Half-timbered haven
Le Manoir d'Annique

English proprietors have restored this sixteenth-century manor house, set in a pretty garden. Bedrooms are decorated in traditional country style and include two family suites with adjoining rooms and shared en suite bathrooms. At the top of the house there is a double room with sloping ceilings and an en suite bathroom. Breakfast is served around the family table, and a four-course evening meal is available by arrangement.

7 rooms. Double 285FF-310FF, single 220FF per night. No smoking in bedrooms. La Gravelle, 14140 Montviette, Calvados (00 33 2 31 20 20 98; fax 00 33 2 31 20 74 36)

Year-round retreat
La Renardais

This elegant stone-built country house stands in a large garden, close to the River Rance. The lounge has an open fire which, together with full central heating and double-glazing, makes La Renardais a cosy winter retreat. In warmer months, guests can enjoy breakfast and dinner (by prior arrangement) on the private terrace. The spacious en suite bedrooms are reached by the original chestnut staircase, restored by proprietor Suzanne Robinson. Warm and relaxing, the rooms are equipped with comfortable beds, luxurious bed linen and many thoughtful extra touches.

4 rooms. Double 350FF, single 330FF per night. No smoking. Closed February. Le Repos, Plouër-sur-Rance, Côtes-d'Armor. (00 33 2 96 86 89 81; fax 00 33 2 96 86 99 22); email Suzanne.Robinson@wanadoo.fr

Riverside farm
La Motte

Experience farm life at first hand on this working dairy farm, beside the River Sée. You can ramble through the fields, meet the animals, or fish in the river. Try your hand at boules or galoche, a local game which your hosts Anne, Agnès and Marcel will explain. Good home cooking, served outside when the weather is fine, makes use of local produce, some from the farm. La Motte sells its own Calvados, cider, honey and jams if you want to take a souvenir home with you.

5 rooms. Double 200FF-220FF, single 170FF per night. No smoking. 50670 Le Mesnil-Gilbert, Manche. (00 33 2 33 59 83 09; fax 00 33 2 33 69 45 46), email lemarchant@wanadoo.fr

Ancient elegance
Château de Mirvault-Aze

This castle, which was restored in the nineteenth century, has belonged to the same family since 1573. It owes much to its superb location beside the river. You can relax on the open riverside terrace, or take a small boat across the river to dine at the restaurant on the opposite bank in the evening. Inside the château, the rooms are a picture of elegance, with period furniture, French-style parquet floors, and long windows with views across the river.

5 rooms. Double 400FF, single 300FF per night.53200 Chteau-Gontier, Mayenne. Tel and fax 00 33 2 43 07 10 82

Luxury town mansion
Le Bas du Gast

A fine example of an eighteenth-century town mansion, Le Bas du Gast was once the home of the local salt tax inspector. The rooms feature delicately carved wall panelling, crested marble fireplaces, authentic window hangings and period furniture. The house stands in 10 acres of grounds, which include an original box tree garden, making it a haven of quiet in the centre of Laval's old town. The en suite bedrooms are colourfully decorated in elegant eighteenth-century style. Transport is available to local restaurants for dinner.

5 rooms. Double 550FF-650FF per night. Closed December-January. 6 rue de la Halle aux Toiles, 53000 Laval, Mayenne. (00 33 2 43 49 22 79; fax 00 33 2 43 56 44 71)

Canopied beds
Château des Briottieres

This magnificent Anjou château has been owned by the same family for six generations. All but two of the rooms are en suite, all are beautifully furnished, many with canopied beds, and most have superb views of the grounds. Evening meals feature traditional family recipes. The château and its 50-hectare grounds offer a heated swimming pool and many activities, including cycling, billiards, table tennis, badminton, archery and a children's playground. Hot-air balloon rides from the estate can be arranged on request.

15 rooms. Double 750FF-1900FF, single 750FF-1200FF. No smoking in 5 bedrooms. 49330 Champigné, Maine-et-Loire (00 33 2 41 42 00 02; fax 00 33 2 41 42 01 55); email briottieres@wanadoo.fr

Medieval fort
La Maison Royale

The past is very much in evidence at this restored medieval fort. The fourteenth-century buildings took several years to renovate and are a tourist attraction in their own right. The traditional is blended with the modern when it comes to interior decoration, and all bedrooms have en suite bathrooms. Art exhibitions are held on the premises from time to time. Guests are welcome to enjoy the gardens and this establishment also offers private fishing, bicycle hire and billiards.

