5 hotels for incredible views

A great show! The refuges we've chosen for you all offer comfort and refinement, but that's not their real strength. It lies in their exceptional location, facing veritable masterpieces of nature and architecture. Magical places that make you want to come back again and again.

Tiara Miramar Beach Hôtel & spa in the Alpes-Maritimes

Below the Esterel massif, the small resort of Théoule-sur-mer has remained miraculously untouched by the flood of tourists. Nestled in the heart of a small cove lapped by the blue waters of the Mediterranean, this five-star refuge, built in the 1930s, has kept its oriental inspiration intact, with moucharabiehs and shimmering fabrics adorning the 60 rooms and suites. Almost all open onto the small private beach below, just a stone's throw from the Sothys spa and MoYa Beach bar. A confidential address, part of the Tiara collection.

• Double room from 215 euros
• 47 avenue de Miramar 06590 Théoulle-sur-mer. Tel: 04 93 75 05 05
• miramar-beachspa.tiara-hotels.com

La Co(o)rniche in Gironde

Unquestionably the finest hotel in the Arcachon basin, with spectacular views of the mythical Dune du Pilat and the Banc d'Arguin. Refurbished in 2009 by Philippe Starck, the 1930s neo-Basque building boasts 29 rooms and suites, divided between the main house with its dark wood and period frescoes, and luxurious cabins with 180° ocean views. And the best is yet to come, with the restaurant and bar set on a huge terrace where you can enjoy seafood platters or tapas. A must-try at dusk, when the setting sun plunges into the ocean.

• Double room from 510 euros
• 46 Avenue Louis Gaume 33115 La Teste-de-Buch. Tel: 05 56 22 72 11
• www.lacoorniche.com

U Capu Biancu in Corsica

Happiness is at the end of the road... To reach this paradise, you must first take a track through the scrubland, then reach a small bay hemmed with golden sand, all hidden between Porto-Vecchio and Bonifacio. This 4-star refuge nestles overlooking the beach, in the heart of gardens overgrown with palms and bougainvillea. The rooms feature the same elegant simplicity - wood, stone and rattan for the furniture, and cameos of turquoise blue or yellow ochre for the walls. All extend onto a terrace overlooking the azure sea, with the infinity pool in the foreground and the restaurant's tables serving freshly-caught grilled fish. Want to get away with your family or friends? U Capu Biancu is also home to five villas just around the corner, surrounded by vineyards and immortelle bushes.

• Double room from 350 euros
• Domaine de Pozzoniello 20169 Bonifacio. Tel: 04 95 73 05 58
• www.ucapubiancu.com

Talloire Abbey in Haute-Savoie

History and nature lovers can't get enough of this thousand-year-old abbey on the shores of Lake Annecy. Now transformed into a hotel, the site boasts 37 rooms, decorated either in a contemporary style or (our favorites) in the period style, with fireplaces and exposed beams, original wall hangings and parquet flooring dating back to... 1681. All offer a view of the lake, the cloister or the abbey gardens, not far from the gourmet restaurant and brasserie (l'Abbaye) with its terrace shaded by lime trees. A special mention must also be made of the beautiful vaulted room housing the bar and the space under the roof where the spa is housed. A must-see before lazing away with your novel on the deckchairs on the pontoon above the blue waters of the lake.

• Double room from 160 euros
• 2 chemin des Moines 74290 Talloires-Montmin. Tel: 04 50 60 77 33
• www.abbaye-talloires.com

Les Granges d'en Haut in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

You come here first for the breathtakingly beautiful view of the Mont-Blanc skyline, the Aiguille du Midi and the Chamonix valley. On site, you'll discover the charm of these 14 chalets, which welcome guests in double rooms or apartments for 4 to 8 people, all in a chic cocoon atmosphere with panelled walls, natural fabrics and local wooden furniture. This hotel residence, a member of the Deep Nature Resort network, is also home to a remarkable gourmet restaurant (La Table des Grandes), where guests can enjoy authentic, 100% local cuisine.where you can enjoy authentic, 100% local cuisine, and a spa with swimming pool to recharge your batteries after skiing or hiking in the height of summer. A rare place, a paradise for lovers of pure nature.

• Double room from 500 euros for four people
• 1000 route des Chavants 74310 Les Houches. Tel: 04 85 30 10 17
• www.deepnatureresorts.com

And also... La tête noire in Normandy

Set in the very heart of Mont Saint-Michel in a XIVᵉ century house listed as a Historic Monument, this bed and breakfast combines a room and a suite offering an absolutely unique view of the abbey surrounded by its gardens. A rare place that also offers the privilege of enjoying this magical place in the evening, after the departure of the floods of tourists who visit the site every day.

• Double room from 300 euros for three people
• Grande Rue 50170 Le Mont Saint-Michel. Tel: 06 87 19 94 05