A pretty harbour town on the Seine estuary and the English Channel, Honfleur was originally a fortified trade port and played a significant role in the Hundred Years’ War. Its pretty quayside – Vieux Bassin – retains multi-storey, half-timber houses in bright colours, but glamorous yachts now take the place of fishing vessels and commercial ships. Visit attractions including the Maritime Museum, the 17th-century Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, The Eugène Boudin Museum with its fine arts display and linger at the many waterside eateries. Honfleur has long attracted artists, including Claude Monet, who immortalised its scenes through his work.
Honfleur, Normandy
La Ferme Saint Siméon – Relais & Châteaux
(5 stars) A short walk from the beach and town, this peaceful 17th-century inn and apple farm is now a five-star hotel, incorporating the original farmhouse, a pavilion, a tower and a thatched cottage (the latter was painted by Monet and serves as the main restaurant). La Ferme Saint Siméon was once a favourite of impressionist painters who adored the sweeping Seine views; a heritage that is maintained by an artist in residence. Many of the original features remain too, with beamed ceilings, wood-panelled walls, oil paintings and large open fires. The hotel provides watercolour classes, horse-drawn carriage rides and boat trips and has an in-house spa.