68 Best Hotels in France

This contemporary hotel is set a few minutes from the train station, across from the Chapoutier boutique and tasting rooms and within easy walking distance of Cité du Chocolat Valrhona. The hotel offers spacious rooms and suites, a spa and swimming pool, and Marius Bistro on the premises. In the heart of Tain, it's within walking distance of everything. 

Charmingly set on the pedestrian street that leads to Azay's château gates, this shuttered town house has a delightful courtyard-garden that hides an authentic 19th-century schoolhouse, now converted into lodgings cozily furnished in traditional country style (complete with the stray blackboard and school desk). Guest rooms in the main house have a contemporary decor, punctuated with the occasional 19th-century neoclassic \"Directoire\" touch. The village has quite a few restaurants—if you don't want to stroll around and pick, ask the friendly owner Bruno Stachetti about the best.

Designed to evoke an Alsatian tobacco barn, replete with Havanese woods, this hotel has rooms named after famous cigars and a lovely country-luxe decor. For that quintessentially romantic moment, opt for breakfast (additional price) afloat in a boat dug out of a bamboo trunk, complete with wicker basket, white tablecloth, and personal punter.

This modern hotel is full of delightful surprises, including sliding doors leading directly out to breakfast nooks beside a stream. At night you can fall asleep to the sound of the water tumbling over the gorge. Owner Dominique \"Dumé\" Colonna, one of France's (and certainly Corsica's) greatest soccer stars, drops by from time to time. The nearby Auberge de la Restonica serves fine Corsican fare.

On the main street through Corte, the Hôtel du Nord is perfect for budget-conscious travelers. The oldest hotel in Corte, the marble stairs still remain from the original 1833 building. Hardwood floors make the place rather charming, as do the common areas with filled with books. Breakfast is served in the neighboring bar, and packed lunches are available for those who hike to the nearby valleys.

The central location is the main draw of this simple hotel near the port, featuring air-conditioned rooms with tile floors and double-pane windows that help minimize street noise; rooms 316, 317, and 318 are the quietest. Room 214 has a charming marble chimney. 

Set on an attractive location, this intimate boutique hotel is built into the ramparts of the upper town's citadel. Neutral fabrics and simple furnishings keep the rooms light and bright. Upper rooms have superb views over the cliffs. To soak up the Corsican sun, head to the spacious outdoor pool.

In this pretty 19th-century former mansion between the church and the market in downtown Calvi, cozy rooms are named after French literary figures. Opt for the Verlaine, which overlooks the city's rooftops and the port. Traditional interior design mimics a French style of yesteryear, with cherubs on walls behind quilted bedspreads. Find the restaurant in the garden under a giant magnolia tree—thus the name of the hotel.

Steps away from the house where Napoléon was born, this clean and comfortable lodging with seasonal patio restaurant once served as the ancestral residence of Duke Charles-Andre Pozzo di Borgo of the notable Ajaccio family. The chic lobby is distinguished by a swank martini bar, and the modern rooms have leather furniture. Rooms 112, 211, and 311 have small balconies overlooking a cobblestone alley. There is an exceptional breakfast buffet (costs extra), and room service is offered year-round.

This attractive 19th-century villa has well-priced, comfortable rooms and a lovely garden, where grand palms and pines shade a walk leading to the pretty little swimming pool. Four studios, equipped with kitchens and sleeping two to four guests, are behind the hotel and available for weekly rentals.

Dating from the 17th century and the only hotel set within Vence's old walls, this former stagecoach inn has been owned by the same family since 1919, and they still go out of their way to make your stay memorable. Upstairs, guest rooms are airy and bright, with drapes, bedspreads, and bureau runners in matching hues de Provence. Some rooms have great views, as does the breakfast terrace. Downstairs, the restaurant—all copper pots and wood trim—has a rustic, frozen-in-amber charm and specializes in roasted meat (the chicken prepared on a spit of vines instead of wood is magnifique); it's very popular, so book well in advance.

