Run by Anne-Sophie Heitzler with a “helpful staff”, this modern hotel is a conversion of three half-timbered Renaissance buildings in Colmar”s beautiful Petite Venise area.

Michelin finds Michel and Nelly Bougon's extended 17th-century farmhouse in the Périgord Nord near Sarlat, 'ravishing' and tells of its 'ambiance cosy'.

'Not cheap, but the style, decor, service and fabulous location make it a winner': this 17th-century mansion is within easy walking distance (via Pont Neuf) of the Louvre and Notre Dame.

Away from the crowded waterfront of this old fishing port near the Spanish border, this modestly priced B&B hotel, 'not luxurious, but good value', is up a steep side street.

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.

'Bang in the middle of decent-sized, pleasant town', behind the Hôtel de Ville, is this converted 17th century Ursuline convent, now a B&B hotel.

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.

This Logis de France (also Relais du Silence) is a short walk from the famous tapestry (really an embroidery).

“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.

Once the home of a 19th-century wine merchant, this vine-covered building is now a 'charming small hotel', says a visitor. 'The friendly staff were very helpful.'

Between woodlands and vineyards on a Burgundy hillside, this holiday hotel stands on a minor road, below an old Neolithic settlement.

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 an area of the Perigord, rich in geese, plum trees and pigeonniers, this traditional chateau hotel stands in country surrounded by forest.

“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.

In the Cher valley, near Chenonceaux and Blois, this 'idyllic' medieval château stands on a hillside. Owned by Philippe Savry, and part of the small Savray group, it is 'a perfect example of traditional local architecture', according to its nominators.

'Splendidly located' on the quayside and facing south over the Vieux Port is this modern seven-storey B&B hotel.

Set just 200m from the cable car, M. and Mme Georges's hotel is in the centre of a large Pyrenean ski resort in the heart of the Catalan Pyrenees Regional Nature Park, just 15 minutes from Spain.

This 'agreeable' small hotel is located in a quiet street at the northwest end of Jardin du Luxembourg (two minutes' walk away) and near St-Sulpice and Montparnasse.

Near the Spanish border, in the remote Aldudes valley, this village is a key Basque folklore centre. Here, Pascal and Christine Arcé”s “beautiful country hotel”, by a trout river, is much admired.

The setting of M. and Mme Boyère's modern hotel is 'splendid', say visitors to the lovely Rhuys peninsula. Others wrote of 'a spacious feel, a friendly patron'.

Near the centre of a quiet village, and close to the télésiège which serves the ski areas of Les Saisies and L'Espace Diamant, Anne-Christine and Frédéric Boulanger have since 2003 run their alpine hotel/restaurant.

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

A “delightful” small auberge, stylish, but not posh, created by the actress Leslie Caron from four 17th-century boat houses on the Yonne, and now owned by Jerome Fertal. “The Owl”s Nest” is in an attractive little town with honey-coloured stone buildings in northern Burgundy.

“Family-run and it shows,” say visitors to this chalet-style building (“like a 1930s English cottage with a touch of Gallic flair”).

'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.

In the glorious Pays de la Loire in a great park, in Saumur, with its ancient houses and weekly market. this historic mansion is now an elegant luxury B&B hotel and spa.

“One of our best hotel experiences in years,” write visitors to this creeper-covered boutique hotel just south of this lovely medieval town.

In two buildings, separated by a garden with a swimming pool, is M. and Mme Grasset's 'relatively modern' Logis de France, popular with golfers.