5 hotels for a 3-day weekend

Would you like to go green, visit museums or treat yourself to a real wellness break? There's nothing like these famous "bridges" to satisfy all your desires and savor a foretaste of vacation. From Arles to Paris, from Brittany to the Lubéron, our favorite addresses are worth the trip in themselves.

L'Hôtel Présent, in Arles, for an arty weekend

Just five minutes from the city's arena, this hotel designed by Georges Imbert and Pierre Vago (two students of Auguste Perret) is an ode to XXᵉ century architecture. We love the rigor of its lines and the uncluttered decor of its 13 rooms, the warmth and cosiness of its lounge-library and the tasty southern cuisine served in the restaurant as well as at the table d'hôtes. And that's not all, as this address also boasts a rooftop offering a unique view over the city's rooftops. It's also a great way to spot, at a glance, all the places that make art lovers happy - the Reattu and Camargue museums, the Van Gogh, Luma and Lee Ufan foundations. And, of course, the mysterious Promenade des Alyscamps, an ancient necropolis now overgrown with vegetation and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Double room from 110 euros.
• 5 place Voltaire 13200 Arles. Tel: 04 90 49 58 98.
• Further information on Hôtel Présent

Coquillade Provence Resort & spa, in the Lubéron, for a zen weekend

Set on a hill, this former hamlet has been converted into a hotel, with 63 rooms and suites in restored village houses or more contemporary buildings. Everything here is designed for the pleasure, serenity and well-being of guests. You can laze on the terrace admiring the garrigues and vineyards, or try out the estate's three restaurants, all of which offer delicious cuisine (from the gastronomic table to the bistro to the Italian-flavored Ristorante). And above all, discover the multi-award-winning 2,000m2 spa, with its hammam and sauna, sensory shower, yoga area and indoor pool, jacuzzis and outdoor pool, treatment rooms and high-flying massages. Finally, sports enthusiasts won't want to miss the tennis courts and the BMC center, which offers mountain bikes and electric bikes to reach the hilltop villages of the Lubéron.

• Double room from 240 euros.
• Hameau le Perrotet 84400 Gargas. Tel: 04 90 74 71 71

Thomas Eugster

Castel Beau Site, Perros-Guirec, for a weekend by the sea...

Overlooking one of Brittany's most charming beaches, this family home built in 1928 is now, without question, one of the finest hotels in the Côtes-d'Armor region. Decorated by interior designer Natalia Megret, the 33 rooms and suites are warm and cosy, with light colors and blonde wood floors. All open onto the sea, as does the restaurant where Breton chef Nicolas Le Luyer treats guests to local cuisine (scallops from the Bay of Saint-Brieuc...). From the whirlpool bath on the terrace, you can admire the ballet of boats coming in and out of the port, before setting off on the hiking trails along the coast from Perros-Guirrec. The ideal address for discovering Brittany's most enchanting landscapes.

• Rooms from 146 euros
• Plage de Saint Guirec, Ploumana'ch 22700 Perros-Guirec. Tel: 02 96 91 40 87
• Further information on Castel Beau Site

©Wanderlust labpg, ©Paul Bréchu

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, in Sauternes for a weekend in the vineyards

As soon as you arrive, the tone is set... This medieval château is surrounded by a veritable ocean of vines, which reflect the history and spirit of the place. It has passed through the hands of numerous owners, who have turned it into one of the most renowned estates - consecrated a grand cru classé in the XIXᵉ century - and is now owned by Silvo Lenz, who is also responsible for the Lalique house. The only five-star hotel in the Sauternes region, it houses 13 luxurious rooms and suites that have retained their original furniture and framework, all enhanced by precious fabrics and Lalique glassware. The exquisite cuisine of chef Jérôme Schilling is served in a sumptuous dining room extended by an extension, and topped by a glass roof designed by architect Mario Botta. All this before setting off to explore the 18-hectare vineyard, culminating in a remarkable wine tasting in the château's small salon, also decorated with works by Lalique.

• Double room from 430 euros.
• Lieu dit Peyraguey 33210 Bommes. Tel: 05 24 22 80 16
• Further information on Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey

©AgiSimoes&RetoGuntli

L'Hermitage Gantois Autograph Collection, Lille, for a flea market weekend

Unquestionably one of the city's finest hotels, housed in a five-century-old hospice of Gothic architecture. Full of charm, the 90 or so rooms and suites have retained their original floor tiles and fireplaces, and are set around splendid interior gardens. A stone's throw away, the H restaurant and brasserie treat guests to Flemish-inspired cuisine, to be enjoyed after a moment of relaxation in the spa with its indoor pool. Just a stone's throw from the belfry, this address is also an excellent starting point for a tour of the city's many second-hand and antique dealers. Our favorites? Emotions on rue Thiers, Le village Saint-André 72 rue du maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny or, a little further afield but not to be missed, Le Septentrion in Marcq en Baroeul.

• Double room from 219 euros.
• 224 rue Pierre Maurois 59800 Lille. Tel: 03 20 85 30 30
• Further information on L'Hermitage Gantois - Autograph Collection

And also... Hotel Hana, Japan in Paris for a romantic weekend.

The latest addition to the Parisian hotel scene (and one of the most successful), this hotel a stone's throw from the Opéra skilfully blends the spirit of boudoir chic with the art of Japanese living. Designed by interior architect Laura Gonzalez, the 25 rooms and suites are adorned with sliding partitions and washi paper, lantern-like lamps and beautiful walnut woodwork. Equally elegant, the restaurant invites you to discover Japanese cuisine revisited, while in the basement, the spa houses a swimming pool and treatment rooms offering massages, reishi and kobido. In the heart of Paris, an address that combines refinement and a complete change of scenery, ideal for a stay for two...

• Double room from 390 euros.
• 17 rue du Quatre septembre. 75002 Paris. Tel: 01 87 89 61 98

May is the perfect time to get away from it all. Here are five ideas to try out...