12 rooms. Double 450FF, single 350FF per night. No smoking in 6 bedrooms. No children under 7 years.70140 Pesmes, Haute-Sane (00 33 3 84 31 23 23).

Unwind in the woods
Château de Boisrenault

An impressive nineteenth-century château, set in a private park and woodland in the peaceful Indre valley. Built by Huard du Boisrenault for his daughter, this grand château is steeped in history. It is full of character and original features, such as the impressive mantelpiece in the living room, where the initials 'HB' are carved - perhaps in honour of the château's founder. Set in acres of private woods and gardens with tennis courts and a heated outdoor swimming pool, this is a peaceful place.

7 rooms. Double 395FF-560FF per night. Closed 16 December-1 February. 36500 Buzançais, Indre (00 33 2 54 84 03 01; fax 00 33 2 54 84 10 57); email yves.dumanoir@wanadoo.fr

Heart of the Loire
Château de la Bourdaisiere

Built by François I as a home for his mistress, the Chteau de la Bourdaisière continued its tradition of beautiful and influential residents when Henry IV's favourite, Gabrielle d'Estrées, was born here. Guests can enjoy the formal French gardens, swimming pool and tennis courts of the tranquil 50-hectare park. The château's luxurious interior has been carefully conserved and is furnished throughout with original antiques. The en suite bedrooms are bright, spacious and exquisitely decorated with rich silk fabrics; six of them are located in the Choiseuil pavilion.

20 rooms. Double 650FF-1200FF per night. 25 rue de la Bourdaisière, 37270 Montlouis-sur-Loire, Indre-et-Loire. (00 33 2 47 45 16 31 fax 00 33 2 47 49 09 11)

Candlelit dinners
Logis de Boussac

Jacques Perrin de Boussac made his fortune at the end of the seventeenth century as one of the first merchants to export eau de vie from Cognac. It is little wonder that he could afford to build such a magnificent country home, with its balanced proportions, grand stone fireplaces and vast wine cellar. The carefully preserved house features beautiful period furniture and canopied four-poster beds. All bedrooms are en suite and guests can join the owners for dinner by candlelight. The house is open for guided tours at weekends.

3 rooms. Double 400FF per night. 16730 Cherves-Richemont, Charente. (00 33 5 45 83 13 01 fax 00 33 5 45 83 21 21).

Romance by a lake
Château d'Arnac

Lovingly restored by its English owners, this turreted twelfth-century château is full of character. It is surrounded by a peaceful private park with a swimming pool and tennis court, and guests can fish in the lake or trout stream. Each of the four bedrooms has a private en suite bathroom, and log fires are lit in all the rooms when the weather turns colder. Discounts are available for stays of more than one night.

4 rooms. Double 540FF, single 490FF per night. No children under 14 years. Nonards, 19120 Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, Corrèze. Tel 00 33 5 55 91 54 13; fax 00 33 5 55 91 52 62

Courtyard charm
Maison Fleurie

In the centre of Brantme, a medieval market town on an island in the River Dronne, stands this grand, tranquil house with high ceilings, tall doors and large windows. The elegant en suite bedrooms feature marble fireplaces and the two largest rooms have their own sitting areas. During the summer months, a large continental breakfast is served in a sunlit courtyard. There is a swimming pool surrounded by reclining chairs, and a long narrow garden overflowing with shrubs and climbing plants.

5 rooms. Double 350FF-400FF, single 250FF-300FF per night. No smoking. Closed 1-21 February. 54 rue Gambetta, 24310 Brantme, Dordogne. (00 33 5 53 35 17 04; fax 00 33 5 53 05 16 58)

Pick up a paint brush
48 Grande Rue

Arranged around a flower-filled inner courtyard, this fifteenth-century stone building is owned by a painter and an art historian. It has been authentically restored and exquisitely decorated: the original stone walls and oak beams are exposed, fireplaces are in working order, and rooms are furnished with a stylish combination of Provençal antiques, oriental and African textiles and the owners' paintings. The en suite guest rooms are bright and spacious, and painting courses are available for students of all levels.

6 rooms. Double 280FF, single 230FF per night. Closed December-January. 48 Grande Rue, 30420 Calvisson, Gard (00 33 4 66 01 23 91; fax 00 4 66 01 42 19) email corinne.burckeldetel@free-fr

Fit for a queen
Château de Lascours

Hidden among trees, this beautiful ivy-covered château forms a square around an inner courtyard. Built in the sixteenth century by Cardinal de Joyeuse, it is said to have been visited by Mary, Queen of Scots. The interior features original wooden ceilings, panelling and stone fireplaces and is decorated throughout in Renaissance style, with fine period furniture, paintings and chandeliers. Some of the spacious en suite bedrooms have four-poster beds. There is a swimming pool by the lawn and guests can fish in the moat.

