'Superbly restored' by owners Jean-Yves and Christine Marivin, and with 'furnishings tastefully selected to create an authentic contemporary ambience', this stone-built manor house was found 'delightful' by regular Guide correspondents: 'Our welcome could not have been warmer.'

Set in a 200-year-old building in the pedestrianized centre of Lille (a ten minute walk from the Gare de Europe), Hotel de la Paix is a “friendly, efficient no-frills” B&B hotel with an art nouveau vibe; despite its location it is quiet, with soundproofed rooms.

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.

The magnificent white beaches of Île de Ré, offshore from La Rochelle, attract hordes of French holidaymakers in season: advance booking is essential for Anne and Frederic Latour”s charming hotel.

'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'.

A reader whose flight was cancelled due to a strike was consoled by the discovery of this small hotel in a quiet, narrow street in the old city.

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.

Built a century ago as a private house, this belle époque mansion (Relais & Chateaux) was turned into a hotel by François André in 1926: he named it after his wife.

An 11th-century fortified castle at the top of a medieval village in the hills south of Draguinon has been turned into this small hotel where, say the nominators, 'everything was correct'.

In a park with century-old trees bordered by box tree walkways, this Renaissance château near Brantôme looks across a valley.

In a 'lovely, tranquil” setting, this stately, white-fronted 17th-century demeure (Relais & Chateaux) stands amid garden and parkland, between Reims and Soissons.

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.

The town may be “ordinary”, but this hotel on the outskirts is “very attractive”, says a visitor. It stands quietly across a road from parkland along the banks of the small River Sèvre.

Between the Place des Vosges and the Place de la Bastille, a short walk from the Marais, stands this 'quirky' small hotel.

In a wooded park outside Amboise, facing the Loire, this small château was built in 1244 by Geoffrey de Pray; later, the wife of Alphonse Daudet lived here.

North-west of Limoges, this gentilhommière (Relais & Châteaux) stands in a large park on the edge of a wood.

With unspoilt views over the Charente from its dining terrace, this 19th-century gentilhommière stands among oak trees (yeuses).

With the impressive castle of Haut-Koenigsbourg on the horizon and visible from some bedrooms, this modernised, but traditionally styled Alsatian auberge (Logis de France) is run by owner/chef Jean-Luc Dumoulin and his wife, Francesca.

Liked immensely by many readers ('good, quiet, exceptional value'; 'an excellent hotel in a very good location'), this converted town house is named after the 'great men' entombed in the Panthéon opposite.

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.

“What a good stop-over,” say visitors. “Super dinner, comfy room, lovely village.” Owned since 1785 by the wine-producing Koehler family (“much in evidence”), this cheerful restaurant-with-rooms stands in a “pretty, peaceful” village, amid the orchards and vineyards of the Vosges foothills.

In a rural setting, just outside a small village between Montreuil-sur-Mer and Hesdin, Marie-Hélène Flament runs this “superb” chambres d”hôtes.

Informally run by the Rambaud family is this stylish inn located in a 'pleasing stone building' set back from the road, in 'fairly spacious' grounds with olive and almond trees and a vineyard.

“Delightfully located”, outside Challes thermal station, is this superb 15th-century castle, renovated by the Trèves family owners.

Formerly the summer residence of the bishops of Tulle, this 11th-century château stands above the Dordogne, near Rocamadour: it has 'glorious views'.

Beneath the 13th/16th-century château of this village near Brantôme, this 17th-century maison bourgeoise stands by the River Dronne.

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

Between Orléans and Le Mans, outside a village 18 km north of Vendôme, is this handsome, ivy-covered 19th-century former hunting lodge of Duc de La Rochefoucauld, now owned by Maryse and Guy Redon.

“A splendid place, tasteful, comfortable, with exquisite food,” wrote regular correspondents about this famous Burgundian restaurant-with-rooms (Relais & Châteaux).