680 Best Hotels in France

Among the orchards and vineyards in the countryside surrounding Perpignan sits Casa 9, a 15th-century mas (farm) with a barn that’s been converted into lavish lodgings. Architectural elements like the mangeoires (feeding stalls) and exposed barn beams attest to its original function, and the clean-lined decor includes pieces signed by French designer Philippe Starck. Look for Dalí-esque features such as miniature doorways and eye-level views onto the pool. Rustic stone, red brick, and ironwork give the whole property a genuine Catalan feel.

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.

You’ll enjoy the warmest welcome at this cozy B&B set in an 18th-century mansion in the heart of the city and an easy walk to restaurants and all the major sights. Beamed ceilings, old-fashioned armoires, Oriental carpets, sumptuous wallpapers, and rich colors create an old-world atmosphere equipped with all the contemporary amenities. Rooms offer beautiful views over the old city and the countryside, with large, well-equipped bathrooms. A fresh and copious breakfast is included in the very reasonable price.

A destination in itself, Lady Hamlyn's dazzlingly elegant castle-hotel, one of the glories of the Beaujolais, is even more dazzling after an 18-month renovation. The main château's guest rooms evoke the 18th century, with many covered in historic frescoes done by a Baroque school of artists inspired by the \"Grand Fabrique\" (Lyon's famed silk-brocade makers). Lodgings in La Résidence—the converted stables and carriage houses—are rustic-contemporary, with giant exposed wood beams and enormous bathrooms. More spectacle awaits in the massive Salle des Gardes, which now holds the esteemed gourmet restaurant, agleam with silver candelabras, giant bouquets, and a wall-wide fireplace. Head to the beautiful stone cuvage (wine-pressing room) for the occasional wine tasting.

Small enough to feel like a home, stuffed with lovely 18th-century decor, and replete with a beautiful river terrace, this overlooked treasure provides an unforgettable experience in the Loire. Other château-hotels may have pomp, but this has something more precious: authenticité. Once the property of the Marquis de Vaudreuil, first French governor of Louisiana, it was purchased by the current owner’s family in 1779. At the end of a long allée, this \"pavillon Mansart\" embraces you in a semicircular layout (the collier, or necklace). Ten family descendants study you from gilded Charles-Dix frames in the comely main salon, a confectionery of white rococo moldings, glittering chandeliers, and furniture that Madame Bovary would have loved. The breakfast room is covered with quaint 16th-century Italian frescoes, and each guest room is a bouquet of antiques and comfy furniture.

It would be hard to dream up a more graceful assemblage of setting, buildings, and decor than that at this elegant countryside bed-and-breakfast set in a beautifully refurbished and exquisitely decorated 18th-century château in the golden triangle between Blois, Chambord, and Cheverny. Your gracious hosts have thought of everything, from the inviting interiors—done up in an oh-so-chic mix of antique and contemporary—to the luxury bedding. Guest rooms offer meticulously restored period frescos and floor-to-ceiling windows, with lovely views of the river and giant bathrooms. Because there are only five rooms (as well as a private apartment), guests feel totally at home and are free to roam the grounds and gardens (complete with an Eiffel bridge), swim in the heated pool, play tennis, or fish in the nearby river. There is no restaurant, but the owners are delighted to arrange meals at the château from a local Michelin-starred chef. It's also within biking distance of the major Loire châteaux, but good luck tearing yourself away.

Bordered by gardens that hang from the mountainside in nearly Babylonian style, this hotel encompasses an entire stretch of the village, streets and all, and, in addition to divine accommodations, it delivers breathtaking Mediterranean views—at a price. The fanciest guest rooms feature peasant-luxe fireplaces, faux 15th-century panel paintings, and chandeliered rock-grotto bathrooms; nearly all rooms, though, have exposed stone and beams, and even the cheapest have views over Èze's charming tile roofs (but you'll kick yourself if you don't pay the extra for the terrace and sea views).

For unforgettable luxury—whether you're a couple seeking romance or you want a family retreat—head to this historical château just 10 minutes from St-Tropez but a world away from its bronzed beach crowds. Set back from the coastline amid 30 acres of lush gardens and olive groves, the property has breathtaking Mediterranean views and guest rooms with private outdoor terraces. Your every need is met with amenities that include three pools, tennis courts, three fabulous restaurants (one by Japanese celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa), and several bars. Tucked away in a lovely corner of the grounds, The Summer Camp for children age three and up, has a cinema, a big kids-only pool, a pirate play ship, cooking classes, even a minifarm—with all-day attendants so adults can relax on their own.

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.

