Where to Stay in France: A Selection of Interesting Chateaux-Hotels

AB FAB

From Audrey Hepburn to Juliette Binoche, the Domaine de la Tortinière’s period wiles have turned the pretty little heads of the glam pack (and balding pates of two presidents). Yet, for all the shimmer and A-list kudos this Loire Valley institution is refreshingly unpretentious. tortiniere.com

MEDIEVAL MARVEL

Every last nook of the Château de Tanay bears witness to its rich medieval legacy. Best of all, the B&B is smack dab in the heart of Beaujolais country. Need we say more? www.chateau-tanay.com

SEX APPEAL

Bar a smattering of tasteful nudes and ‘soft-core’ erotic nods to the father of sadism in the library, the Marquis de Sade’s ancestral home has certainly cleaned up its act since its heyday as a den of iniquity. While the present (far more straight-laced) owners keep the raunch to a bare minimum, it’s probably best to drop the brood off at granny’s. The Château de Mazan is more of a grown-ups’ getaway sort of place. chateaudemazan.com

DASH OF LUXE

Born from the ruins of a 12th-century Knights Templar commandery, Vence’s Château Saint-Martin & Spa is the perfect storm of indulgence, drop-dead views and no-holds-barred luxury. Make the most of the kids’ club… oetkercollection.com

FIT FOR A KING

Ready for the royal treatment? Snug in the Château de Versailles’s majestic grounds, the Trianon Palace is fit for a king/queen. Bid city-frazzled skin adieu at the indulgent Guerlain Spa. www.trianonpalace.fr

TEE OFF

The Loire’s premier golf destination, Château du Coudreceau boasts a top-notch 14-hole course. Not challenging enough? The hotel’s chopper will gladly whisk you off to the Golf National for the day. cducestates.com

From France Today magazine