ABOVE: Villa Lara, Var

The Wow Factor - Special places to stay

From gothic grandeur in a medieval citadel to sophisticated simplicity in a national park, France is full of fabulous places to stay. We have selected our favourites, offering an unforgettable experience for a special celebration

Villa Gallici, Bouches-du-Rhône
There cannot be many places in France as romantic as Villa Gallici. Set among plane and cypress trees in a small, private estate on the outskirts of Aix-en-Provence, the honey-coloured hotel dates from the 18th century. Its rooms are a delight and dinner at the exclusive restaurant is the perfect way to celebrate with a loved one. As you sit beneath the plane trees on the small elegant terrace, dinner is served to you by candlelight. The table is laid with crisp white linen, exquisite cut glass, Royal Limoges china and antique candlesticks. The renowned chef, Christophe Gavot, offers a menu featuring the best provençal produce, each course punctuated by delicious amuse-bouches. Yet beyond the restaurant – one of the best in Aix-en-Provence – the hotel itself is something rather special.
Rooms are decorated in sumptuous style, with rich, elegant fabrics and chinoiserie wallpaper. Ours was small, but the epitome of comfort, with cushions piled high on the bed and a gorgeous loveseat and table at which to sip afternoon tea with a selection of delicous macarons. A huge flat-screen television (and DVDs from reception) provided entertainment, and the marble bath was the perfect place in which to relax after a day of sightseeing and a swim in the small but wonderful swimming pool beneath the terrace. Breakfast, too, was a real treat with lashings of hot chocolate served in an elegant silver pot, and marmalade and jams beneath tiny glass cloches. Carolyn Boyd

Rooms from €230. Villa Gallici, Avenue de la Violette, 13100 Aix-en-Provence.
Tel: (Fr) 4 42 23 29 23, www.relaischateaux.com

Hôtel Royal, Haute-Savoie
With the five star hotel rating now being rolled out across France (top rating was previously four star ‘luxe’), there’s no better place to celebrate than the first hotel to gain the award in the Rhône-Alpes. The Évian Royal Resort is set above Lac Léman (aka Lake Geneva) and this stunning hotel was built for King Edward VII in 1909.
Sadly he died before he saw it, but it has continued to draw the world’s rich and famous, who come for the world-class spa, Michelin-starred restaurant and, of course, the breathtaking views. The real draw, however, is the golf course and this is the place for any couple who want a birthday or anniversary to go with a swing. Up the hill behind the Royal is L’Hermitage, a less expensive hotel that boasts its own spa and restaurants, so there is something for everyone. CB

Rooms at the Royal Resort, from €330, but call for the best package deals. Évian Royal Resort, 74501 Évian-les-Bains. Tel: (Fr) 4 50 26 85 00, www.en.evianroyalresort.com

Marina di Cavu, Corsica
For a celebration in a truly unique location take the short drive from the southern town of Bonifacio to the Marina di Cavu, an unusual hotel that is literally built into the rocks. There’s nowhere better to experience this most unusual setting than the pool-side restaurant, where the centrepiece is a huge sandy rock that reaches into the rafters. Cream table linen and gold-edged porcelain also set the scene for a candlelit evening with sumptuous Corsican food.
If you’re staying at the small hotel, just a stone’s throw from a white sandy beach, the rooms’ turquoise and terracotta tiles will make your stay feel truly Mediterranean. CB

Rooms from €100. Marina di Cavu, Route de Calalonga, 20169 Bonifacio. Tel: (Fr) 4 95 73 14 13, www.marinadicavu.com