6 rooms. Double room 500FF per night. 30290 Laudun, Gard. (00 33 4 66 50 39 61; fax 00 33 4 66 50 30 08)

Calling all cooks
Les Mimosas

Situated in one of the most beautiful villages of the Midi, this charming nineteenth-century house has been transformed into an elegant guest house by Sarah and Denis La Touche, a New Zealander and an Englishman with a French name. All of the bedrooms have en suite facilities with excellent showers. Evening meals feature regional specialities, as Sarah is something of an expert on local cuisine. She runs a cookery course at Les Mimosas, concentrating on French country cooking for the family.

5 rooms. Double 365FF-445FF, single 350FF-430FF. No smoking. Avenue des Orangers, 34460 Roquebrun, Hérault. Tel and fax 00 33 4 67 89 61 36, email la-touche.les-mimosas@wanadoo.fr

16 Up, up and away
Château d'Agnos

This charming sixteenth-century hunting lodge is set in beautiful parkland bordered by a trout stream, on the edge of the village of Agnos. It has a medieval kitchen, an old prison and, rumour has it, a secret tunnel through which François I escaped after taking refuge here. The accommodation is in elegant period suites and bedrooms, and garden apartments in a converted stable block. Hot-air balloon trips can be taken from the château.

5 rooms. Double 380FF-650FF per night. 64400 Agnos, Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Tel and fax 00 33 5 59 36 12 52

Antiques
Château de Garrevaques

Originally built in the fifteenth-century, the château was renovated in the nine-teenth century after fire damage during the Revolution. The interior is full of period treasures: the Red Room features eighteenth-century trompe l'oeils, the Blue Room ancestral paintings and a black marble mantelpiece. In the en suite bedrooms, the walls, curtains and bedspreads are decorated with matching classical motifs. Within the extensive grounds, there is a swimming pool, tennis court, table tennis, pétanque, swings and a children's playground. Courses in cooking, painting, music and yoga are available.

10 rooms. Double 650FF-700FF per night. 81700 Garrevaques, Tarn. (00 33 5 63 75 04 54; fax 00 33 5 63 70 26 44); email m.c.combes@wanadoo.fr

Trees and tranquillity Château Talaud

This estate was the property of the Marquis Grille l'Estoublen in the eighteenth century. The house is shaded by lines of plane trees, and carved motifs decorate its geometrical stone façade. Light floods into the house through long windows; a stone staircase sweeps up to the first floor. The atmosphere is calm and tranquil. The large bedrooms are designed around a single colour and most have king-size beds.

6 rooms. Double 750FF-1000FF, single 700FF per night. No smoking. Closed February. 84870 Loriol-du-Comtat, Vaucluse. (00 33 4 90 65 71 00; fax 00 33 4 90 65 77 93); email chateautalaud@interlog.fr

Art experience
Chambre de Sejour avec Vue

In the village of Saignon guests can stay with Pierre Jaccaud and Kamila Regent, who have turned their home into a sanctuary for artists and sculptors. Visiting artists use the workshops and studios and leave their work behind for display and sale. Evening meals, while obligatory, are taken with the proprietors and any resident artists. Lively conversation, Kamila's home-made specialities and the artworks on display all contribute to the experience.

4 rooms. Double 380FF per night. No smoking. No children under 12 years. Rue de la Bourgade, 84400 Saignon-en-Luberon, Vaucluse. Tel and fax 00 33 4 90 04 85 01; email chambre@vip.fr

Palatial perfection
L'Eveche

There are stunning views from this seventeenth-century bishop's palace, situated high up amid the medieval quarter of Vaison-la-Romaine, with its stone villas, paved alleyways, small squares and fountains. Bedrooms have en suite bath or shower and breakfast can be taken on the walled terrace, lush with ivy, flowers and potted plants, overlooking the town below.

5 rooms. Double 400FF-440FF, single 350FF-400FF per night. Ville médiévale, 84110 Vaison-la-Romaine, Vaucluse. (00 33 4 90 36 13 46; fax 00 33 4 90 36 32 43); email eveche@aol.com

• This selection is taken from the AA France Top Bed & Breakfast Guide, which lists 450 privately-owned properties (AA Publishing, £11.99).