Set on a rocky spur just outside town, the former home of the count-bishops of Cahors has older rooms in baronial splendor (ask for one of these), as well as slightly less appealing modern ones; others have a mix of French Moderne and medievalesque furniture that can be jarring, but the ambitious restaurant and great views make up for a lot of sins, as does the spa, outdoor pool, and sunning terrace. One of the best guest rooms is \"Tour,\" with a clever ceiling that slides back to expose the turret. Duck, seafood, and truffles reign in La Duèze, the gastronomic dining room, where chef Clément Costes serves a contemporary gourmet \"cuisine de terroir\" equal to the wines from the estate's highly touted wine cellar (dinner only, closed Sunday and Monday), which you can enjoy on the lovely terrace on fine days. This talented chef also presides over the more casual but very good bistro, open daily for lunch and on Sunday and Monday for dinner as well. The hotel is happy to organize a tour and tastings of the estate's wines.

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.

Reached via a lane lined with majestic plane trees and set on 8 acres of luxuriant parkland, this gracious five-star manor (it's not exactly a château) dates from the Middle Ages and is one of St-Rémy's dreamiest spots, which is saying a lot in this château-saturated territory. Stay in one of the sophisticated, beautifully decorated rooms in the mansion or in one of the smaller outbuildings—including a chapel and farmhouse—some large enough for just two people yet all done up tastefully and lovingly with a modern-elegant style. The heated pool, clay tennis courts, spa, sauna, and hammam are welcome amenities, as are the excellent restaurant and spectacular dining room, with a large terrace under ancient sycamores. The châtelaine of this family-run establishment, lovingly maintained by three generations of women, is warm, gracious, and always ready to go the extra mile for her guests.

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.

Whether it’s a romantic getaway or a culinary adventure, this luxury boutique hotel delivers at every turn, with a touch of royal flair—it was built in the 18th century and was a favored retreat of Prince William of Sweden. Book La Suite du Château, with its four-poster bed, private terrace whirlpool tub, and sublime views, to stay in what were his royal quarters. Dining here is an event in itself. Chef Justin Schmitt’s culinary artistry earned the restaurant a Michelin star in 2023. Savor gourmet creations paired with panoramic vistas from the dining room. Relish an aperitif or sommelier-curated wine on the terrace as the Riviera glitters below. 

A stay at this sprawling family-owned wine estate, located between Narbonne's city center and its beaches, is like a course in the art of Mediterranean living complete with surrounding vineyards, sea breezes, an immense wine-tasting cellar, organic kitchen garden, and resident artist studios. Although the individual rooms breathe standard hotel, the grounds and restaurant ooze southern French luxury. Don't miss its annual Jazz à l'Hospitalet Festival, with top-selling jazz artists playing on the premises.

There is no better way to experience old Haut-de-Cagnes's grand castle views than to stay in this acclaimed 13th-century manor, perched on the ramparts of the Grimaldi fortress. No detail was unturned to complete the storybook allure: rooms, named after artists connected to the village, are gorgeously Provençal and look out over the vieille ville and on to the sea, while the bathrooms are so luxe you'll want to take them home with you. If you're arriving at the town square by shuttle bus, the hotel's voiturier will be sent to pick up your luggage.

Retired chef Olivier Roellinger and his wife, Jane, still preside over their family's luxurious hotel empire, which includes the beautiful, castellated, 1920s waterfront Château Richeux. The rooms are sumptuously appointed, large, and airy, with a voluptuous mix of the modern and the antique. Readers rave about Le Coquillage, the hotel's Michelin-starred bistro, which specializes in local oysters and seafood platters served up in a relaxed, cozy atmosphere—the weekday lunch menu is good value for money. The Richeux is built on the ruins of the Du Guesclin family's 11th-century château, 5 km (3 miles) south of Cancale, and is surrounded by a \"Celtic garden.\" Request one of the rooms with large bay windows, which have stunning views of Mont-St-Michel. Several miles away are two more private adjuncts to the Château, also overseen by the Roellingers: Les Rimains, with four guest rooms set in a very handsome Breton stone house, perched over Cancale's harbor; and Gîtes Marins, with two airy, almost Cape Cod–style seaside vacation houses fit for several people.

It's worth the drive 8 km (5 miles) south of Grenoble to this ivy-covered mansion-hotel, where elegant, spacious guest rooms overlook the meadows and forests that lie beyond the lush garden and pool. It's also home to a celebrated restaurant, where your rewards include a wonderfully wicked and wholly delicious lobster smothered in black truffles, or—once the watchful eye of the delightful Danièle Chavant sizes you up—perhaps the unforgettable civet de biche en robe d'automne (venison with apples, potatoes, and turnips in a daube sauce). The dining room is closed Monday, and there is no lunch on Saturday, no dinner on Sunday.

