A long-time Guide favourite, the Chazal family's 'seriously good' small hotel/restaurant is on the main street of a pleasant market town in the Auvergne.

This Lorraine town has a “mini-Versailles” of a château, worth visiting. And in a wooded park to the south, this handsome, turreted 19th-century mansion is now a luxurious hotel (Relais & Châteaux).

'Magical.' 'Delightful.' This former 10th-century fortress, near the awesome Gorges du Verdon, is owned by the family of Guillaume Thomas.

“A place to unwind and experience a little of the magic France still offers,” says a visitor. Jean-Philippe Gautier, an architect, and his wife, Olivia, have restored their manor house, in a town south of Poitiers, while preserving its old character.

Near the famous château of this well-known wine town on the Vienne, this B&B is a delightful place to stay.

“A super place. Dining here is to be savoured: food, setting, service all extremely satisfying.” “Even better this time.”

In a beautiful setting on the Sélune (one of the last salmon rivers in France), where the N176 crosses an old bridge, this unsophisticated Logis de France is run by Patrice and Sandra Girres; Patrice is the son of the previous owners, Jean-Pierre and Josette Girres, and is the third generation to run the hotel.

'A terrific place,' said a recent visitor. Gloriously positioned on a peninsula in a fishing port on the north Brittany coast, this handsome white 1900s hotel is decorated in 'contemporary balnéaire' style: polished floorboards, grey and honey panelled walls, wooden furniture, original wicker chairs, and colourful modern fabrics: 'the apogee of casual chic'.

This 17th-century demeure was turned into a hotel (now Logis de France) by the Mouty family in 1904. “In many ways it seems not to have changed since then,” writes the nominator.

In a village in rolling Burgundy country between Avallon and Vézelay, Claire and Régis Tatraux”s small white-fronted restaurant-with-rooms (Logis de France) “offers good value in a pleasant environment”, says a visitor.

In Champagne country, near Épernay, this luxurious hotel, surrounded by a lovely landscaped garden and vineyards, is “highly recommended” by guests; it has recently been refurbished.

This 18th-century palace is where Marie-Antoinette stayed on her way to meet her husband-to-be, Louis XVI and is now a hotel, “in the best discreet French tradition”.

'A beautiful hotel,' one reader wrote. Built of local pink granite, this 19th-century Breton manor house (Relais & Châteaux) stands on a wooded headland on the edge of this popular resort.

'Wonderful', 'excellent value', are comments on the Bonnet family's hotel in the centre, near the Cours Mirabeau.

'Well located, a few miles away from the busy A6', this restaurant-with-rooms (Logis de France) run by Cyrille Joubery and his wife, is recommended by a visitor for 'peaceful nights and fabulous meals, all at reasonable prices'.

'Still the best all-around value for money in Paris'.

In a small, pretty town in the Auvergne is this hotel, in a well-maintained, imposing building reminiscent of old world, rural France.

'Pretty close to perfection' was one couple's verdict on this charming hotel in a busy market village near the south Brittany coast.

“A good, sound hotel in a fine position.” Owned by Alix Lormand, this 19th-century demeure (Relais du Silence) is part of a small group of Roussillon hotels.

Yann and Christine Christiansen are the owner/managers (the family has presided for over 100 years) of a conversion of two 16th/17th-century houses.

On the edge of this village, famous for the discovery of the cave of Cro-Magnon man nearby, and very touristy in summer, this 'first-rate' hotel (Relais & Châteaux) stands by the winding River Vézère.

This old hill village, popular with artists, is full of arty boutiques. Its name means 'russet': it is famous for its ochre quarries, and its buildings are in shades of red, pink and orange.

Considering its location (just behind the Ritz, and a short walk to the Louvre, Jardin des Tuileries etc) and its reputation for excellent service, the Mansart offers good value.

“A truly delightful place. The garden and park provide pleasure from every point,” says a visitor: in 1976, this 18th-century château, a historic monument in a large park near Bayeux, was turned into an elegant hotel (Relais & Châteaux); extensive renovations were completed in March 2016.

“A delightful hotel in an exquisite building,” says a visitor. “With its thick, honey-coloured stone walls, it looks every inch a medieval manor house,” says our inspector.

Well away from the tourist crowds which flock to this spectacular hilltop village is the Charial family's sophisticated modern hotel (Relais & Châteaux).

Close to the Invalides and the Rodin museum with its fascinating garden, this former hôtel particulier changed hands in 2002.

The imaginatively detailed interior of this hotel sets it apart: the 18th century French chinoiserie style includes fabric toile du Jouy wallpaper, oriental carpets and custom-made furniture with Oriental marquetry.

'A lovely discovery', by a regular Guide correspondent. Just outside this medieval village perché north of Orange, above the Rhône, it is only a kilometre from the A7, 'but it could be a world away'.

Thierry Claudon's B&B hotel is fairly inexpensive despite its grand name, and is housed in an elegant old building in a quiet, pleasant street near Assemblée Nationale, Invalides and Musée Rodin.