Abbey, museum, mill... 5 hotels steeped in history

One is tucked away in the heart of the Sarthe countryside, another in little-known Northern Alsace, yet another in the heart of the Camargue between sea and pond... These chosen refuges, in the four corners of France, have kept intact the traces of a unique history, that of aristocrats or simple workers, religious figures or architecture buffs. It's up to you to choose between these five rare places, all of which will offer you the magic of their story...

Hotel Abbaye de Fontevraud, Maine-et-Loire

On the route to the chateaux of the Loire Valley, the small town of Fontevraud is home to a veritable treasure trove... the largest monastic estate of the Middle Ages, starting with the royal abbey built in 1100 as a refuge for Eleanor of Aquitaine and Richard the Lionheart. It's in the heart of this unique setting that the Hotel Fontevraud invites you to put down your suitcases in one of the 50 rooms designed by the architectural duo Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku, in the former monks' cells. This is high art, in keeping with the spirituality of the estate, with luminous spaces, pure lines and raw materials. A bar in the Priory chapel and a restaurant set around the cloister garden complete this rare experience, which extends to yet another privilege. The privilege of visiting the monastery on your own, after it is closed to the public.

• Double room from 135 euros
• 38 rue Saint Jean de l'Habit 49590 Fontevraud l'Abbaye. Tel: 02 46 46 10 10
• www.fontevraud.fr

David Darrault - Nicolas Matheus

Hôtel Château du Grand Lucé, Sarthe, France

In 1760, Baron de Lucé, a favorite of Louis XV, decided to give his medieval château a facelift by transforming it into a summer palace. Architect Mathieu de Bayeux accomplished the task perfectly, as evidenced by this little neo-classical marvel still standing today in the middle of the Sarthe countryside. Following in the footsteps of Voltaire and Rousseau, who made it their favorite refuge, we now settle into one of the 17 rooms and suites designed by architect Timothy Corrigan.This is a delightful journey back in time, completed by the addition of Pierre Frey wallpapers and fabrics, period furniture and a marble bathroom. A delightful journey back in time, completed by a visit to the gourmet restaurant, the ballroom in the former stables and the sumptuous château grounds, inspired by the gardens of Versailles.

• Double room from 480 euros
• 9 place de la République 72150 Le Grand Lucé. Tel: 02 55 48 40 40
• chateaugrandluce.com

Adam Lynk

La Régie and Hameau de Courances, Essonne, France

No matter how well you know the place, you're still dazzled every time you walk through the gates of the Domaine de Courances. Imagine an immense park (75h) shaded by tall trees and cooled by fountains, in the middle of which stands a fairytale-like Renaissance château, flanked by a series ofall flanked by sumptuous outbuildings that have been converted into ultra-elegant suites and apartments bathed in light. Once you've packed your bags, you can head to the Courances café-restaurant to order a delicious packed lunch delivered to your accommodation, or opt to explore La Foulerie, a former hemp mill transformed into a tea room with a majestic 180° view over the park.

• 1 Place du Général de Gaulle 91490 Courances
• www.domainedecourances.com

Hôtel le Moulin, Bas-Rhin, France

A place as delightful as it is confidential. In the heart of this unjustly little-known northern Alsace, the little village of Gunderhoffen is home to a real XVIIIᵉ nugget, a former grain mill transformed into a hotel to the delight of its loyal guests. Hôtel le Moulin' s 12 rooms and suites have retained their old-world charm with exposed beams and antique furniture, all opening onto the small river below. A stone's throw away, the restaurant invites you to discover one of the region's finest cuisines, led by the very talented Arnaud Zinck. A rare place, ideal for a romantic weekend.

• Double room from 120 euros
• 7 rue du Moulin 67110 Gunderhoffen. Tel: 03 88 07 33 30
• www.hotellemoulin.com

Christophe Stempfer - DR

Hôtel Louvre Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France

Just a stone's throw from the eponymous museum, the Hotel Louvre Lens is an ideal extension of the discovery of this former mining region, with 52 rooms in a group of workers' houses restored with the utmost respect for this heritage. Led by Lille-based Maes Architectes and designer Guillaume Da Silva, the spaces blend wood, muted tones and walls covered in perfectly restored historic bricks, all enlivened by the presence of contemporary drawings and engravings. The Le Galibot restaurant, with its sumptuous harmonies of black and grey, is the ideal setting for tasting Franck Kasprik's typically northern cuisine. An intense place that pays homage to these "corons" and their inhabitants. Not to be missed...

• Double room from 110 euros
• 168 Rue Paul Bert 62300 Lens. Tel: 03 66 98 10 40
• www.esprit-de-france.com

Gilles Trillard - DR

And also... Les Cabanettes

Just a stone's throw from Arles and on the edge of the Camargue, this place is the slightly crazy gamble of architect and artist Armand Pellier, who proposed to the owners at the time, Louise and Marc Bert, to build a modernist refuge with the look of a Californian motel. The place, listed as a XXᵉ century architectural heritage site, has remained intact, with two half-moon buildings unfolding around 29 rooms furnished in the 60s and 70s. Not to be missed, too, is the restaurant, which has also preserved its sixties feel, with olive-wood tables and bull-skin-covered armchairs. A fascinating, yet curiously little-known place.

• Double room from 135 euros
• D 572N Hameau Saliers 13200 Arles. Tel: 06 11 77 15 32

It's up to you to choose between these five rare places, all of which will offer you the magic of their stories...