At the base of the Cirque du Cambre d’Aze (an extra-impressive glacially formed peak) is an immaculately restored stone farmhouse turned eco-lodge that combines comfort and design. This affordable abode welcomes hikers, skiers, adventurers, and travelers seeking fresh mountain air. In the evenings, guests meet around the inn’s oak tables for meals entirely sourced by local farmers and organic producers. The inn offers several comfort levels from standard double-occupancy rooms (only available during summer) to custom-designed yurts (breakfast not included) with cloth walls and wood floors. 

Whether on or off the Lavender Route, arriving by car or by bicycle—as many do—a warm welcome awaits you at this reasonably priced bed-and-breakfast set in a series of 18th-century stone mas (farmhouses) in the midst of lavender fields near Sault. Spotless rooms evoke a Provençal ambience with contemporary touches, and the spacious pool is appreciated on hot summer days. Four independent stone houses, including a 1,500 square-foot farm house with its own private pool, and a picturesque stone cottage adjoining the hotel offer a touch more privacy. If you’re booking for lavender season (mid-June to mid-July) reserve at least six months ahead.

Originally part of the Vassy cement works, this elegant 19th-century manor offers comfortable guest rooms decorated with family heirlooms; even the bathrooms are inviting (the Hippolyte Room, for instance, has an open-plan bathroom with a freestanding tub near the fireplace). Generous breakfasts—including homemade jams, light-as-air pancakes, and fresh croissants—are served in the pretty conservatory at intimate individual tables; convivial evening meals (reservations essential) are served around a communal table.

Outside the hustle of town and yet just five minutes from the Arènes, this luxurious Art Deco hôtel particulier has lots of charm—especially in its large, airy, individually decorated guest rooms. The scent of jasmine leads you out to the garden, where colorful bougainvilleas contrast with the deep blue of the pool. Drift back to the lovely sitting room in the early evening for a cup of tea or a glass of wine (a fridge is at your disposal), and then curl up with one of the many good books thoughtfully provided by your hosts.

Resident chineur (that’s fancy for "antiques hunter") Michel Montagnier decorated his 18th-century home in the heart of Arles with furniture and paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries, creating a setting so flawless that it feels like a stage and enables you to relax in an arcaded courtyard, lounge in a library, or retire to a spacious and luxurious guest room. No detail has been overlooked—Quagliotti linens, Annick Goutal beauty products, and your choice of cashmere bedspreads by Oyuna. On a budget? One room with two twin beds goes for a lower rate. Breakfast is included, as are Wi-Fi access and access to two parking places (if available).

Within walking distance of the cathedral, this centuries-old town house blends modern comforts with timbered ceilings, creaky stairs, and either wood or terra-cotta tile floors. The five comfortable rooms (one of which can sleep up to four people and one three people) come with a quirky sense of style and are filled with flea-market finds.

Just a short stroll from chez Monet, this beautifully refurbished 1880 manor house (the name means "Place to Idle") has reinvented itself as a more contemporary "hotel de charme." The cozy lobby, comfy spiffed-up guest rooms with views overlooking a leafy garden, and "bistronomic" restaurant make it a popular choice, so reserve in advance.

Set in a historic mansion on the town’s main street, this bed-and-breakfast has four loft-like rooms with soaring ceilings, contemporary furnishings, ample marble baths, and lovely garden or historic center views. Two of the four rooms can accommodate people with mobility issues, a rarity in historic hotels. Breakfasts are served in the onsite restaurant and tea salon, L’Heure Bleue, or in the greenery-filled garden.

Bright, welcoming, and blissfully quiet, there's plenty to love about this bed-and-breakfast set in an 18th-century mansion on a lovely 22-acre wooded property a 20-minute drive from Rennes. Spacious, contemporary rooms are decorated with tasteful art (art collecting is the owners' passion) and a mix of modern and antique furniture. Bathrooms are roomy and the extensive gardens are lovely for a stroll or for enjoying a delicious breakfast. Home-cooked dinners (by reservation) mean you hardly need to leave the property, but there's plenty to see within an easy drive. A charming vine-clad rental cottage is also available at a steal for a larger family.

At this Gîtes de France B&B, guest rooms have carefully chosen antiques and lovely tiled baths, and public spaces feel homey with scrubbed floorboards, a fireplace, and exposed stone. The hotel has a pool and a pretty garden, and it overlooks the valley from the village center.

