130 Best Hotels in France

Loaded with charm, this refined château by the Vesles River has a Louis XIV facade, and the classic exterior somehow harmonizes nicely with the sweeping brass main staircase attributed to Jean Cocteau. Guest rooms inside the château range from smallish to generously proportioned, while the former outbuildings have been converted into large family-size suites. Wind down in the bar before enjoying excellent fare (including seasonal game) served in the stately, 18th-century-style dining room. A formal garden and outdoor pool are the gateway to 40 acres of parkland and a tree-shaded canal.

A 15th-century jewel of a castle, once a retreat of kings François I and Henri IV, is today the country setting for the Prince de Broglie's hotel set on magnificent grounds. Owner Prince Louis-Albert is a famed biodiversity preservationist, who cultivates 650 types of tomatoes in the château's potager (vegetable garden). It's not surprising that the three main public salons are suavely done up in shades of tomato red, offsetting the immense marble fireplace, taxidermied animals (by De Broglie own's Deyrolle, Paris's famed taxidermist), and curio cabinet objects collected by the prince. Inside the neo-Renaissance castle, guest rooms range from the grand—François-Premier is a timber-roof cottage blown up to ballroom dimensions—to more standard-issue. The adjoining 17th-century \"stables\" are fitted out with a gardening shop and a tiny eatery. The enormous secluded pool is welcome on hot summer days.

Ancient meets modern at this 50-acre wine estate and gardens 9 km (5½ miles) from Orange, where you can stay in an elegant beamed aerie in the crenellated 16th-century castle or a chic contemporary abode in the stylish addition. It's not an easy choice as all of the hotel's bright, unusually spacious rooms—many with balconies or private garden terraces—are luxuriously outfitted with state-of-the-art amenities, up-to-date bathrooms, heated floors (in the contemporary side), and the comfiest beds imaginable. Every detail, from the original artwork to the lighting, is immaculate—and designed according to the principles of feng shui. What's more, it's all sustainable and organic, including the restaurant’s meals, which are made with vegetables from the kitchen garden. A beautiful spa and a program of wine tastings (of the estate's wines), culinary experiences, chamber music, and activities make this the perfect getaway for couples or families.

A bit off the beaten track, but only a short drive from Vézelay, this moated château with stellar period decor was built between the 13th and 16th centuries; its regal guest quarters are accented with high ceilings, wooden floors, open fireplaces, and toile de Jouy fabrics. The finest room—Le Roy—has a four-poster bed and direct access to the swimming pool in the vaults. The ancient kitchen is now home to the château's restaurant (open April through mid-November), where chef Franco Bowanee presents delicious dishes using homegrown vegetables from the garden.

On a sprawling wine estate, far from Carcassonne's madding crowd, this serene retreat is owned by ever-hospitable hosts who happily share their best vintages and fine countryside lifestyle with guests. Self-catering accommodations are in cottages, including one cozy retreat for two, some that sleep 2–4, and a couple that are ideal for large family groups and sleep 8–10. They're decorated in neutral tones and accented with exposed barn beams and lime-washed plaster walls; the 314 surrounding acres are wrapped in rolling hills with grapevines and a few olive groves. 

Perhaps the most opulent of St-Tropez's luxe hangouts—with its balustraded white villa built in 1936—is now an LVMH property, where French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte refreshed the interiors, with the predominant theme being light. The spa (featuring hammam, snow shower, and ice fountain experiences) transforms you with Guerlain facial or body treatments, pedicures, manicures, and hair or beauty makeovers, leaving you ready to linger over dinner at chef Arnaud Donckele’s three-Michelin-star restaurant, Vague d'Or (set menus from €415). You're already dropping some serious cash here, so it's worth paying extra for a seaside room where you can lean over the balcony and take in the coastal views.

