9 fabulous French hotels accessible by train
Pair this with France's fabulous variety of landscapes to admire out of the window and you'll understand why it remains such a popular way to travel here. Yes, occasional train strikes do happen, but they are always announced well in advance, are usually region-specific and often simply mean less frequent services rather than every last train grinding to a complete standstill. Download the SNCF Connect app to stay informed.
Of course, Britons can take the Eurostar from London St Pancras International to Lille, Paris (Gare du Nord) or Lyon (change trains at Lille Europe). But lesser known are the French countryside retreats that are in fact easily reached by a short train ride from the capital. Whizz past quaint villages, farms, wheat fields, vineyards and swathes of gorgeous scenery to reach places that offer forest bathing, river swimming, outdoor yoga, wine tasting and more. For small railway stations in the sticks, ask your hotel to book a taxi for you in advance; not many hotels offer private transfers.
Le Barn, Rambouillet, Île de France
Le Barn was built on the grounds of pre-existing natural horsemanship school La Cense. Spaces were designed by the Paris-based studio behind Le Pigalle in the capital's 9th arrondissement and, as with that property, you feel like you are in the home of a (very stylish) Parisian friend rather than a traditional luxury hotel.
The main building houses the principal restaurant La Serre (The Greenhouse), set in a sun-dappled conservatory, while the spa is housed in a former flour mill and features a sauna, hammam and two outdoor Nordic baths. Best of all for equine-loving guests are the horse-whispering classes and rides out in the surrounding forest.
Getting there
40 minutes by regional TER train from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Rambouillet, then 25 minutes by taxi.
Doubles from £171. Read the full review here
InterContinental Chantilly Château Mont Royal, Île de France
From Gare du Nord, the journey to this glittering cream chateau couldn't be easier. This five-star escape was built in 1907 in Louis XVI style and has now been recast as a palatial 109-room hotel, with modern brasserie dining in the original music salon and fireside drinks in the wood-panelled library.
The icing (or rather, decadently thick whipped cream traditionally associated with Chantilly) on the cake comes in the form of the generously sized indoor pool, Biologique Recherche spa and sauna with fairytale forest view.
Getting there
Half an hour by TER from Paris Gare du Nord to Orry la Ville-Cove, then 15 minutes by taxi.
Doubles from £276, B&B
Domaine de Primard, Normandy
This grand country chateau is a refined haven that will have you feeling like a member of the French glitterati in no time. The gardens of the house are manicured in the French style (right angles and perfect lawns) – you'll even find the extensive rose garden started by previous owner Catherine Deneuve.
With the Eure river running right through the land, there are plenty of pretty spots in which to settle down with tree shade and a view. A whole building is dedicated to the spa and relaxation area, while the heated pool in the grounds is lined with white loungers. The hotel has its own vegetable garden, which provides produce for the gourmet and 'bistronomic' restaurants.
Getting there
One hour by TER from Paris Gare Saint-Lazare to Bueil, then five minutes by taxi.
Doubles from £480. Read the full review here
Hôtel Barrière Le Westminster, Le Touquet, Normandy
When Le Touquet was in its 1920s heyday, Le Westminster was the place to be. A hundred years on, Noel Coward, PG Wodehouse and Edward and Wallis Simpson may be long gone, but the hotel still has an air of glamour. The hotel was completely revamped in 2020 by luxury French group Barrière.
Multi-coloured geometric murals in the bar and a bold giraffe-style beige and black print on the corridor carpets were designed as a nod to Le Westminster's jazz age heritage. There's also a Michelin-starred restaurant and a small spa, while the beach is just a 10-minute walk away.
Getting there
Two hours 45 minutes by TER from Paris Gare du Nord to Étaples-Le Touquet, then 10 minutes by taxi.