L’Hôtel, Paris
Walking down Rue des Beaux-Arts, tucked away on Paris’ Left Bank, you could easily walk past L’Hôtel without noticing it at all. Yet once you’ve stayed there, the experience will remain with you forever.
Each of its 20 rooms are set off a magnificent central stairwell and are decorated in the most exuberant, luxurious décor you could imagine. Each is brimming with personality, and none more so than the famous room 16. The personality here is Oscar Wilde, for it is in this very room that he uttered those famous last words: "My wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. One or the other of us has to go." Though the hotel may have been the insalubrious Hôtel d’Alsace in Wilde’s day, the wallpaper is now a reason to stay. And it doesn’t get much better than the glorious green and gold peacock that now adorns the walls of room 16. The bathroom, too, is bursting with character, with a marble bath hiding itself away in a little wooden booth. For a romantic evening with a loved one, the bar is a lovely hideaway, and Hollywood A-lister Johnny Depp is known to take a tipple here – served no doubt by the lime green or purple velvet-suited waiters who would look altogether perfect in any of his fantastical films. Meanwhile, the beautifully decorated restaurant boasts a Michelin-award-winning menu and is the ideal venue for any celebration. CB

Rooms from €255 per night. L’Hôtel,
13 Rue des Beaux-Arts, 75006 Paris.
Tel: (Fr) 1 44 41 99 00, www.l-hotel.com

Villa Lara, Var
If you’re taking a large group away with you to celebrate a special day, then a self-catering holiday is undoubtedly a great option; it’s very sociable and you can feel more at home in your villa or gîte. But there’s just one snag – who does the shopping and cooking with all those mouths to feed? Surely it isn’t going to be much of a holiday for even the most willing volunteer. Cue then, the private chef. Extravagant as it may sound, it is the perfect solution for a group holiday and not nearly as expensive as you might expect.
At CV Travel’s Villa Lara, the chef comes in the shape of the charming Joël Suire. A former restaurateur, Joël has cooked for some of the world’s most well-to-do people and, like them, you certainly cannot fail to be delighted by his sumptuous cuisine. As we entered the villa on the first evening we were met by the mouth-watering aromas of canard à l’orange and gratin dauphinoise and, from each day on, the four-course evening meals Joël cooked for us were better than those served to me in many of France’s best restaurants. The villa itself sleeps ten, with three double rooms and two twins, each decorated in a blend of browns and creams. There’s a lovely swimming pool surrounded by palm trees and all the mod-cons you’d expect, such as WiFi and satellite television. There’s also a private beach about two minutes’ walk from the villa. It’s set on the exclusive Cap Benat peninsula near the village of Bormes-les-Mimosas, insuring you can relax in peace. In terms of things to see and do in the area, nearby Le Lavandou provides 12 delightful beaches. Meanwhile, the oh-so-chic Saint-Tropez is 45 minutes’ drive away, along the spectacular coastal road that offers great views. CB

Villa Lara costs from £4,710 per week, with food and wine costing around €40 per person per day (depending on what you order from the chef).
Tel: 0207 401 1010, www.cvtravel.co.uk

Baudon de Mauny, Hérault
Nestled in a narrow cobbled street in the centre of Montpellier, Baudon de Mauny looks like any other residential building. But push open the heavy doors, climb the impressive stone staircase and you’ll discover the charming chambre d’hôtes that lies inside. Housed in a former hôtel particulier dating from 1777, the building has been in the family of owner Alain de Bordas since 1829 and has welcomed guests since February 2008. The property has been renovated by Alain and his wife Nathalie, an interior designer, with stunning results that seamlessly blend old and new. Original features such as intricate cornicing and oil paintings of Alain’s ancestors are effortlessly combined with modern touches of bright wallpaper and unusual furniture. There are only five rooms, two of which are suites, spread out on two floors and accessed by the main staircase. The mainly white rooms are accentuated by bright feature walls, with each room themed according to the striking printed Cole & Son wallpaper. Baudon de Mauny doesn’t offer evening meals but Alain is more than happy to suggest where to eat in Montpellier. Breakfast is served in the lounge area,
a spacious, light room with a large fireplace framed by two impressive red sofas. The marriage of old and new even extends to the breakfast table, which is beautifully set with vintage silver cutlery and quirky crockery from Habitat. The fruit salad, yoghurt and a basket of bread and pastries fresh from the boulangerie are the perfect start to the day but the pièce de résistance is the chocolat chaud, which is served in an impressive antique silver jug with a wooden handle. As the chamber d’hôtes is in the centre of Montpellier there’s plenty to see and do but you can be certain that Baudon de Mauny is somewhere special to return to after a day of sightseeing. Anna McKittrick 