No stranger to five-star prices, Disneyland has actually never had a five-star hotel until it opened this 487-room confection, a cross between a Victorian mansion and a fairy-tale castle. Set at the entrance to the park, it’s the most convenient Disney lodging, and many rooms overlook Main Street and Sleeping Beauty Castle (which the hotel resembles more than a little). Room themes draw from 11 Disney princesses and princes, from Cinderella to the Snow Queen and Rapunzel in colors like powder blue, silvery grey, and, yes, pink, but with a glittery sophistication other park hotels lack. Some deluxe suites sport fireplaces and outdoor terraces in the courtyard garden. Facilities like the indoor pool, Jacuzzi, and full-service spa—which pampers kids as young as six—round out the high-end experience. Other highlights include a trove of fun activities for kids, including a wandering troupe of Disney princesses and princes that appear regularly at La Table de Lumière gourmet restaurant, the Fleur de Lys lounge, and the Royal Banquet (you can also book a meet-and-greet by appointment). 

A 30-minute drive east of Laon brings you to this upcycled 18th-century hunting lodge, now a boutique hotel that fuses contemporary elegance with period architecture and quirky artwork. Foodies will enjoy the creative dishes served in the Les Epicuriens restaurant (closed Monday and Tuesday), which has lovely views of the gardens. The hotel facilities include a lounge bar, indoor pool, sauna, gym, tennis courts, and bicycles (a supplement is charged for the use of electric bikes).

Though this cluster of private stone cottages has had a modernizing face-lift, the antique tiles and faux patinas keep things looking fashionably rustic, and the panoramic views are classics. Amenities include a heated pool, a billiards room, and babysitting services by arrangement. What's more, the atmosphere is surprisingly welcoming and familial for such a sophisticated inn.

This hotel and wine estate in the heart of nature is billed as an “experimental” space, with everything from the joyful, primary-color decor schemes to the configuration and contemporary design of each room to the unconventional touches (skylights, raised sinks, platform beds) expressing uniqueness. Common areas invite conviviality, and a large pool, gardens, and outdoor terraces invite you to relax and enjoy the view. For a more private stay, book one of the three cozy wooden cabins with terraces or the two fully equipped houses, each with three bedrooms, their own grounds, and stellar views.

This small budget boutique hotel minutes from the Eiffel Tower mixes contemporary amenities and furnishings with Art Nouveau flourishes. There are homey touches in the lounge-bar and breakfast room, where a hearty spread of fresh juices, croissants, brioches, cheeses, yogurts, and fruit is served daily. Despite its location, the hotel has rates that are as appealing as its sleek look (black-and-white stripes feature heavily) and luxury linens. Traveling en famille? Family rooms join two standards to accommodate four to five people.

One of the village’s more contemporary chalet hotels, the Four Seasons comes with modern interiors that inspire luxurious cocooning with every deluxe touch. In winter, you’re welcomed by a roaring fire and comfortable nooks for après ski among a beautiful art and rare-glass collection. Well-appointed rooms are bright and modern, with state-of-the-art fixtures, plenty of daylight, and spacious baths. With only 12 rooms, there’s an exclusive feel here, and while each one is beautiful, the higher priced suites are the standouts. The hotel spa is also exceptional with a heated pool, fitness room, and customized treatments. The yoga dome on the lovely grounds is great for a getaway focused on wellness. For a more traditional alpine stay, the Four Seasons sister lodging, Les Chalets du Mont d’Arbois, sports antiques, cozy interiors, wooded grounds, and access to the main hotel spa. Set at the edge of town, a shuttle service is provided for anywhere you need to go.

It's impossible to find better lodging for €90 a night in Paris, especially a place this close to edgy Belleville and Canal St-Martin, with panoramic views of the city and Sacré-Coeur Basilica to boot; this hostel-hotel offers some good amenities, too. The Generator chain’s winning formula as a clean, comfortable, fun, convenient, quiet, and secure base has made hard-core fans in Europe’s top destinations. For those who desire privacy, the hostel offers a number of streamlined private rooms starting at around €90, some with their very own terrace.

