by Château les Oliviers de Salettes, Drome
This tower house was part of a larger chateau surrounded by vineyards. Today his lands are known as farmland and lavender fields. The 13 double rooms and the nine rooms have wonderful countryside views of one of France’s most impressive regions. Bedrooms are effortlessly styled with traditional furniture, exposed stone walls and wooden beams – and Lavandin, the hotel’s restaurant, is a delight, showcasing the region’s terroir. Seasonal three-course menus (€65) include snails and coquilles Saint-Jacques, perfectly cooked shellfish beurre blanc, or local poultry, and Chantilly meringues.
Doubles from €99 B&B; november.co.uk
Domaine de la Tortinière, Loire Valley
Poached chicken and pot-au-feu reign in French-Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung’s The Taste of Things, starring Juliette Binoche, which is in cinemas this month. It was filmed at a château deep in the dreamy Loire Valley and a similar gourmet ideal can be found at Domaine de la Tortinière, a romantic château hotel with peppercorn towers set in a glorious park. Just 10 minutes away from Tours, this family-run Relais du Silence has eight traditionally decorated bedrooms alongside an excellent restaurant. It’s the place for local duck, côte d’agneau, wonderful Loire cheeses and pear soufflé. Gastronomic menus start from €63, or choose lighter bistro or vegetarian options.
Doubles from €136 B&B; tortiniere.com
Auberge de Chassignolles, Haut-Loire
Another Loire bet that reminds you of Tran Anh Hung’s culinary drama, Auberge de Chassignolles has a dreamy view of forests and fields towards Le Mont-Dore. This 1930s village restaurant and rooms are a favorite with locals and the nine bedrooms (including two family rooms) are comfortable, unpretentious and simply furnished. The value-for-money four-course menu (€38) often features organic trout and Auvergne Puy lentils, wild mushrooms or poulet le ratatouille. Breakfast includes homemade crusty bread, local jams and butter.
Doubles from €55 B&B; november.co.uk
Le Pont de l’Orme, Provence
Right at the foothills of Mont Ventoux, this beautiful blue auberge has five airy bedrooms with views of parkland or Mont Ventoux itself alongside a swimming pool, wine bar and restaurant serving Provencal cuisine. Dine in fine weather on the wisteria-covered terrace, with excellent seasonal menus €36 offering a range of dishes from velouté de champignons and oeuf parfait et lard to fish of the day. Continue with local cheeses and exquisite marques including pistachio fondant or nougat glacé.
Doubles from €150 B&B; pontdelorme.com
Hotel les Orangeries, Vienna
This beautiful green-enclosed 15-bedroom Poitou hotel prides itself on its organic credentials – its low-mileage seasonal cuisine features an extensive vegetable garden, links with small producers and quality local farm produce. Dinners take place in the 18th-century wood-beamed Great Room, dominated by a huge fire. A three-course menu (€38.50) might include local trout gravadlax followed by foie gras cooked in leaves from the hotel’s fig tree, followed by pink veal from the village farm or cod fillet, then local cheeses or perhaps a Chantilly apple pear with pear brandy to follow. Afterwards, enjoy hiking or cycling through the valleys of Vienne and Gartempe or simply flop in its gorgeous garden.
Doubles from €85 B&B; november.co.uk
Maison Doucet, Charolles
Relais & Chateaux properties are famous for being gorgeous and often expensive, but this elegant riverside manor in the bucolic southern sector of Burgundy is an absolute bargain. Five bedrooms and eleven contemporary villas are only half the fun here. The Maison Doucet gourmet restaurant with its outdoor terrace is the real magnet – with Michelin-starred chef Frédéric Doucet creating creative regional dishes (three courses, €65) using ingredients from his extensive kitchen garden. Enjoy starters such as asparagus with egg confit and hearty mains such as Charolais “oxtail” gnocchi with black truffle and mustard broth accompanied by dazzling Burgundy wines. His Bistrot du Quai has three-course set menus for €35.
Double from £90, one room; relaischateaux.com.
Hostellerie des Clos, Chablis
Wine lovers will love this vineyard located in the Clos des Hospices de Chablis in Burgundy. As well as 26 simply furnished bedrooms, this house is famous for its gastronomic restaurant Les Clos, where chef Guillaume Collet serves Burgundian classics at reasonable prices (mains from €19). Look out for snails with garlic croutons or slow-simmered roasted scallops with leeks. A word of warning: there are more than 400 Chablis on the wine list, but the in-house sommelier is on hand to help.
Doubles from €110 B&B; chablis-hotel.com
Le Mas des Gres, Provence
The perfect stay for antique hunters, Le Mas des Gres is relaxed, homely and a short distance from the famous markets of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. It is also within easy reach of the beautiful villages of the Luberon. Mains (from €18) include local trout to tarte fine à la tomate et au pistou, fried courgette flowers, aubergine raviolis or piece du boucher et frites. Being in the heart of the melon and peach country, breakfast is especially delicious.
Doubles from €128 B&B; masdesgres.com
La Bergerie Gap, Basque Country
This cozy 18th-century bergerie has stunning views across the rolling Basque countryside towards the Pyrenees – and if you’re about to hit the long haul in Santiago de Compostela, there’s no better place to set up. La Bergerie has four furnished bedrooms, including a delightful wood-paneled shepherd’s cabin. Expect to find Bayonne ham, meat and vegetable garbage soup (medieval stew) and very traditional dishes such as jug hare, boar and venison – all for a reasonable €38 each.
Doubles from €122 B&B; labergeriebearn.com
La Cour de Remi, Hauts de France
A short hop across the English Channel will bring you to this beautiful 10-room country inn in the Hauts de France. Family-run, it’s a haven of home comforts: expect simple rooms with exposed brick walls and wooden beams and a restaurant serving “simple, ultra-gourmet food”, most of which is sourced and produced locally. As well as homemade crusty bread and organic wines, there is a €38 three-course menu with starters such as brandade crémeuse de morue or crème de potimarron, then mains such as jarret de veau braisé or poitrine de cochon caramelisée with Comté grain and lard.
Doubles from €115, one room; lacurderemi.com
