Near Beaune, this former residence of the Knights of Malta, turreted and creeper-covered, dates in part from the 12th century, but the château itself is 19th-century.

In a quiet residential area this 1930s maison de maitre has been restored to preserve its original heritage while providing modern comfort and amenities.

In the foothills of the Vosges mountains, overlooking the highest village on the Alsatian wine trail, is this large, modern, Scandinavian-style hotel.

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

Near the Roman theatre, at the foot of St-Eutrope hill is this 17th-century coaching inn, now a pink and green-shuttered two-star B&B with 'welcoming' owner/manager, Alain Bennejean

'Very smart' and 'beautifully situated' (on the Rhône, in a famous vineyard), the Humann-Donet family's hotel is 'still highly recommended.

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.

In the old town, between the Dominican church and the Unterlinden museum, this ornate mansion (1609), newly owned by Marilyn and Eric Girardin, is decorated with 100 sculpted têtes (heads).

This traditional country inn (Logis de France) is set on a rocky outcrop in a beautiful part of the Jura. It's run by Nelly Euvrard-Geissler, who is also the chef.

South-west of Pau, in a tiny village on the edge of the Pays Basque, this old inn has been turned into a restaurant-with-rooms by owner/chef Pierre Chilo and his wife Martine.

Just west of the western gate of the “amazingly picturesque”, tiny home town of Impressionist painter Alfred Sisley, is this former 18th-century relais de poste, now Gilles de Crick”s restaurant-with-rooms.

In a village midway between the town and the Mont Blanc Tunnel entrance, this cheerful chalet-style hotel (Logis de France) is owned and run by Bernard and Martine Farini.

Montpellier has some grandiose modern architecture but is full of historical interest too, and has a charming Vieille Ville, well restored.

In the painter Jean-Baptiste Greuze”s birthplace, and overlooked by the bell tower of the Romanesque abbey of St-Philibert, is this Renaissance “Bressane” building restored as an elegant, luxurious hotel.

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

'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.

A former maison de notaire, this inexpensive hotel is in a small town, surrounded by mountain pastures, on the pilgrims” route to Santiago de Compostela.

On a hillside in the Argonne forest (deer are sometimes seen), owner/chef Paul Aguesse and his wife, Roselyne, “an excellent hostess”, run this smart restaurant-with-rooms.

Formerly a Benedictine convent, this 'civilised' little Left Bank hotel underwent extensive renovations in 2011 and is now bright and modern, although traces of its past remain with original exposed beams in some of the rooms, and exposed pale stone walls in the lounge.

“It keeps on improving” according to a visitor returning to the Larain family”s glamorous hotel (Relais & Châteaux), on the banks of the Yonne.

In the Morvan nature reserve in southern Burgundy, this 16th/18th-century château has been run for seven years

“Guests enjoy really personal service” at this small hotel run by Marco Baumann and his wife, Danielle Haeberlin.

Built in 1930 as a radio station, this homage to Art Deco sits on a hillside in this residential suburb of Clermont-Ferrand

'A lovely little hotel,' says a visitor to Frederic and Cécile Lespinasse-Jacquemin's quiet, friendly B&B in three buildings in the old town.

'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'.

On the edge of this historic town stands new owner Justin Giustianini's substantial half-timbered inn. It is on a dull main road, but bedrooms (in Louis XVI to Louis-Philippe style) face a quiet rear garden which has a dining terrace.

'What a remarkable place,' says a visitor to this designer hotel in the lively narrow streets of the trendy St-Jean quarter of Vieux Lyon.

'Wonderfully located' in the Marais, this inexpensive, newly renovated hotel overlooks the lively Place du Marché-Ste-Catherine.

This “immaculate, tiny village, like a film set” stands high on an escarpment above the valleys of the Lot and the Truyère, north of Rodez.

A “ravishing building”, a 17th-century château, with pepperpot tower, moat with swans, “hens and cockerels strutting in the grounds.