In the heart of this famous Grand Cru wine-producing town is this lovely hotel and spa housed in a former 17th-century trading house. It sits right on the main square and has a pretty view of the town hall. Leather, marble, exposed oak beams, stone walls, and velvet furnishings deck out the guest rooms and public spaces. There is also a reasonably-priced, upmarket restaurant, a wine bar, an airy lounge, an outdoor lap pool, and a spa in the vaulted cellars. 

Set smack dab on the famous Croisette, facing the Palais des Festivals, this stately hotel is the perfect high-end pleasure, thanks to soaring suites and unparalleled views of the Mediterranean—and, during the film festival, of the iconic red carpet. The elegant Fouquet’s restaurant and bar adds a touch of film star glamour. Mediterranean menus and refreshing cocktails are stars of the show at Ciro’s Cannes and its stylish private beach. Included in the rates is Studio by Petit VIP, a varied program of kids activities from art to baking and language classes. Meanwhile parents can relax by the outdoor pool or enjoy the Spa Diane Barrière by Parisian brand Biologique Recherche. Splash on a sea view room designed by Isabelle Stanislas. There’s even a pillow menu for a perfect night’s sleep.

The service, amenities, and petit déjeuner (breakfast) may be far from luxurious at this unpretentious family-owned-and-operated hotel, but the location in the heart of St-Germain is fabulous. The relatively spacious rooms are comfortable, with old-fashioned wood furnishings, renovated bathrooms, and neutral white and beige upholstery. Wi-Fi access is free. Children are welcome; baby cribs and high chairs are even available.

You might not guess that this friendly, family-run, shabby-chic hotel, convenient to both the train station and the Palais des Papes, is a budget option. It's full of welcoming touches like vintage art and colorful linens, and it's comfortable, functional, and easy on the wallet.

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.

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.

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.

Just behind Place d'Italie and a short stroll from both the Jardin des Plantes and Rue Mouffetard, La Manufacture's lesser-known location makes you feel like a vrai (real) Parisian. The lobby has oak floors, subtle lighting, a wooden bar, and a cozy breakfast room. Rooms are decorated in clean lines and natural colors; options include triples and eight sets of connecting rooms for families. The most expensive top-floor rooms are more spacious and have Eiffel Tower or Panthéon views.

A great choice for families and travelers on a budget, this rustic-contemporary hotel just outside the palace grounds fills a much-needed niche in this upscale city. The chic lodge’s 30 raw-wood-paneled rooms—some with spacious garden terraces—are spare, bright, and serviceable and can sleep up to four people. Hostel-like dormers are well-suited for families, solo travelers on a budget, and groups, with shared rooms for up to six people starting at €26. The on-site bistro’s all-day hours and spacious terrace make it a pleasant spot to enjoy a well-priced menu of homemade wood-fired pizzas, copious salads, and traditional French favorites from breakfast to late-night drinks or snacks in a “no-fuss” atmosphere.

Behind the photogenic facade of this 17th-century, half-timber house, you’ll find comfy, clean-lined bedrooms set around a geranium-festooned interior courtyard; the quietest quarters come with a view of the ramparts. Bold color splashes and an art-adorned interior give the place an artsy-rustic appeal.

This contemporary hotel is only a 10- to 15-minute walk from Rocamadour's major sites but feels a world apart from the tourist-clogged town. Tucked away in the midst of a large, leafy park (with a lovely pool) between the upper and lower levels of the town, the hotel's airy, tastefully appointed rooms offer comfortable beds, large baths, and pretty park views. The nearby lift and cable car can take you up to the upper town or down to the cathedral, or you can take the conveniently located path for an invigorating walk and some stunning views of the Rocamadour cliffs.

A sleek Scandinavian design with lively splashes of color, bright comfortable rooms, and a warm and welcoming atmosphere make this 19-room hotel one of Paris’s best-kept secrets. For a premium experience, try reserving one of the two rooms on the top floor, each of which has a small, private terrace.