Best Wellness Hotels in France

Delivering sensational panoramic sea views, the light and breezy Les Bords de Mer is perched directly on the coast and provides guests with plenty of pampering. Guests are treated to private beach access as well as an excellent restaurant where freshly caught seafood is highlighted to mouth-watering effect. This impressive establishment features just 19 rooms and each faces the ocean. Guests will either be provided with their own terrace or balcony to unwind on and this is the perfect place to linger over morning coffee and perhaps a few treats provided by room service before getting ready to explore this stunning seaside paradise.

Nestled among the vineyards of Beaujolais, Chateau De Bagnols is  half an hour outside of the centre in a pretty village. Housed in a privately owned 15th-century castle, the hotel offers 27 suites (some air conditioned), across three categories. Contemporary decor in cool tones blends with antiques, four poster beds, vaulted ceilings and beams. The formal restaurant, 1217, is Michelin-starred and features an enormous, majestic, stone carved fireplace, as well as a south-facing al fresco terrace. Or guests can take a seat in the inner courtyard’s Café du Château for lighter meals. Additional deluxe amenities found on site include an outdoor pool flanked by cherry trees, a spa and a gym.

Found between the Garden of Versailles and the Grand Triano, the neoclassical Trianon Palace was built at the turn of the 20th century. An enormous Guerlain Spa surrounded by mature gardens is a highlight here, along with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s own Michelin starred fine dining restaurant proffering views over the palace. 199 guest rooms are decorated in harmony with the hotel’s grand environs, adding in some contemporary styling. Onsite leisure amenities include two tennis courts, a large Grecian-inspired indoor pool, hammam, a relaxed brasserie and a bar. Family and pet-friendly rooms are available at this Waldorf Astoria owned property.

Originally a seafood restaurant popular with the well-heeled, you can still enjoy the wonderful culinary fare at La Réserve de Beaulieu, but with the added benefit of a fantastic spa and hotel on site. Found between Monaco and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. This has the air of an aristocratic residence, with Riviera glamour. Decorated in soft pastel tones, the hotel is furnished with delicate baroque antiques and objets d’art. Many rooms offer terraces with sea views. There are two chic beachfront restaurants to choose from, as well as a lounge-style bar.

The perfect place for a countryside break, this hotel is known for being one of the most prestigious golf resorts in the world. Terre Blanche is set inland, in huge lush grounds with beautiful woodland on the doorstep. Wander the gardens’ paths and you’ll be greeted by the gentle floral and pine aromas of this nature haven. Facilities include indoor and outdoor pools, a 3200m² spa with a hot tub and a steam bath, two 18-hole golf courses, two tennis courts, a fitness centre and a kid’s club – ensuring the whole family is fully catered for. In high season you’ll have a choice of four restaurants and a wealth of activities, sights and tourist attractions to explore nearby.

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.

This chic family run establishment boasts a cosy interior and plenty of luxurious touches. Guests are sure to love unwinding besides the open fire and taking in the stunning mountain scenery from the spacious terrace or in the celebrated lounge room. The main suites here are especially comfortable and come complete with their own balconies that offer impressive views. The hot tubs that are set right into the snow are the perfect places to unwind in style, while there is also an outdoor heated swimming pool and a hammam. In between spending time on the slopes, guests can also work up a sweat in the gym and take part in yoga classes.

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.

Owned by a family of avid skiers (the Capezzone’s), this is part of a small boutique chain. Very much a family affair, son Tom designed the interiors, daughter Emily is the maitre d’, while the owners Suzanne and Philippe are ever-present. The decor in the property has been inspired by Tibet – Chogori means ‘Big Mountain – while the tasting menus in L’Altiplano take on a Peruvian flair, incorporating Japanese cookery techniques, with dishes served on charcoal black crockery. Also in the hotel is the K2 Boutique, Goji Spa by Valmont, a kids’ zone and Bar 1954.

Set between the entrance to the exclusive Les Carats luxury chalets and the foot of the Bellevarde de Face slope, Les Barmes de l’Ours is perfectly positioned for people who want to take to the slopes and enjoy the area’s vibrant nightlife scene. This luxury hotel is set high on the slope and provides pretty views down the valley to the village of Val-d’Isère. In addition to forty-nine guestrooms there are twenty-seven spacious suites to choose from that have been decorated in a range of styles from the classic American lodge style to modern contemporary charm. A 1,000 square metre wellness sanctuary is the perfect place to revitalise and refresh the mind and body. This impressive establishment is also packed with amenities such as a fully loaded gym, several saunas, a steam room, hairdressing salons and eleven different treatment booths.

With its special ski-to-door access, Le Yule Hotel and Spa offers guests the opportunity to roll out of bed and hit the slopes straight away. Village Ski Lift is located just 200 metres away, while Bellevarde Express Ski Lift is just a 400-metre stroll. Even people who don’t want to try their hands at skiing will find plenty to do here as the large and luxurious spa come with a sauna and steam room, while there is a whole host of spa treatments to choose from. There are 41 rooms in total, with top options including balconies that look out over the slopes.

Guests are greeted at this homely venue, nestled in Méribel village, by a large green topiary bear. Inside, is cosy and bright, with plenty of contemporary Alpine style touches. Guests can sip on drinks and listen to music by the fireside in the bar, or retreat to the calmer library (also with a roaring fire). 37 rooms come with iPads and south-facing views, while the dining room provides gourmet cuisine (including a weekly Savoyarde night), under the direction of Michelin star chef Stéphane Froidevaux. Spa Temea offers therapies calling on homoeopathic, ayurvedic and shiatsu traditions, as well as beauty treatments.