In a remote spot above the Aveyron gorges, this well-preserved bastide village (population 250) was founded in the 13th century below a hilltop fortress, now a ruin.

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

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.

“Pleasant, very convenient.” “A gem! Peaceful, comfortable, relaxing.” The reports on this B&B hotel in a quiet cul-de-sac in the old centre of this busy cit

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

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.

By the rocky shore, the Delion family”s pink, Florentine-style villa was a favourite of prewar Riviera society: Garbo and Scott Fitzgerald were among its habitués.

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

“The food is excellent,” say visitors. In a wine village in the Beaujolais, this restaurant-with-rooms (Logis de France) is run by Bertrand Alizer and his partner Kesaram Choudhary.

This unusual hotel is located not far from the seafront, behind the mighty Hôtel Negresco. Visitors called it 'a delight'.

This family owned and run B&B is located very conveniently in the centre of Morzine, less than 100m from the nearest ski lift.

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.

This unusual hotel is a clever conversion of medieval houses on the side of a cliff, by the ramparts of this fashionable hill village, inland from Nice.

Returning to Pierre and Gisèle Lafortune's hotel, a former 17th-century convent near St-Sulpice, a visitor wrote: 'Expensive, but worth every euro. The people are charming.'

Dating in part from the 12th century, this “truly beautiful”, many-turreted castle stands high on a cliff above the River Lot, in “beautiful formal gardens” on a wine-growing estate: the views from the terrace are “magic”.

'Small and personal, with attentive staff', this B&B hotel is in a quiet street in St-Germain-des-Prés: 'A lovely location, close to shops and the local market,' says a visitor.

Behind imposing wrought iron gates, and fronted by a courtyard with a central fountain and lawns, this big, honey-coloured, former 18th-century hunting lodge was liked again by visitors.

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.

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

Owned by Huw Awada (a former London hotelier) and his Irish wife Geraldine, this hotel is set in a handsome old stone building in a village perché (which has a 12th-century castle, fine views and llamas) located near Mont Ventoux.

In the historic centre, on the traffic-free square in front of the cathedral, this “tastefully decorated” hotel offers “good value”, say Guide readers.

On the banks of Le Loir (not La Loire, further south), is this small country restaurant-with-rooms (Logis de France).

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.

'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.'

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

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

“Our visit could not have been more enjoyable,” says a regular Guide correspondent, returning to Pierre and Isabelle Bertranet”s 16th-century mill house, now an elegant small hotel.

'An idyllic luxury hotel in the Camargue”, this neat whitewashed mas is isolated by a lagoon just north of the Camargue”s little seaside capital.

'Excellently located', in the Marais, this 'very friendly' hotel has for three generations been owned and run by Didier Fossiez's family ('he and his wife, Pamela, are delightful').

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.