Doubles from £206. Read the full review here
Royal Champagne, Épernay
This amphitheatre-shaped hotel above Épernay is a shrine to the vines that surround it. Glassy, glamorous and with a Michelin-starred restaurant plus destination spa, it is a sparkling tribute to the world's most prestigious drink, and a singular offering in the region.
All 47 rooms have private terraces where you can gaze over those rolling hills, plus standalone oval tubs that invite long soaks after days spent dotting between champagne houses. The hotel has plenty of ideas to help guests make the most of their time in the region, from buggy rides in the vineyards to boat trips on the Marne.
Getting there
90 minutes by TER from Paris Gare de l'Est to Épernay, then 10 minutes by taxi.
Doubles from £558. Read the full review here
Le Relais de Chambord, Chambord, Loire Valley
For architecture buffs and enthusiasts of French history, the swift escape by rail to this highly original hotel and enormous forested playground is endlessly fascinating. The country house was built in the grounds of Château de Chambord as kennels for the king's hunting hounds in the 17th century and redesigned as a 55-room hotel by celebrated French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte in 2018.
The location alone – in front of France's greatest Renaissance castle, ideal for tiptoeing into the forest at dawn during rutting season to observe stags and hinds at play – is priceless. Explore on foot, by bike, electric golf cart and (for the chateau's moat) rowing boat.
Getting there
Two hours by TER from Paris Gare d'Austerlitz to Mer, then 15 minutes by taxi.
Doubles from £140
Château Troplong Mondot, St-Émilion, Aquitaine
With its spectacular vineyard scenery and fine dining, a stay at this dashingly handsome chateau-hotel and eco-conscious winery on the fringes of medieval St-Émilion plunges you into the viticultural soul of France's southwest. On arrival at the 18th-century, honey-hued chateau, guests are welcomed with an informative walking tour of the estate.
Further exploration is by electric bike (or custom-made, electric mini Landrovers for kids). Boutique country-chic rooms await in the chateau, an outbuilding and vineyard worker's cottage, and Troplong-Mondot 's own Premier Grand Cru Classé wine powers memorable meals in Michelin-starred Les Belles Perdrix.
Getting there
Two hours by TGV from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Bordeaux then half an hour by TER to Libourne, then 15 minutes by taxi.
Doubles from £210
Les Sources de Caudalie, Léognan, Aquitaine
Ambling peacefully through lush vegetable gardens or watching shire horses plough vineyards tended for six centuries by Bordeaux's revered Château Smith Haut Lafitte, it's hard to believe London is just a few hours away. The five-star Sources de Caudalie in Martillac is the epitome of bon vivant luxury, with 61 rooms, a 'wine spa' (where guests can enjoy treatments such as a crushed cabernet scrub, honey and wine wrap or barrel bath) and two Michelin-starred dining.
Blanched wood, soft blues and pops of rattan in newly renovated signature suites in the 'Fisherman's Village' evoke the nearby ocean and pine forests, through which walking trails unfurl.
Getting there
Two hours by TGV from Paris Gare Montparnasse to Bordeaux, then 20 minutes by taxi.
Doubles from £176
Hôtel des Dunes, Cap Ferret
This peaceful beach house-style boutique might have been the first hotel to open in Cap Ferret in 1969, but there are no cobwebs here. It's been transformed into a pared-back luxury eco cocoon, complete with 13 designer rooms, a sauna, sandy garden and yoga deck. The hotel is set between a main road running the length of the headland and wild pine forests sloping onto the sea. Décor is by local interior architect Delphine Carrère, with much of it crafted by artisans of the region.
This includes custom-made furniture, surf-themed artworks and vintage lettering, which was hand-painted on the wooden façade by Hossegor local Sara Pasternak. Most of the 13 rooms have a balcony or private outdoor space, while a delightfully curated breakfast is served in the mirrored dining room or al fresco on the terrace.
Getting there
Three hours 45 minutes Paris Gare Montparnasse to Arcachon, then 30 minutes by boat to Cap Ferret and 20 minutes on foot or five minutes by taxi.
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