, from walks and tastings of its estate wines to family events held in the garden.

Though only a two-minute walk from Lacoste, a more captivating country setting would be hard to find, complete with extensive gardens and olive groves, a wooded park with picturesque stone walls, a pool, and breathtaking views everywhere—including from your room. Each of the B&B's five bright, spacious rooms is equipped with all the modern conveniences and its own private terrace, where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast or glass of the local wine while taking in the vistas.

This storybook 18th-century château (once the country home of Catherine Deneuve) has everything you need to experience the beauty and magic of the French countryside far from the hustle and bustle. And yet it's only a 50-minute drive from Paris and 35 minutes by car from lovely Vernon and Giverny, making it the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. Once here, there's little reason to leave the wooded 74-acre property, complete with flower gardens, an outdoor pool, woodland walks, and a farm fully equipped with livestock, orchards, and vegetable gardens. Rooms are the epitome of contemporary elegance, with views of the gardens or the nearby Eure River. The restaurants on the property, a gastronomic dining room run by chef Géraud Dupuis and Martin bistro, both make good use of the garden bounty. Round off your idyllic stay with a relaxing spa treatment at the Susan Kaufmann spa set in a former woodshed.

This historic 19th-century manor—the only five-star hotel in the Périgord Noir—is hands down the Dordogne's most extensive luxury resort, offering swimming, a nine-hole golf course, fine dining, and a Nuxe spa. Stylish Roche-Bobois interiors throughout proclaim the wonders of French savoir-faire while the guest rooms (all with magnificent bathrooms) are well appointed and unusually spacious, many with balconies and jaw-dropping views over the valley. In-hotel dining choices include a stylish bistro, a gastronomic dining room with a Michelin-starred chef, and, in summer, cocktails and \"street food\" on a wide terrace offering panoramic views. There's also a chic bar for snacks and cocktails.

With a location in a hidden, tree-shaded courtyard off a nondescript street minutes from Père-Lachaise cemetery, no lodging in the capital is quite as unobtrusively fabulous as this trailblazing, 100% sustainable, five-room eco-lodge. No detail was overlooked in designing the ultracontemporary building; spacious rooms are furnished with chic state-of-the-art materials and fixtures that manage to be both cozy and private.

With bright, airy rooms and suites decorated with vintage and antique treasures, soothing contemporary color schemes, and chic carpets, the refurbished Grand Hôtel Henri has lots of panache that's matched by an utter lack of pretension. The stylish bar, terrace restaurant, and tearoom are popular with local sophisticates.

You'll find peace at these three charming cottages (and an elegant manor house split into two apartments) set in several 17th-century outbuildings of the Château de Courances in the château's splendid gardens. Each of these beautifully restored and decorated family-style cottages—a chic mix of antique and contemporary—sleeps between two and eight people and can be rented individually (for a two-night minimum) or together. La Régie, an impeccably refurbished manor house, is split into two light-drenched 1,150-square-foot apartments, complete with period antiques, restored original woodwork and floors, comfy living areas, spacious modern baths, a fully equipped kitchen, fireplace, and an outdoor terrace. Only 8 miles from Barbizon and 12 miles from Fontainebleau, this is an excellent base for visiting the area.

If you want designer digs in a well-located boutique lodging that won't break the budget, this hotel designed by Christian Lacroix is a great spot for you. Chic, roomy (for Paris), and full of artisan touches reflecting the historical footprint of the neighborhood, the compact 38-room Antoine offers tons of style just a five-minute walk from the Bastille.

This sleek revival of a 100-year-old neighborhood hotel that closed in the 1970s is a favorite with the international set, whether staying the night or just stopping in for a stylish bite or drink at the wildly popular cocktail bar. The retro-chic interiors by hotel design star Dorothée Meilichzon epitomize the kind of pared-down elegance that's become so popular in Paris. Set on a quiet cobbled street in the Montorgueil market district and close to Les Halles, this is an excellent base from which to explore the heart of Paris.

For that traditional French feeling, book into this intimate, affordable, romantic hotel—the theme is the work of former next-door neighbor Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, a supplier of military aid to American revolutionaries and the playwright who penned The Marriage of Figaro and The Barber of Seville. The pretty lobby reflects the taste of 18th-century French nobility—down to the floral wallpaper and 1792 pianoforte. Richly decorated with provincial fabrics and antique period furnishings, the rooms have original beams and hand-painted bathroom tiles, updated with flat-screen TVs. 

One of Normandy's most magnificent hôtels particuliers (family mansions) is also Rouen's finest hotel. Long a landmark on the Place de la Pucelle, this storybook vision of a Gothic urban palace—with soaring stone pinnacles and a tower made for a sleeping beauty—was initially built in 1506 for William the Red, leader of the powerful Le Roux family. From the Cour d'Honneur (where guests can enjoy their sunset drinks), enter the front door to be fast-forwarded to the 21st century: the lobby is all slick monolithic stone with a vast glass atrium and a regiment of black leather sofas. Upstairs, the guest rooms range from minimalistic Modern and Tradition (with lovely touches of period woodwork) to the most expensive Prestige (in which the brickwork bathrooms are beauts). The property also has a gourmet restaurant, a café, and a terrace bar, as well as an expansive spa with an indoor swimming pool, sauna, and steam bath.

