Don’t just take our word for it — the relevant French authorities deemed this 18th-century neoclassical château one of the country’s most significant. Inhabitants of the 17 rooms are treated to what’s easily one of the most impressive new hotels in France. Neoclassical grandeur is still the order of the day — and the comforts are as lavish as they come. The fact that it’s set in the Loire valley, less than an hour by train from Paris, feels almost too good to be true.

It’s not the most modest name for a hotel, but the Fleur de Loire earns it; this old royal palace, in the historic city of Blois, sits by the banks of the Loire, and in its new incarnation it’s a palace fit for 21st-century royals. Along with a Sisley spa the Fleur contains 33 rooms and 11 suites in a stunning modern-classic style, featuring state-of-the-art comforts and obsessive attention to detail. Top billing goes to chef Christoph Hay, whose eponymous restaurant has earned a pair of stars.

Surrounded by forests and vineyards, this is a modern wine-country classic — a spectacular château estate transformed into a luxurious and memorable small hotel. In its rooms and suites, period architectural features and antique pieces blend seamlessly with modern furniture and contemporary design. There’s a pool, a Caudalie spa, and electric bikes for exploring the countryside; you’ll be back, of course, in time for dinner, as the the hotel’s restaurants and wine bar are essential experiences.

Some of the castles in this region date to the middle ages — this one, though, is relatively recent, having been built as a hunting lodge in 1860. The atmosphere, then, is more luxurious than feudal, more picturesque than protective. The hotel is surrounded by 180 acres of parkland, complete with tennis courts, pool, wooded paths for exploring, and a pond where swans float by as though posing for postcard photos. Hot air balloon rides and helicopter tours can be happily arranged.

Not every Loire Valley hotel has to follow the wine-château model. Loire Valley Lodges turns to nature for inspiration, its 18 treehouse-like lodges standing on stilts among the oaks, chestnuts, and Douglas firs of this 750-acre forest. There’s no wi-fi and no TV, just a Nordic modernist vibe, a front-row view of the woods, and a full complement of rather high-end comforts, including a jacuzzi on each one’s terrace.