5 places to stay in France in winter

Planning a trip to France this winter? Whether you’re thinking of a city break in Paris, a ski holiday in the Alps or a weekend at the Alsace Christmas markets you will find a hotel to stay in from our selection of accommodation

The Farmhouse, Morzine, Alps

This chalet-hotel at the quiet end of the Haute-Savoie ski resort of Morzine has all the essentials for a wonderful winter stay: log fires, chunky oak beams, inviting bedrooms and atmospheric dining quarters. Housed in an old 18th-century farmhouse, the hotel feels blissfully intimate with only 11 rooms, which include cottages and a mazot hut in the garden. Each is spacious and full of character, with en-suite bathrooms, and some have views of the mountains. The hotel is in an ideal spot for exploring Avoriaz and other Portes du Soleil resorts, and the hotel’s ‘ski host’ will introduce you to the best runs. Doubles from €90 per night.

www.sawdays.co.uk

Hôtel Cour du Corbeau, Strasbourg, Alsace

With its cobbled streets and half-timbered houses, the Alsace capital provides a magical backdrop to France’s biggest Christmas market and anyone wanting to join in the festivities will find this charming hotel a convenient base. It is just five minutes’ walk from the Gothic cathedral, where the main part of the market is located, and inhabits a historic building that was an inn as far back as the 16th century. The 57 renovated rooms and suites are set around an exquisite courtyard to provide the ultimate comfort against the long winter nights. Doubles from £100 per night.

www.cour-corbeau.com

Chalet Colinn, Val-d’Isère, Alps

Tucked away in a Savoyard hamlet at an altitude of 1,900 metres and dwarfed by mountain peaks, this luxurious bed and breakfast is an Alpine gem. The grand living space boasts soaring raftered ceilings and stylish timber furnishings where owners Mylène and Elizabeth host gourmet dinners that can be followed by a star-lit dip in the outdoor whirlpool bath. The three double and two triple rooms each have private bathrooms and open out on to a patio with breathtaking views of Tignes reservoir. For daytime pursuits, the ski slopes of Val-d’Isère and Tignes, and the Vanoise National Park are all close by. Doubles from €120 per night.

www.sawdays.co.uk

Maison des Têtes, Colmar, Alsace

The postcard-pretty capital of Haut-Rhin has all the ingredients for a charming winter stay, with its jumbled little streets, hearty Alsatian cuisine and celebrated Christmas market. The intoxicating atmosphere is matched by that of the Maison des Têtes, which is housed in one of the most beautiful old buildings in town. Past the sculpted heads of the baroque facade, the 21-room hotel has stacks of charisma, all colonnades and exposed wooden beams. The brasserie is renowned for its traditional fare – think foie gras and braised beef cheek. Doubles from €160

www.la-maison-des-tetes.com Hôtel Saint-Jacques, Paris

There is something particularly magical about Paris once it is festooned in Christmas decorations, with glove-clad shoppers filling the streets and the aromas of spiced vin chaud hanging in the air. The Hôtel Saint-Jacques is perfectly placed in the heart of the Latin Quarter, with many of the 36 rooms having views of Notre-Dame Cathedral, while the interiors are a riot of draped curtains, canopied beds and trompe-l’œil murals. Scenes from the romantic thriller Charade, starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, were set in the hotel and stills from the film lead down the staircase to the breakfast room. Doubles from €143 per night.

www.paris-hotel-stjacques.comVisiting France this winter? 20 images that sum up the magic of France in winter and 5 French Christmas traditions