Doubles from €160. Baudon de Mauny,
1 Rue de la Carbonnerie, 34000 Montpellier. Tel: (Fr) 4 67 02 21 77, www.meandmrssmith.com

Le Manoir, Dordogne
If you fancy becoming lord of the manor then look no further than Le Manoir at Mauzens-et-Miremont. Set in 20 acres of private grounds, the beautifully restored six-bedroom property dates from the 16th century and comes complete with its own forest and stream. An ancient forge sits in the grounds as well as an old chapel. There’s something for everyone here, with activities such as canoeing and horse riding on the doorstep. Or why not make use of the baby grand piano in the library and attend the classical music concerts on offer throughout the summer in the surrounding area. Inside you’ll enjoy the services of a maid and a private chef can be arranged, alongside private yoga lessons and massage. Rachel Scott

One week’s rental costs from €2,325 for eight people.
Tel: (Fr) 5 53 54 54 31, www.simply-perigord.com

Les Deux Abbesses, Haute-Loire
Celebrating a fairytale romance? Then there’s only one place for you – Les Deux Abbesses in the heart of the Auvergne. For not only is there a castle at its heart, but its rooms come straight out of a storybook. One of them, La Grange, even boasts silver birch trunks as bed posts – to evoke those childhood memories of sleeping in treehouses – and a huge marble bath only a princess would expect to find. Other rooms are just as unusual, and each offers a unique décor that will whisk you away to the land of make-believe. Musical chimes announce the dinner hour, and guests wind their way up the Renaissance tower to the majestic dining hall where the delicious menu of locally sourced produce is served on the hotel’s rather unique tableware under two grand chandeliers. CB

Rooms from €200. Hôtel Eclaté Les Deux Abbesses, Le Château, Le Bourg, 43300 Saint-Arcons-d’Allier.
Tel: (Fr) 4 71 74 03 08, www.relaischateaux.com

Château Les Tours de Lenvege, Dordogne
If you have children who love fantasy and fairytales, then Abercrombie & Kent’s 13th-century fortification makes the ideal venue for a family celebration. Not only is the property set in 30 acres of parkland and woods in which the children can run wild, but many of the bedrooms boast four-poster beds and the 12-seater dining room of the west tower could easily appear on the set of Merlin. The interior still retains its period features, such as exposed beams on colourful ceilings and exposed stonework. Entertainment, however, is very much of the 21st-century, and there are satellite televisions and DVD players in three rooms and broadband internet. The large floodlit pool, meanwhile, will make sure no one turns into a couch potato. AM

Rental from €4,860 per week, sleeps eight adults and two children. Near 24240 Saussignac.
Tel: 0845 618 2205, www.akvillas.com

Hôtel Crillon-le-Brave, Vaucluse
As you approach the tiny village of Crillon-le-Brave through olive groves and vineyards overlooked by the mighty Mont Ventoux, there’s no doubt that you’re bound for somewhere very special indeed. And on arrival at the hotel it would be easy to think you’d died and gone to heaven, such is the beauty of its Luberon setting. The hotel itself – which celebrated its 20th birthday last year – is perfectly designed to ensure you can enjoy these views whether you’re in your room, by the pool, on the pétanque court or on the terrace. It’s spread between seven buildings at the top of the village (which was rescued from ruin in the 1970s) and the old school house (Maison de Roche) is the second tallest building in the village after the church tower, offering breathtaking views from each window. The hotel had a major revamp in 2006; gone are the rather old-fashioned flowery furnishings, and in came the simple yet elegant charcoal, terracotta and cream décor. As we entered our room, the music of Jean-Claude Petit (composer of Jean de Florette and Cyrano de Bergerac soundtracks) was playing on the stereo and as we got used to our new surroundings, we discovered this was just one of the many finer details that make the place so special. Large soft towels, a hairdryer that actually dries your hair, sensuous L’Occitane products and a reasonably priced mini-bar all add to the experience. The restaurant, meanwhile, draws visitors from far and wide, all of whom come to eat in the cosy arched basement. Most of the ingredients used for the menu are sourced locally and turned into simple yet delicious dishes ranging from the gigot d’agneau (leg of lamb slow-cooked in the dining room fireplace) to the Camargue bull with fries (the tastiest fries I’ve ever had), you’ll feel spoiled whatever you choose. Desserts, too, are out of this world, with the almond mousse with crystallised almonds and orange peel being a highlight. And, as if all this wasn’t heavenly enough, the hotel also has its own mini-spa using Cowshed products, with the massage being an ideal route to total bliss. CB

