5 legendary hotels to stay in France

Lydia Bacrie | 8/23/24, 2:19 PM

They have played host to politicians, aristocrats and creative types, and inspired novels, films and works of art... These legendary hotels offer you the chance to immerse yourself in their unique history, and to savor the soul of the place, which has remained miraculously intact.

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

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

These news might interest you

Hotels & Bed & Breakfast

There are villages that you can only reach by slowing down. Listed, yes, but above all, they've remained intact, clinging to the hillside, curled up in a river bend or set at the end of a path that nobody takes by chance. You often arrive at the end of the day, when the light is catching on the tiles, the shutters are slamming gently and the smell of wet wood is wafting up from the alleyways. And there, behind a wrought-iron gate or a monumental portal, is a hotel. Sometimes it's a three-bedroom attic hotel, sometimes it's a five-star hotel in a lovingly restored former maison de maître. Marble has replaced cob, swimming pools have taken the place of former orchards, but the soul has remained. You'll sleep in the folds of the landscape, between centuries-old stone and precise service, in a rare luxury that doesn't seek to outshine the place. Les Bories & Spa in Gordes Here, ancient bories still dot the fields, as if the shepherds had just left. Some have been discreetly integrated into Les Bories & Spa, without breaking the line of the dry stonework. The farmhouse extends over eight hectares of olive and cypress trees, and under the roof tiles are 34 light-filled rooms, some of them in an old farmhouse. Luxury is discreet: plant-covered terraces, an enveloping spa and a glazed pool overlooking the Luberon. A peaceful address, just a few bends from the ochre silhouettes of Gordes and Roussillon. Price: €342 per night Where? 9 Route de Senanque, 84220 Gordes. Tel. 04 90 72 00 51See Gault&Millau's review of Les Bories & Spa Le Bailliage in Salers at the entrance to Salers, a listed village with gray lava houses and sculpted balconies, Le Bailliage has been perpetuating a sincere art of living for three generations. Since 2020, Antoine and Marion Bancarel, heirs to the house, have taken over the reins with discreet elegance. In this 23-room hotel, everything has been thoughtfully redesigned: intimate spa, homemade cuisine, no-frills welcome. The meat comes from the family's own farm, the rooms overlook the old gardens, and the air, at an altitude of a thousand metres, has that taste of meadows that you never forget. A warm and welcoming address, in the image of the village. Price: €124 per night 31 Rue Notre Dame, 15140 Salers. Tel : 04 71 40 71 95See Gault&Millau's review of Les Baillages La Capitelle in Mirmande Behind the light-colored walls of a house once inhabited by painter André Lhote, La Capitelle watches over the rooftops of this Drôme village with its Provencal palette. Eight sober, peaceful rooms, with views of the Ardèche mountains or the Rhône valley, extend the discreet charm of the sloping streets. Just eleven simple, bright rooms, a restaurant with slates that change according to the season, and the quiet attention of Ludivine and Sylvain Croce, who run the house with constancy. Price: €102 per night 1 rue du Boulanger- 26270, Mirmande. Tel : 04 75 63 02 72See Gault&Millau's review of La Capitelle Coquillade Provence Resort & Spa in Bonnieux Set in the heart of a 30-hectare vineyard, this hamlet unfurls its 63 rooms and suites, with their sober, mineral lines, over the landscapes of the Luberon. The Tata Harper spa, 2,000 m² of calm and light, offers lavender and grape treatments in a plant-based atmosphere. In the kitchen, Pierre Marty, a Ducasse disciple with Monaco and Macao experience, orchestrates the Avelan gastronomic table: five-course menu, raw-marinated sea bream from Grau du Roi, poultry Pithiviers... Patisserie by Aurélien Trousse, medallist at the French Dessert Championships. Here, Provence is expressed with precision, right down to the plate. Price: €497 per night Route du Perrotet, 84400 Gargas. Tel. : 04 90 74 71 71 See Gault&Millau's review of Coquillade Provence Resort & Spa Château de Troplong Mondot in Saint-Émilion Restored in 2019, Troplong Mondot cultivates the art of entertaining as an extension of the land. The main building, with its sober, warm lines, houses a communal lounge where the fire crackles on winter evenings. Here you can read, chat or simply watch the day fall over the rows of vines. In summer, the private terrace of each house opens onto the paths lined with low walls, typical of the local landscape. The rooms, divided between several of the estate's buildings, combine blond wood, deep fabrics and unobstructed views as far as the Saint-Émilion bell tower. In the morning, chef David Charrier serves a generous breakfast of seasonal fruit, homemade jams and warm pastries. Nothing ostentatious, but attention to every gesture, in a place that invites you to retreat. Price: €250 per night Château Troplong, Mondot - 33330 Saint-Laurent-des-Combes. Tel : 05 57 55 32 05See Gault&Millau's review of Château de Troplong Mondot Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey in Sauternes Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey watches over the vines like a peaceful old soul. The estate, a famous premier grand cru classé, is now home to a hotel signed Lalique, thirteen rooms and suites subtly laid out in a 17thᵉ century château. Walls in reds and pinks evoking wine, antique beams and chiseled crystal faucets: every detail is a delicate nuance. Settle into the small lounge to enjoy a drink before joining, under the luminous glass roof, chef Jérôme Schilling's gastronomic table. A rare place of discreet elegance. Price: €504 per night 1707 Route des Gourgues, Lieu-dit Peyraguey- 33210 Bommes. Tel : 05 24 22 80 11See Gault&Millau's review of Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey Les Sources de Cheverny in Cheverny Les Sources de Cheverny is a gentle hamlet designed for sharing, in the wine-growing lands of the Loire Valley. at reception, the lacquered green box recalls the forest rangers' kiosks. The 49 rooms and suites, designed by Alice Tourbier and studio be-pôles, feature antiques, a bohemian atmosphere and lush natural views. The Caudalie spa, with its sober lines and recycled materials, has slipped into the old building, like a contemporary echo of the neighboring château's beams. On the terrace, sip a wine from the estate, the prelude to a Michelin-starred dinner in the Favori dining room. An elegant address, anchored in this Sologne village with its rich Loire heritage. Price: €279 per night 23 route de Fougère- 41700 Cheverny. Tel : 02 54 44 20 20See Gault&Millau's review of Les Sources de Cheverny Royal Champagne Hôtel & Spa in Champillon Behind the walls of a former coaching inn lies another world: a vast 10,000 m² contemporary hotel, designed by architect Giovanni Pace, where champagne flows more often than coffee. The 49 rooms, suspended between vineyards and classified forest, offer the luxury of not rushing into anything. at the table, Christophe Raoux, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, orchestrates gourmet cuisine served on a terrace bordered by rose bushes and a very real kitchen garden. The spa, immense and hushed, is as much for guests as for curious neighbors. And if you listen carefully, you can still hear Dom Pérignon whispering from the bell tower of Hautvillers. Price: €1,041 per night 9 rue de la République- 51160 Champillon. Tel : 03 26 52 87 11See Gault&Millau's review of Royal Champagne Hôtel & Spa

