Best Luxury Hotels in France

Perched on a hillside, nestled among medieval buildings, lies this 400-year-old chateau in the south-eastern part of Provence. This is a dream for couples seeking authentic period features and intimacy. Expect stone walls, four-poster beds and fireplaces. It’s almost like holidaying in a fantasy Disney movie. There are just twelve rooms (half with epic sea views), all unique and in different parts of the building. Each turn and flight of stone steps feels like a mini adventure of discovery. In the restaurant and bar, you’ll be treated to Michelin-starred cuisine from chef Axel Wagner, created from local market ingredients – during the day meals can be taken alfresco.

This enchanting 19th-century Chateau Pierre de Serjac is the first word in luxury and style and boasts eight elegant rooms for guests to choose from nestled in a traditional wine estate. The city of Montpellier can be found just an hour away and for people who want to be surrounded by nature while enjoying first-class amenities such as a spa and outdoor infinity pool, this is the perfect place to stay. Guests will be able to spend their days cycling through the countryside or playing tennis on the onsite court before enjoying fine dining in the hotel’s restaurant.

If you’re seeking to improve your sports performance or recover from an injury, come here to the Athletic Rehabilitation Center. The spa, which began offering Thalassa treatments in 2016 (having been a well-known wellness centre since 1964), provides a variety of seawater programmes for relaxation, improved health and appearance. Facing the ocean and rugged cliffs, the building enjoys a lot of natural light, with 126 bedrooms offering views of either the sea or land from their balconies. The restaurant, La Presqu’île, has a breathtaking outlook, enjoyed alongside organic Breton cuisine.

Perched on the top of a hill providing stunning views of the Mediterranean and Old Port, the Sofitel is set in one of the most stunning spots in the whole of Marseille. Guests are also treated to first rate amenities that are sure to make them feel on top of the world. The Mediterranean-facing rooms come complete with huge balconies where guests can unwind in style while taking advantage of the excellent room service and soaking up the scenery.

Home of the iconic film festival, Cannes is another magnet for celebrities. Hyatt’s Green Globe-certified Riviera property has 409 room, ten of which are accessible. There’s an art deco theme to its swish design by Pierre-Yves Rochon, with colours echoing those found in the local coastal scenery. Culinary artistry comes from Michelin-starred Executive Chef Christian Sinicropi, in the hotel’s three upmarket eateries. The finest – La Palme d’Or, overlooks the Bay of Cannes and features crockery designed by Sinicropi and his wife. There’s also a spa, kids’ club, beach and plenty of meeting facilities (all buzzing with famous faces and press during the film festival)

Ideally located beside the bay, this five-star resort has amenities for those of all ages: a kids club, water sports, hair and beauty treatments, a boutique, outdoor and indoor heated saltwater swimming pools and four restaurants. Designed in the Belle Époque style it has plenty of original features and panoramic sea views. The Thalasso Spa is perhaps Le Grand Hôtel des Thermes’ highlight, with sea-themed treatments, a hammam, sauna and a toasty seawater labyrinth which can be walked or swum through via 194 underwater jets, currents, counter-currents, showers and bubble baths.

Positioned a little away from the centre of the village, the hotel is now the only one in Megève with ski-in, ski-out access and the 55 bedroom Four Seasons property, provides a secluded base surrounded by nature. However, there’s plenty going on within the resort. A great choice for families, it has a programme of activities and a club room for younger kids, a Teen Zone furnished with games and a screening room, plus an in-house ski teacher. The brand new 3,864sq.ft Mont Blanc suite has three connected bedrooms and two smaller suites so is ideal for families.  Adults can enjoy wine tastings in the hotel’s 15,000 bottle-strong cellar, dinners at ‘’La Dame de Pic – Le 1920’ which will welcome Anne-Sophie Pic as she takes up her first winter residence this season and enjoy some down time in the tranquillity of the pure white spa.

Just outside Avignon lies this charming village-like hotel complex. Eight restored stone houses are connected by a series of alleyways and courtyards, including a vaulted terraced restaurant, bistro with pretty views of the Dentelles de Montmirail and Mont Ventoux and an outdoor heated pool with sundeck. Rooms feature Provençal features such as exposed beams, terracotta floors and antique furniture. The on-site Spa des Ecuries offers restorative treatments using dreamy Bamford products, from its converted stable home. It’s also pet-friendly and has a superb fine-dining restaurant La Madeleine.

The dark beams, heavy ornate wooden fireplaces, oversized oil paintings, wood-panelled tubs and Elizabethan style furnishings found in Airelles Val d’Isèr creates an almost medieval feel. Every room has a bath here, and although there’s a pool and hot tub, the option for a private soak post-slopes is most welcome. Guests have ski-in, ski-out access and can buy ski passes on site. Elsewhere, the hotel has a Guerlain spa, an outdoor terrace, gym, two restaurants (French and Italian) and a bar. Double rooms, through to two-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes are available.

Fully renovated in 2016, but originating from 1912, this Barrière group property sits close to the beach, tennis courts and a horse training track, with many rooms affording views of these attractions. A grand dame of Deauville, its picture-postcard exterior has ensured its place as a local landmark. The piano bar is a convivial spot for a cocktail and there’s a glass-roofed pool, a kids’ club, a brasserie, 271 bedrooms and a direct passage linking the casino. Hotel Barrière Le Normandy Deauville’s decor has Anglo-Norman and Belle-Epoque influences, with antique pieces, chandeliers and bucolic wallpapers.

Hôtel Chais Monnet & Spa offers a luxurious gateway to France’s Cognac region, housed within a sensitively restored 19th-century trading house. Comprising 92 rooms and suites, the property balances understated design with local character, using soft timbers, warm neutral textiles, and subtle nods to the area’s namesake spirit. The setting stretches across nearly five acres, blending historic industrial buildings with a sleek modern glass pavilion, and is just a short stroll from some of the world’s most prestigious Cognac houses.

Michelin-starred Les Foudres offers an atmospheric fine-dining experience. For more casual moments, the rooftop terrace and Le 1838 Jazz Bar showcase regional ingredients and a remarkable collection of over 330 Cognac labels. The wellness offering includes a serene spa, hammam, and a generously proportioned indoor-outdoor pool. Guests are invited to explore the surrounding countryside via curated experiences, from vintage Citroën drives through vineyards to market visits and countryside picnics. The hotel’s quiet elegance and immersive local connections make it a standout destination in south-western France.

Take a five-star spa holiday at Les Sources De Caudalie. Set beside a peaceful lake, you’ll feel like you’ve arrived in the countryside, yet it’s just a 20-minute taxi hop back to the city centre. The hotel’s menu of ‘vinotherapy’ treatments has been inspired by the region’s produce and there are both indoor and outdoor pools. Additional alfresco amenities include a tennis court, a 3-hole pitch and putt golf course and free bike hire to explore the surrounding Château Smith Haut Lafitte vineyards. The building is grand, but it was crafted using reclaimed materials from local farms. And, combined with its own kitchen garden, Les Sources De Caudalie boasts an excellent carbon footprint.