'Well placed for visits to central Paris', this 18th-century building is where Puccini set La Bohème.

'Such a wonderful building; good value,' says a visitor about Françoise and Gérard Nicolas's 18th-century house, elegantly renovated in period style.

Beneath the white and turreted château built by Louis X, home of the French Cavalry Academy since 1763, is Jean-René and Mary Lyn Camus”s stylish hotel, an 18th-century listed building overlooking the Loire.

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.

In an unexceptional southern suburb of Boulogne-sur-Mer, this smart and “hospitable” restaurant-with-rooms stands by the little River Liane.

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

Owned by Mme Descaillot and Mme Etievant, this 17th-century post house has been nicely converted into a B&B, and has recently been renovated.

'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.

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

“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.

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.

This 'beautifully refurbished' old bastide is located within walking distance of the ancient fortified village of Reillanne.

'Outstanding value, nearly perfect in its class.' Ever popular, this quirky little hotel is off the beaten track, in an 'amazingly quiet' square near the Porte d'Orléans.

Between Cannes and Grasse, on the edge of a village in mimosa country, this informal and 'convivial' holiday hotel, long popular with readers, is owned and run by Chantal Cattet and her son.

“You can tick all the “Good Hotel” boxes for this one,” say the nominators of this “beautiful house, away from traffic on the edge of a spectacular village”.

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

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.

Below Mont Ventoux, in a tiny Provençal village perché, this smart hotel is much liked.

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.

Although you are paying for location more than decor – the reception is tiny and the rooms simply furnished – all rooms have terraces with sea views.

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.

This hotel's most famous guest was Oscar Wilde, who died here when it was a rundown boarding house, but since then a number of celebrities have stayed here and continue to do so; a revamp by interior designer Jacques Garcia has helped ensure the hotel – and it's bar – is a hip destination.

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

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.

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.

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

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

This “most attractive building” is in a quiet residential area just outside Sarlat: “a peaceful and beautiful setting”. It is a part 13th-century hunting lodge, “truly romantic”.

'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'.