France has an abundance of hotels and bed and breakfast that are either lavish or situated in awe-inspiring places. Here is a selection of some of them that transport you back in time or allow you to recharge your batteries in secluded spots, in the middle of the wilderness.
[ Practical ]
Ferme-Auberge du Malgré Tout
Route Malgré Tout, 08500 Revin
Opening dates : All year round.
Rates : from €45 per room, breakfast included.
Information and bookings : 0324401120, www.aubergeferme-malgretout.com
Il fera beau demain
38114 Villard Reculas
Opening dates : All year round.
Rates : from €640 to €2090 per week, per apartment. Short stays possible if availability.
Information and bookings : 0476803719, www.chaletneigesoleil.com
Gite du lac de Gers
Grand Massif
Accessible from Samoëns and Flaine ski resorts in winter, from Sixt-Fer-à-Cheval in summer.
Opening dates : from mid June to mid October and from around December 20th to the end of April.
Rates : €55 to €60 per person per night on half board basis.
Information and bookings : 0450895514
Château Colbert
49360 Maulévrier.
Opening dates : All year round.
Rates : €160 per night for Prestige rooms, €78 per night for the others. Breakfast not included.
Information and bookings : 0241555133, www.chateaucolbert.com
Château de Montaubois
Route de Dommery, 08460 Signy l’Abbaye.
Opening dates : from May to October.
Rates : from €90 to €130 per room per night, breakfast included.
Information and bookings : 0326033550
www.chateaudemontaubois.com
 Château Colbert
If you dream to spend a night in a Loire valley castle, head to the 3* hotel Chateau Colbert, at Maulévrier, 70 km south of Angers. Overlooking one of France’s nicest Japanese gardens, it was for centuries owned by relatives of Colbert, Louis XIV’s famous minister, hence its name. Built in the late 17th century by Jules Hardouin Mansart, the architect who designed Versailles, it retains much of its original appearance including salons and bedrooms adorned with frescoes and marble fireplaces. Plundered and damaged during the Revolution, it nevertheless has undergone important renovation works in the 19th and 20th centuries.
On these two occasions, a coffered dome and a grand staircase were added inside the building while two sphinx statues with faces of Mme du Barry and Mme Pompadour were erected in front of the main entrance. With high ceilings, four posted beds, gigantic wardrobes, the 1st floor Prestige rooms really give you a castle feel. Those in the second floor are nicely furnished too but remind more of the 19th century. Last but not the least, the restaurant is one of the best in the region and would deserve one Michelin star.
 Château de Montaubois © T.Joly
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Château de Montaubois
Situated near Signy l’Abbaye, in a typical hilly and heavily forested Ardennes landscape, the Chateau de Montaubois transports you back to the opulence and refinement of the Age of Enlightenment. Built from 1793 with stones coming from an abbey dismantled during the Revolution, it has been painstakingly and lovingly restored by its current very welcoming owner who spent the last 13 years creating apartments giving you the feeling to be an aristocrat.
Château de Montaubois © T.Joly
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Now a gorgeous bed and breakfast, the Château de Montaubois offers five large and lavish bedrooms named after goddess or famous women of the 18th century : Diane, Pompadour, Josephine, Du Barry and Marie Antoinette. While each has different character, all are tastefully furnished with antiques, oil paintings, tapestries, gildings and mirrors while the up to date bathrooms are kept hidden behind oak doors. Kitchen, dining room, salon and staircase are also replete with old-fashioned charm and guests can relax and socialize in a pleasant game room featuring a billiard, a jukebox and a self-service bar.
Ferme auberge Malgrè Tout © T.Joly
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Ferme-auberge du Malgré Tout
Set at the top of a hill offering breathtaking views of the Meuse valley and the town of Revin, the family owned Ferme-Auberge du Malgré Tout is the place to go if you are looking for a quiet and peaceful stay or to truly get away from it all. Surrounded by dense forest, on some mornings wrapped in mist, hard to reach in case of black ice due to the steepness of the access road, it gives you the feeling of being miles away from civilization.
Ferme auberge Malgrè Tout © T.Joly
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Mentioned in a novel by Georges Sand, this authentic inn has simple but nice rooms and the wooden décor as well as the sense of hospitality of the owners make you feel warm and comfortable whatever the weather outside. For those interested in walks, two 13,5 and 25 km long hiking trails pass by the inn and allow to discover easily the region’s fauna and flora. As to the gourmets, they will enjoy the healthy and tasty meals consisting of local specialities such as game, Ardennes charcuterie and cheeses, home made foie gras and pastries.
Il fera beau demain © T.Joly
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Il fera beau demain
The cozy chalet “Il fera beau demain” stands at the altitude of 1500 m in the heart of Villard-Reculas, one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages in the Alps. It offers five spacious and tastefully furnished modern style apartments accommodating up to 6 to 13 persons available in self-catered or catered formulas. All include fully equipped kitchen, TV, music centre, modern bathroom and facing south balcony or terrace boasting the most impressive views of any location in the region.
Il fera beau demain © T.Joly
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The cozy chalet “Il fera beau demain” stands at the altitude of 1500 m in the heart of Villard-Reculas, one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages in the Alps. It offers five spacious and tastefully furnished modern style apartments accommodating up to 6 to 13 persons available in self-catered or catered formulas. All include fully equipped kitchen, TV, music centre, modern bathroom and facing south balcony or terrace boasting the most impressive views of any location in the region.
Gîte du Lac de Gers © T.Joly
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Gîte du lac de Gers
Nestled in the spectacular Combes de Gers, near Samoëns, at the altitude of 1553 m, the rustic and secluded Gîte du lac de Gers is a typical wooden alpine chalet offering simple rooms. But people don’t go there for luxury or nightlife. They choose to stay at the gite for its warm and friendly atmosphere and its stunning setting, near a lake, amid soaring mountain peaks. During summer there are a few people vacationing in neighbouring chalets and hikers going around. But in winter, most of the time there is nobody else than the chalet’s guests except at lunchtime when skiers come to enjoy the chef’s tasty Savoyard dishes.
So, the Combes de Gers is very often all for yourself and it’s common to see chamois on the slopes !!! Getting to the chalet in winter is also an unforgettable experience. You can reach it via a punishing black run plus a bit of poling along the shores of the lake. Otherwise take the 14 km long blue run Cascades, a great descent through alpine meadows and forests on which there are neither ski lift nor buildings on sights. Once you enter the tree-lined area, keep an eye out for a sign to the gîtes and a phone. Make a call and the owner will come onto his snowmobile and drag you up to the gîte.
September 21, 2010
Thierry Joly 
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; "Click on the picture to zoom it Château Colbert © T.Joly")
; "Château Colbert © T.Joly")
; "Château de Montaubois © T.Joly")
; "Château de Montaubois © T.Joly")
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; "Ferme auberge Malgrè Tout © T.Joly")
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; "Il fera beau demain © T.Joly")
; "Gîte du Lac de Gers © T.Joly")
; "Combes de Gers © T.Joly")
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