Perfectly situated in a historic building that's a short walk from Avignon's principal attractions, this chic boutique hotel has quiet, colorful, beautifully designed rooms with every amenity, ample bathrooms, and plenty of closet space. Some rooms also have a balcony or a fireplace. The on-site wine bar is a fine place to sample the regional Rhône wines before heading out on the town. 

This beautifully designed hotel and gourmet restaurant just steps from the château entrance adds a welcome dose of chic to the Fontainebleau lodging and dining scene. Bright and uncluttered guest rooms display a contemporary elegance, and several of the ground-floor suites offer lovely garden terraces. The hotel is a short walk from the château, woods, and downtown Fontainebleau, and Gina, the beautiful in-hotel restaurant and bar—with a spacious terrace that's open in warmer weather—is an excellent choice for a gourmet lunch or dinner (closed Wednesday and Thursday).

Set in the former rectory of an 18th-century abbey, this intimate boutique hotel capitalized on the gothic-style building's elegant lines for a decor that's both stylish and refined. One of the city's newer hotels, it benefits from a lovely spot on a quiet leafy square adjacent to the abbey, and is an easy two-minute walk from the Place Bellecour and the river and 10 minutes on foot from Lyon-Perrache train and metro station. The very good in-hotel restaurant L'Artichaut is a pleasant place for lunch or dinner, especially on nice days when you can dine outside under the plane trees. You can also order a coffee, tea, a drink, or dessert all day at the hotel's charming Café Basilic bar.

A spectacular 17th-century building provides the elegant bones for this stunning hotel conveniently located in the heart of Tournon. Breathtaking views of rolling hills and vineyards await you from each of the hotel's 16 rooms, which are beautifully furnished in luxe contemporary style with antique touches (parquet floors, original moldings, tasteful artwork, and some with handsome fireplaces) and modern amenities (spacious marble baths and large windows). A lovely in-house bar, with a sprawling outdoor terrace, offers a nice selection of local wines and nibbles, and the breakfast room, flooded with light reflecting off crisp white linens, is simply enchanting (as are the breakfasts). In warm weather, breakfast is served in the extensive, flower-strewn garden, with lovely views over the village. 

Established in 1850, the superbly located Londres has been run with pride by the same family for four generations, and guests are treated to a warm welcome by owners who go out of their way to make your stay pleasant. Charmingly homey yet elegant, the ample-sized rooms are tastefully decorated with antiques and Oriental rugs; some have fireplaces, and six have balconies with marvelous views of the Fontainebleau palace entrance and the Cour des Adieux, where Napoléon bade his troops an emotional farewell (the best views are from Rooms 10 and 11 on the top floor), especially when the palace is lit up at night. A spacious private courtyard is cool and serene in summer. The hotel's stately 19th-century facade is a registered landmark.

Prices at this small boutique hotel in an upscale neighborhood are fairly reasonable considering all you get—top-notch service, stylish and homey decor, a lively neighborhood, a variety of amenities, and some spectacular views.

This affordable choice has a fabulous location, and its very gracious owners go the extra distance to ensure guests have the service and experience of a much-higher-caliber modern hotel. The renovated rooms are clean but small, so opt for a garden-facing balcony to open up the view. There is no pool or spa, but sipping wine (only €5 a glass) out on the garden patio will remind you of all that you don't have to do. The penthouse suite has a sun terrace and close by you'll find four independent apartments, with the same services as hotel rooms. Owned by the same people and some 200 feet away, off Rue d'Antibes, the Hotel Victoria is also an outstanding value with the added benefit of a pool.

At this chic hotel, tucked away in plain sight on Boulevard Poissonière, even the smallest of the minimalist jewel-toned rooms (some with balconies or garden terraces) feels elegant, with tall windows, marble touches, and Marie-Antoinette–worthy draped headboards. Everything in your room has been "sourced," from the Swedish Sjostrand coffee makers and coffee pods from London to the gourmet juices in the minibar. At the intimate Shell cocktail bar—catnip for hip locals—you choose the amount of alcohol (if any) in your bespoke cocktail, which may feature health-conscious ingredients like kombucha, basil juice, or smoked salt. The rooftop bar, central courtyard (glass-covered in winter months), and trend-conscious restaurant make this a great all-in-one stay.

A stylish Art Deco upgrade gave this 19th-century mansion two blocks from the Champs-Élysées a sleek period look enhanced by refined contemporary touches. Rooms—some with terraces—are minuscule but chic, with dreamy beds and floor-to-ceiling windows, all the better to see the Eiffel Tower from upper floors. The teensy pool works for laps, and there's a steam room.