8 legendary hotels to stay in France

From the imperial splendor of the Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz to the splendor of the Ritz Paris, from the meditative silence of the Hôtel du Couvent in Nice to the alpine enchantment of Les Airelles in Courchevel, these legendary addresses are among those where you dream of a stay - or simply a drink - to sample a living legend. Courchevel, these mythical addresses are among those where we dream of a stay - or simply a drink - to sample a living legend.

in Cannes, Le Carlton

After a two-year metamorphosis completed in 2023, the Carlton has regained its place at the summit of the Croisette. The Riviera icon celebrated its 110th anniversary with two new wings, a walled garden planted with 22,000 Mediterranean species and the largest infinity pool in Cannes. Behind its Belle Époque façade, volumes have been unleashed by architect Richard Lavette and decorator Tristan Auer. Marble columns, uncovered onyx pilasters, rediscovered arches, the grand staircase and its cascading chandeliers restore the place to its original majesty. The Tea Lounge Camélia, all powdery hues and canework, invites reverie; the 58° bar blends Venetian sparkle and oriental spirit, while the central garden now links the old palace to its new wings, as if they had always existed. The 332 rooms and suites, 72 of which face the sea, offer a soothing atmosphere in which bespoke furnishings embrace the curves of the Mediterranean. In the emblematic suites, the cinema is never far away: Grace Kelly, Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock continue to haunt the premises. Three restaurants punctuate the day - the Riviera Restaurant, the Beach Club and the Rüya, with its Anatolian flavors - before taking a break at the C Club, a vast 900 m² spa with boxing ring, yoga and swimming pool heated to 28°C.

• Double room from €700 per night
• I want to go to the Carlton Cannes

carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel

in Deauville, the Hôtel Barrière Le Normandy

A timeless symbol of the Belle Époque, the Normandy has reigned over Deauville since 1912, like a fairytale manor house, with its almond-green half-timbering, turrets and legendary silhouette facing the sea. Built to welcome elegant casino gamblers, the hotel soon became a haven for the Tout-Paris: Coco Chanel, Serge Gainsbourg and Claude Lelouch, who filmed Un homme et une femme here. Renovated without betraying its soul, this jewel in the crown of the Barrière group now combines old-world charm with contemporary comfort in its 271 rooms adorned with toile de Jouy. Under its glass roof, the La Belle Époque restaurant celebrates Normandy's terroir and the greatest classics of French cuisine, while the Spa Diane Barrière invites you to take a seaside break. A true living legend, the Normandy continues to embody this art of living between elegance, memory and sea spray - the essential address for an eternal Deauville.

• Double room from €465 per night
• I want to go to theHôtel Barrière le Normandy

© DR

in Cassis, Les Roches Blanches

Clinging to the rocks of Cassis, facing the majestic Cap Canaille - the highest cliff in France - this 1930s residence seems suspended between sky and sea. Nestled in terraced gardens, shaded by maritime pines, Les Roches Blanches hotel offers one of the finest panoramas on the coast. Here, you can relax in a deckchair on the terraces, listening to the surf and the song of the cicadas. The historic swimming pool, with its curves, juts out into the sea, like an invitation to idleness. In the evening, dine on grilled fish at Les Canailles, facing the bay windows that open onto the infinite blue, or in the shade of the pines, in one of the estate's discreet restaurants: Le Loup Bar, Le Rocco or Les Belles Canailles. In the 45 rooms and suites, the Art Deco spirit blends with the light of the South: brass headboards, black lacquers, period geometric panels. Timeless refinement, punctuated by selected details. Winston Churchill, who often stayed here, made it his refuge. It's easy to understand why: here, the Mediterranean can be contemplated like a work of art.

• Double room from 475 euros, breakfast included
• I want to go to the Hotel Les Roches Blanches

© DR

in Cabourg, Le Grand Hôtel - MGallery

Facing Cabourg's long beach, it's impossible not to notice it. A majestic Belle Époque silhouette facing the horizon, Le Grand Hôtel has reigned over the Normandy coast for over a century. Between 1907 and 1914, Marcel Proust made it his refuge, writing seven volumes of his Recherche du temps perdu. The writer had a habit here, a favorite view and, above all, his mythical room 414. Carefully restored and now under the MGallery banner, the hotel has preserved the hushed elegance and old-world charm that infuse its 71 light-filled rooms and suites. On the first floor, Le Balbec (1 toque Gault & Millau) pays homage to Normandy gastronomy and its illustrious resident: it's impossible not to try the sole "tradition Grand Hôtel", Proust's favorite dish. A spa by KOS Paris, the bars La Belle Époque and La Promenade, and the infinite spectacle of sky and sea complete this deliciously timeless picture. in Cabourg, more than a hotel: a living page of French literature and elegance.