Behind a locked gate at this sprawling property five minutes from Châteauneuf-du-Pape center, contemporary, wooden eco-cabanes sit beside, just over, or even on top of a secluded emerald-green lake. Each chic cabin is slightly different, but all have decks at least as large or larger than the indoor space and all provide enough style and amenities (most have a sauna or hot tub) for them to feel like far more than just rustic cabins in the woods. Healthy gourmet dinners (served cold) and breakfasts are delivered to your cabin via golf cart at your desired hour. You can enjoy hiking paths, a large pool, and a treatment room with a full range of spa offerings.

This luxurious hotel set in a 16th-century building right on the city's most beautiful square is quite splendid, with its opulent guest rooms and suites decked out with beamed ceilings, bespoke furnishings, and a vast collection of contemporary artworks. Each room offers surprises: a glassed-in bathroom to marvel at the view while lingering in the tub; an immense four-poster bed all in chrome; exposed 17th-century beams with the original 16th-century decorative paintings. Butler service, a jewel-like pâtisserie-tearoom with a terrace on the square, and a luxurious Roman "bath" with a whirlpool in the mansion's old vaulted cellar add a glamorous ambience to this discreet and exclusive lodging.

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.

Settling into this gracious retreat under the dappled shade of tall trees deep in the Provençal countryside is the easiest thing you'll ever do. Inside, a rare attention to detail was paid to the elegant-country room decor—each one unique but all with a sophisticated contemporary vibe, original artwork (the owners are art dealers), and giant bathrooms. Outside, lounge at the grassy poolside, stroll the lush gardens, hike through the nearby woods and vineyards, or sample the estate wines along with local gourmet treats at the state-of-the-art tasting room. At the gastronomic restaurant and separate bistro, locally sourced gourmet cuisine is paired with the domaine’s fine wines, produced on the premises. And if that’s not pampering enough, a small spa with a steam room offers a range of massages and treatments.

With sumptuous decor, an idyllic setting amid olive groves and gardens, impeccable service, a spa, an 18-hole golf course, a pool, and a choice of rooms and suites or villas, the Domaine de Manville is as ideal for a romantic getaway as it is for a family retreat. The hotel's two, beautifully restored, 18th-century buildings contain haute Provençal–style rooms and suites (more like small apartments), most of which have a private terrace or balcony that takes advantage of magnificent views. The duplex family suites also have multiple bathrooms, and each of the ultracontemporary, full-service villas—large enough for eight—comes with a private pool and a golf cart for getting around the property. You don't have to leave the grounds for a fantastic meal, thanks to the Michelin-starred L'Aupiho restaurant, well-priced bistro, garden bar, and glassed-in winter garden (for breakfast or afternoon tea). Golfers will love the boutique, which has everything they could need for a day on the green.

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.

In a complete departure from traditional Provençal chic, each of this contemporary property's individually decorated houses features the work of top designers and artists; all the units also have private terraces, and some have small private pools. The most exotic decor is in the Maison du Voyageur with its stuffed tiger, zebra skin, and antler sofa, while the Maison des Lointains has a barbed-wire chandelier, suggestive black-and-white photos, and stone baths. Perfect for two, the stunning Nature Suites offer seclusion with a private yard, sun deck, and a steam room or sauna. The hotel's two dining options include La Loggia gastronomic dining room and Le Platane bistro for lingering over a gourmet-rustic lunch. Both use the bounty of the hotel's extensive gardens to create dishes expressive of Provence. From the swimming pool and the stepped garden patios, admire dramatic views of the countryside; there is also an indoor pool should the fierce mistral winds strike. Be sure to check the website for last-minute deals, especially in the off-season. 

If the Garden of Eden offered a five-star spa retreat, this Relais & Châteaux property—where rooms in elegant bastides (country houses) have their own outdoor spaces amid sculpture-dotted, aromatic gardens—would be it. In addition to a dozen treatment rooms, the expansive spa has a hammam, saunas, a snow cave, a heated pool, and a fitness studio with coach-led classes. Around every corner there's a new discovery, from a sand-bottomed beach club lagoon with a slide and waterfall to an adults-only villa with a private pool. Families are warmly welcomed with an Alice in Wonderland–themed play park and a kids’ club that operates daily during school holidays. Dogs are welcome, too. Seasonal produce from the gardens inspires the cuisine at La Table de Pierre gastronomic and bistro style Lis Orto restaurants. Le Bar invites you to unwind by the fire with a bespoke cocktail.

A stay at this lovely restored farmhouse in the tiny hamlet of Les Martins—strategically set between the villages of Gordes, Ménerbes, and Lacoste—lets you enjoy all the wonders of the region without the crushing crowds. There's nothing quite like a meal cooked to your tastes and served alfresco under ancient trees and amid flower gardens. In summer, play pétanque, or cool off in the pool; in chilly weather, enjoy an apéro by the fire. Here, life slows down in the most pleasurable Provençal way.