Standard room from €240 per night.
Hotel Crillon le Brave, Place de l’Église, 84410 Crillon-le-Brave. Tel: (Fr) 4 90 65 61 61, www.crillonlebrave.com

The Hôtel de la Cité, Aude
A stay at the Hôtel de la Cité in medieval Carcassonne is to step back in time and immerse yourself in a magical age when knights were bold and sturdy ramparts were all that stood between you and lawlessness. This gothic jewel, the only hotel set in the actual ramparts of the Unesco World Heritage Site cité, has just celebrated its 100th birthday, and what a 100 years it’s been. A retreat for the rich and famous for decades, the hotel’s visitor’s book reads like a who’s who of the 20th century. Grace Kelly has stayed here, along with James Stewart, the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson, the Queen Mother, Jacques Chirac and Winston Churchill, to name but a few. But this is no white elephant; everywhere you turn, luxury abounds. From the sumptuous limestone and mirrored bathrooms with heavenly bathtime treats, to the cosy Bibliothèque bar with resident pianist and delicious nibbles, guests can enjoy the very best the region has to offer in lovely surroundings. And breakfast is a particular pleasure, with a tasty range of breads and pastries, (there were hot options available for English breakfast-lovers) along with cheese, charcuterie and confitures – my favourite was the fantastic fig jam. The jewel in this golden crown is the magnificent Michelin-starred restaurant, La Barbacane, where Executive Chef Jérôme Ryon creates delicious, inventive cuisine using local ingredients, accompanied by vintages specially blended for the hotel by regional winemakers.
But perhaps the best bit of staying in this lovely Orient-Express hotel is its setting. My room led out on to the beautiful terraced gardens with the secluded heated swimming pool and truly spectacular views across the surrounding countryside. Stroll around the terrace and amazing vistas greet you at every turn, allowing you to enjoy the location but offering a cool oasis in the heat of summer. And don’t miss a visit to the château and a walk around the cobbled streets. With 52 watchtowers the medieval citadel is the largest in Europe and is truly unique, just like this gem of a hotel nestled at its heart. RS

Rooms from €205 per night (if booked in advance). Hôtel de la Cité, Place Auguste Port, 11000 Carcassonne. Tel: (Fr) 4 68 71 98 71, www.orient-express.com

Abbaye de la Bussière, Côte-D’Or

A pre-dinner champagne cocktail in summer among the topiary yew hedges in the garden, or a foray on to the pond in the rowing boat, are among the many memorable moments of a celebratory stay at Abbaye de la Bussière. The British owners of this Burgundy retreat have preserved the sense of spirituality and charm of this former Cistercian abbey while restoring and enhancing the building and parkland (uncovering frescos and breathing new life into unloved spaces), transforming it into an outstanding property that is a member of Relais & Châteax. The cuisine is well worthy of a big celebration (the abbaye was awarded a Michelin star in 2007), while the affable sommelier presents some surprising, noteworthy local vintages that you’re unlikely to have even heard of. Rooms are comfortable and characterful, such as the junior suites in the eaves, transformed from former monks’ cells into upmost luxury, with views over the hamlet of La Bussière and the Ouche valley. The crypt plays host to blessings and services for the renewal of vows; while the recently restored orangerie is perfect for a private party. For couples wishing to venture beyond the abbaye, take a private wine tasting tour to some of the regions least-accessible producers; or borrow the Westfield sports car for a romantic drive along the Route des Grands Crus. Kate Crockett

Rooms from €200. Abbaye de la Bussière, La Bussière-sur-Ouche, 21360 Dijon. Tel: (Fr) 3 80 49 02 29, www.abbaye-dela-bussiere.com