Less than a mile below tourist-packed St-Paul-de-Vence, with views of the valley and the village, this lovely little inn is a jumble of terraces, trellises, archways, orange trees, olives, and honeysuckle vines. The main hotel, built in 1920, has good-size rooms and old Provençal furniture; you can also opt for the 18th-century farmhouse, with smaller, more modern rooms but wonderful views. Each room seems to skew toward a private world, and several have individual terraces that are perfect for grasses matinées (late, lazy breakfasts, €15). 

This Norman-style half-timbered inn with its stylish contemporary interiors, lovely gardens, and Michelin-starred restaurant make this a destination unto itself. All the better that it's a mere 10-minute walk from Monet's fabled gardens. Spacious, light-filled guest rooms pleasantly mix upscale design with Art Deco touches and provide a warm, welcoming retreat tucked away in a splendid setting offering plenty of peace and quiet. The chic one-Michelin-star restaurant, open for lunch and dinner (except on Monday and Tuesday), is a great asset. 

Two minutes from the famous Avignon bridge, this contemporarily decorated B&B offers a rooftop terrace view of the palace but also tranquillity away from the noisy palace streets. Opaque glass metal doors open into clean and bright guest rooms, with white bedding, white paint, and white furniture, with artwork providing bursts of color. Your friendly hosts offer all the amenities of a hotel, such as soaps, slippers, a welcome bottle of water, and a candy dish at the door, as well as a tasty breakfast (included) on the terrace or by the fireplace off-season.

With four superb suites for the lucky first-comers, the Guérards' delightfully re-created old coaching inn, set at one end of their Prés d'Eugénie fiefdom, is meant to be a more rustic alternative to their main flagship. At the inn's restaurant, La Ferme aux Grives, grandmother's cooking is given a nouvelle spin, and nearly everything is authentique—even the suckling pig turns on a spit in the fireplace. Nature's bounty and la cuisine du terroir are the central themes. Inside, your eyes feast on the decor, too: a banquet table is laid out with vegetables and breads, darkened beams cast romantic shadows, and hunting paintings cover the walls.

Up a storybook-perfect street lined with ancient half-timber houses, this fetching maison d'hôte dates to the 15th century and has been brought up-to-date in the best way, retaining much of its substantial character and charm. Each of five cozy guest rooms is done up in period antiques with botanical prints and matching fabrics. The Pastorale room, all in sky-blue toile, has Oriental rugs and a view over the pretty garden; the largest room, La Messidor, has a fireplace, rustic antiques, and a view through leaded-glass windows to the quiet street below. Breakfast (included) is served in a quaint dining room or outdoors in the garden with views of the medieval city.

Owner Camilla Richards spent 20 years in London before converting this 19th-century Provençal manor house—in the Bois de Fond Merle, perched over a lotus pond with a spectacular pool and near the Cannes–Mougins golf course—into an upscale inn. Light, airy guest rooms are accented with striking nouvelle-mod pieces. You probably won't stray too far from your poolside lounger, except, perhaps, to eat. The restaurant's reasonably priced menu has something for vegetarians, meat eaters, fish lovers, and those with a sweet tooth; the €25 lunch menu is gold.

You will not find a hotel in Chartres as charming, welcoming, or well priced as this chambre d’hôtes a 10-minute walk from the cathedral. All three contemporary guest rooms are comfortably furnished and perfectly private, with ample baths and spacious outdoor terraces in a large, attractive garden. Breakfast is included in the price.  

In a restored 18th-century house on La Palud's only street, this lovely little complex with a B&B, restaurant, and a climbing-gear store is run by charming owners. The rustic, simple rooms, each named after a classic hiking route, include one with a large double bed and another with a double and three singles. A small house is available for larger families or groups. Don't expect a TV, but rooms are furnished with a lot of good books. A healthy breakfast (€8.50) includes homemade jam.

Don't let the bland street-front facade of this late-1800s town house deter you—inside, the renovated interior mixes stately original attributes with contemporary edges, and natural light spills in from the quiet gardens and terrace with front-row views of snowcapped Mont Canigou. Although all four rooms are spacious and combine modern style with nice antique details, the upstairs Terrace Suite stands out with its glassed-in Florida room and outdoor terrace.