5 legendary hotels to stay in France

Overlooking the Mediterranean or facing the ocean, in the heart of Place Vendôme in Paris or Le Corbusier's Cité Radieuse in Marseille, these hotels are among those magical places where you dream of sleeping once in your life, or spending a few hours to savor their charm over a simple drink. Here's our selection and advice, to help you make the most of these legendary addresses.

In Saint-Paul de Vence, La Colombe d'Or

In the heart of Saint-Paul, this Provencal mansion is above all the story of a family. In the 1920s, Paul Roux and his wife Baptistine (Titine) opened a café-bar whose terrace was transformed into a dance floor at weekends. This guinguette soon added three rooms for people passing through, notably artists who became friends of Paul's, and the walls of La Colombe d'or were adorned with works of art exchanged for a few nights or meals. After the war, Yves Montand, Simone Signoret and Orson Welles all became loyal guests... Today, as in the past, the Roux family presides over the destiny of La Colombe d'Or.es of La Colombe d'Or, offering guests the rare privilege of experiencing the gentle Provencal lifestyle amidst a spectacular collection of modern art. Here, you can swim laps in the pool adorned with blue-green mosaics in the shadow of a Calder mobile, have a drink on the patio in front of a bas-relief by Fernand Léger, dine on traditional cuisine surrounded by paintings by Modigliani, Braque or Chagall, and sleep in one of the 13 rooms or 12 apartments that were home to these legendary names. There's no spa or boutique at La Colombe d'Or. Luxury lies elsewhere, and it's unique.

• Double room from 385 euros, breakfast 18 euros
• Place du Général de Gaulle 06570 Saint-Paul de Vence. Tel: 03 44 31 11 93
• www.saint-pauldevence.com

La Colombe d'or

In Cassis, Les Roches Blanches

Clinging to the rocks of Cassis and facing Cap Canaille, the highest cliff in France (350m), this 1930s residence is first and foremost a fantastic balcony overlooking the sea, flanked by terraced gardens shaded by maritime pines. At Les Roches Blanches, you can sit back and admire the panorama from one of the deckchairs scattered around the terraces, then head for the historic, curving swimming pool, where you can dine on grilled fishs at the Les Canailles table facing the huge bay windows, or in one of the restaurants hidden beneath the trees(the Loup bar, the Rocco or the Pétanque). All this before moving on to one of the 45 art deco-style rooms and suites, with their brass and black lacquer headboards and period geometric panels. Winston Churchill was one of the hotel's greatest devotees. It's easy to understand why.

• Double room from 320 euros, breakfast included
• 9 Avenue des Calanques 13260 Cassis. Tel: 04 42 01 09 30
• www.roches-blanches-cassis.com

Amaury Laparra

In Cabourg, Le Grand Hôtel

For over a century, Le Grand Hôtel, this majestic 1900 building, has dominated the immense beach of Cabourg, offering its guests the ever-changing spectacle of sky and sea. Everything here is exceptional - the beauty of the landscape, the hushed elegance of the 71 rooms and suites and, above all, the vivid memory of Marcel Proust, who wrote the finest pages of his great work, La Recherche du Temps Perdu, here. Enthusiasts will choose room 414, where the writer loved to stay, and dine in the delicious Le Balbec restaurant (1 toque), which serves typical Normandy cuisine in front of picture windows overlooking the promenade and the sea.

• Double room from 287 euros
• Les Jardins du Casino 14390 Cabourg. Tel: 02 31 91 01 79
• www.grand-hotel-cabourg.com

Francis Amiand

In Paris, the Ritz

Five-star openings may come and go in the capital, but the Ritz Paris remains forever THE Parisian palace, a symbol of French luxury and savoir-faire. Backing onto the Place Vendôme, it has fuelled its legend for over 125 years with the ultimate in elegance, as seen in its 142 rooms and suites decorated with wood panelling and chandeliers.wood panelling and tassel chandeliers, bathrooms with gilded swan-shaped faucets and sumptuous views over Place Vendôme. Equally spectacular are the gourmet restaurant l'Espadon (3 toques) and the 1,500 m² spa, which houses one of the hotel's masterpieces, a pool covered with 600,000 mosaic tiles stretching 16 m in length. A dream palace for travelers from all over the world, the Ritz is also an address for Parisians who come here for a drink, choosing between the Bar Vendôme (2 toques) and its Belle Époque style, the Ritz Bar with its circular counter and cocktails dedicated to each sign of the zodiac, or the Bar Hemingway with its English club feel and handwritten letters by the American writer on the walls. A magical address, as much a place to live as a resort.

• Double room from 2000 euros
• 15 Place Vendôme 75001 Paris. Tel: 01 43 16 30 30
• www.ritzparis.com

Vincent Leroux

In Marseille, Hôtel Le Corbusier

Nestled in Le Corbusier's Cité Radieuse, this refuge is the only hotel in France housed in a building listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. True to the famous architect's philosophy, the 21 rooms combine aesthetics and functionality, with perfectly designed spaces, iconic furniture by Charlotte Perriand, Jean Prouvé or Gae Aulenti... Just a stone's throw away, the excellent Le Ventre de l'architecte restaurant (1 toque) and rooftop terrace offer spectacular views of Marseille and the azure waters of the Mediterranean. A unique and little-known place to discover.

• Double room from 120 euros
• 280 Boulevard Michelet 13008 Marseille. Tel: 04 91 16 78 00
• www.hotellecorbusier.com

DR

An extra escape at theHôtel du Palais

The only seaside palace on the Atlantic coast, the Hôtel du Palais was commissioned by Napoleon III for Empress Eugénie, and has retained its Second Empire allure throughout its 142 rooms and suites with magical ocean views. Equally sublime is the 3,000 m² Guerlain spa Impérial, the gourmet restaurant led by the young Christophe Scheller and, above all, the immense swimming pool overlooking the ocean.

• Rooms from 375 euros
• 1 avenue de l'Impératrice 64200 Biarritz. Tel: 05 59 41 12 34
• www.hyatt.com/hotel-du-palais-biarritz