• Double room from 287 euros
• I want to go to the Grand Hôtel Cabourg

camille Plichard

in Paris, the Ritz

Five-star inaugurations may come and go in the capital, but the Ritz Paris remains, forever, the Parisian palace. A symbol of French luxury and savoir-faire, it has nurtured its legend for more than 125 years, right next to the legendary Place Vendôme. Everything here exudes elegance: the 142 rooms and suites, adorned with fine woodwork and tassel chandeliers, the bathrooms with swan-shaped gold faucets, and the sumptuous views over the square, the beating heart of Parisian chic. The experience continues at L'Espadon (3 toques Gault & Millau), a spectacular gourmet restaurant, or at the 1,500 m² spa, where one of the treasures of the place takes pride of place: a covered swimming pool with 600,000 mosaic tiles, 16 meters long, a veritable work of aquatic art. A dream palace for travelers from all over the world, the Ritz is also a Parisian refuge. Come for a drink at the Bar Vendôme (2 toques) with its Belle Époque decor, the Ritz Bar with its cocktails inspired by the zodiac, or the Bar Hemingway, with its hushed English club atmosphere, where the writer's letters line the walls. A place of life as much as a legend, where Paris is contemplated in a glow of eternity.

• Double room from 2,000 euros
• I want to go to the Ritz Paris

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in Biarritz, the Hôtel du Palais

Commissioned by Napoleon III for Empress Eugénie, the Hôtel du Palais remains the only seaside palace on the Atlantic coast and one of Biarritz's jewels. Reopened in 2021 after two years of restoration by Atelier COS and heritage architect Isabelle Joly, this legendary residence has been restored to its Second Empire splendor, with restored gilding, painted columns and identically restored chandeliers. Behind its monumental façade facing the Grande Plage, the palace now combines historic luxury and contemporary comfort in its 86 rooms and 56 suites, with their muted refinement and sober lines. Savor the inspired cuisine of young chef Christophe Scheller, indulge in the softness of the 3,000 m² Spa Impérial Guerlain or dive into the immense Californian seawater pool heated to 28°C, suspended above the ocean. A timeless place, a member of the Hyatt group, where the spirit of Eugénie still breathes out over the Atlantic.

• Rooms from 375 euros
• I want to go to theHôtel du Palais

maitephotos / Hôtel Du Palais

in Nice, at the Hôtel du Couvent

Perched on the heights of Vieux Nice, opposite Sainte-Réparate Cathedral, Hôtel du Couvent is one of the finest new openings on the Côte d'Azur in recent years. Housed in a former 17thᵉ century convent, this five-star The Luxury Collection hotel combines monastic silence and Mediterranean refinement in Nice's pedestrianized old town. Behind its blond stone walls, the 88 rooms, designed by Festen and Studio Mumbai, celebrate the luxury of simplicity: weathered floor tiles, dried flowers, Fragonard soaps and golden light. In the terraced garden, olive, lemon and herb trees frame a suspended swimming corridor overlooking the Baie des Anges. Three restaurants punctuate the day, including La Guinguette, where local cuisine is enjoyed under orange trees. A timeless address, where Nice rediscovers its contemplative charm.

• Double room from 315 euros
• I want to go to theHôtel du Couvent

© DR

in Courchevel, Les Airelles

In the heart of Courchevel 1850, the cult address for skiers in search of excellence, Les Airelles has embodied the quintessence of Alpine luxury for over thirty years. Set amidst a forest of fir trees, this Austro-Hungarian-style château looks like something out of a fairy tale - and with good reason: Empress Sissi was its muse. inside, carved woodwork, colorful stained-glass windows and frescoed murals make up a decor of rare elegance designed by Christophe Tollemer. The 44 rooms and suites, each different from the next, blend mountain warmth with period refinement. The La Mer spa, one of the finest in the Alps, invites guests to indulge in absolute relaxation with its snow grotto and exceptional treatments, while La Table des Airelles, orchestrated by chef Adrien Trouilloud, promises an Alpine culinary journey matched with fine wines. A mythical, sumptuous and timeless address in the heart of France's most glamorous ski resort.

dR

• from 2,700 euros per night
• I want to go to Les Airelles Courchevel