Hotels & Bed & Breakfast

A refuge between land and sea

There are places that make you never want to go home again once you've pushed open the door. Solène and Nicolas Conraux's La Butte is one of them.

Hotels & Bed & Breakfast

At the heart of the Paris of arts and culture, Le Meurice, the first Parisian luxury hotel

Every month, Gault&Millau plunges you into the history of a great Parisian palace. In May, discover the first Parisian hotel to be called a "palace": Le Meurice.

Hotels & Bed & Breakfast

Castel Clara: the new teen cure that reconciles thalassotherapy and Gen Z in Belle-Île-en-Mer

Castel Clara, Belle-Île-en-Mer's iodine star, inaugurates a cure designed for 14-18 year-olds. A first: posture, skin, stress and a balanced diet are on the menu for a week of well-being.

Hotels & Bed & Breakfast

Road trip in the South: 6 hotels to stop at between Marseille and Nice

Curves that smell of heated pine, lunch breaks that are too long, and that end-of-day light that sticks to your rear-view mirrors. There are a thousand ways to take your time... and as many hotels to do it in style.

Hotels & Bed & Breakfast

5 hotels that will make you love art

More and more museums and collectors are offering hospitality to their visitors, allowing them to discover the works in a unique immersive experience. Here are our favorite addresses, all of which combine luxury, art and pleasure.