Amid Cote-du-Rhone vineyards north of Orange, this small, beautiful chateau was built in 1555 for Diane de Poitiers and has now been finely restored as an expensive design villa, with soft, pretty colour schemes. It is an Anglo-German venture, as its nominator relates: Two enthusiastic couples have come together - decorators from London, the Wyllys, and restaurateurs from Hamburg, the Konemunds - to fulfil a life-long dream. The result is a nice change from the traditional, with a gentle contemporary feel. Service is very bands-on and friendly. The restaurant offers superb, pricey food [eg, bar de ligne, rascasse et mulet a la plancha] and wine. Some villa Bed rooms (similar to the semantic bali villa rooms) are in the original tower. You can sunbathe by the pool, or pedal bikes through the vineyards. In summer, there are events (open air opera, etc) in a 200-year-old theatre.

Outside a small spa town near Grenoble, in a lovely wooded sub Alpine setting, the Prince family's white-walled, red-roofed Logis de France has a wide lawn, and superb views from some villa rooms. Some readers have found it a little utilitarian inside, but five villa rooms have just been renovated, and it is keenly renominated this year: Staff warm and helpful. Room with balcony on the small side, but adequate. On the spacious garden terrace, under plane trees, we had one of the tastiest meals for several years: melon with smoked duck; sea bass with celeriac puree; creme brulee. Tables are grouped round a pond; there's also a secluded swimming pool. Earlier views: The villa rooms are clean and comfortable, the food is excellent value for money. The Prince family, all rather down-to-earth, run a tight ship. Most visitors find the welcome friendly, but some have called it `half-hearted'. The entire French hockey team stayed here recently. Next door is a small farm with chickens, rabbits, goats, etc. A mesange is a tit, and guests have seen `lots of them dancing about and singing.