Small hotels in France

- a selection of Independent hotels with character

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Most hotels on this page have been awarded the official European Union eco-lable, or a French environmental quality label, notably La Clef Verte or the green key. Others have clearly indicated a commitment to good environmental practices.
European union ecolabel

European Ecolabel

French Green Key label

Small eco-friendly hotels in France.

Hotels and sustainable tourism.
Many small hotels have - or claim to have - a green environmental policy, but only a very small proportion of them have actually signed up to one of the official labels - for which there is always a cost involved. For this part of its small hotels directory, iHi has sought out a selection of small independent hotels that have obtained an official eco label or have taken clear steps to minimise their environmental impact. These include notably the use of environment-friendly "green" products, use of renewable energy sources, and or organic or locally-sourced products in their restaurant.

Green and selective
iHi does not automatically list hotels just because they have a green label; modern chain hotels and hotels with poor visitor reviews will not be listed, however many green or organic certifications they may have. Consequently, some hotels listed on other green accommodation websites have not been accepted on iHi .
This listing is not complete; more hotels are being added as they are discovered.

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USEFUL LINKS

Tourist guide to France

Gites in France

Driving in France

France camping and campsites guide

Going further:

Guide to the regions of France

Eco-friendly 'green' hotels in FRANCE

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Small hotels with an officially recognised eco-label, or a sustainable tourism policy

Area 1 - Brittany - Normandy

North coast of Brittany - St Pol de Léon (29 Finistère)
Hotel du Cheval Blanc ** € - French Green key label.
In the small seaside town of St Pol de Léon, less than 5 miles from Roscoff. Popular for cyclists; bike hire available. Small 19 room hotel with one disabled access room. Bar, terrace, free parking. Clean, friendly, good value for money.
Central Brittany - Cournon (56 Morbihan)
La Grée des Landes hotel-spa. *** €€€
Certified bird-garden label. Organic restaurant
Modern hotel harmoniously blending with the natural environment. 29 rooms. Spa offering organic beauty treatments. Rural location in northeast Morbihan, between Rennes and Vannes. Grounds and meadows maintained to favour bird life.
West coast Brittany - Crozon peninsula (29 Finistère)
The Hostellerie de la Mer ** Hôtels au naturel label
Small hotel in in the little fishing port of Crozon, in the natural park area of the Crozon peninsula. Tranquil location, a friendly welcome, and a good restaurant offering local seafood and local home-made fare. 21 rooms.
Normandy - Saint-Lô (50 Manche)
The Château d'Agneaux hotel. *** EU eco-label.
A quiet upscale chateau hotel, with two restaurants. Located midway between Mont Saint Michel and the Normandy landings beaches.
Normandy - La Chapelle Montligeon (61 Orne)
The Hôtel le Montligeon ** € - French Green key label.
In the south of Normandy, this is a traditional French village hotel, with just 6 rooms. It was awarded the Green Key label in 2013. The restaurant serves locally sourced produce. Bike hire at the hotel. Horse riding close-by.

Area 2 - Paris - Loire - Burgundy

Paris 5 - Latin quarter, near Notre Dame
The Hotel Jardin de Cluny **** €€€ EU eco-label.
Forty comfortable rooms in a quiet location in the historic Latin Quarter, between the Sorbonne and Notre Dame. Clean hotel, friendly staff, good value though small rooms - but this is Paris. Breakfasts include organic and fair-trade produce.
Paris 12 - east side, near Bercy & bois de Vincennes
The Hotel Porte Dorée *** French Green key
Small hotel with individually decorated rooms; non-smoking throughout. Committed recycling and energy-saving policies. Metro and paid parking available close-by. A friendly hotel with classic Paris charm. Rooms quite small.. but this is Paris!
Paris 16 - near the Eiffel Tower
The Hotel Gavarni *** EU eco-label.
The first small Paris hotel with green certification, the Gavarni is across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower. 25 rooms. The hotel applies a full environmental policy with regard to recycling, energy efficient devices and lighting, water saving, and provides organic or fair-trade produce for breakfast
Central France - Montlouis sur Loire (37 Indre & Loire)
The Chateau de la Bourdaisière ***
Sustainable development policy. €€€
A gardener's paradise. 29 refined rooms in this Loire chateau belonging to the Prince de Broglie, in 130 acres of grounds. Restaurant, pool, facilities for the disabled. The château has prestigeous gardens, including an orchard of traditional fruit tree varieties, a collection of medicinal plants, and a renowned tomato conservatory.
Central France - La Chatre (36 Indre)
The Hotel du Lion d'argent et des Tanneries **
EU eco-label.
34 en-suite rooms in this two-star hotel on the outskirts of La Chatre. The hotel, built in the 19th century, has a garden bordering the river Indre, and a swimming pool; its restaurant offfers wherever possible freshly prepared local produce.

Area 3 - North and east France

Picardy - Le Crotoy, Baie de Somme - (Somme) 80
Les Tourelles *** EU eco-label.
Right on the seaside at the small resort of le Crotoy - 35 rooms including some kids' dormitory rooms. Direct beach access. Restaurant
Champagne region - Gudmont, Haute Marne (52)
The La Source Bleue *** French Green key label
30 km north of Chaumont, the 12-toom Source Bleue (blue springs) occupies a converted paper-mill on the banks of the river Marne, in grounds of 12 acres. Soundproofed art-deco guest rooms with balconies or terrace. A haven of peace.
Alsace - Oberlarg, (68 Haut-Rhin) - near Swiss border
Le Morimont *** French Green key label
Located in the heart of the country, a kilometre from the Swiss border. This 18 room hotel occupies a tastefully renovated 18th century farmhouse. Its restaurant serves local produce. Garden, terrace; bicycle hire, non-smoking hotel. Allergy-free room. Facilities for the disabled.

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► Click for regional index: Lots more small hotels in France

Area 4 - Southwest France

Poitou-Charentes - Lussac les Chateaux (86 Vienne)
The Hotel les Orangeries - *** EU eco-label.
In the Vienne valley 40 km southeast of Poitiers, this was the first French hotel to obtain the EU Ecolabel. It has 15 rooms, and a restaurant awarded three stars by the SRA - Sustainable Restaurant Association. It offers menus using local and organic produce. Gardens, pool.
Aquitaine - Cambo les Bains (64-Pyrénées atlantiques)
The Hostellerie du parc - ** € French Green key label
20 kilometers inland from Biarritz, Cambo is a small genteel spa-town. This is a friendly family-run hotel with 11 rooms and a restaurant solely for guests. Gardens.
Aquitaine - Sorges (24 Dordogne) :
Logis Auberge de la Truffe *** EU eco-label. -
Located in the world's truffles capital, this small attractive three star hotel has 23 rooms. Its restuarant offers superb cuisine, in the best Perigord style. There is a garden, a sauna and pool.
Aquitaine - near Mussidan (24 Dordogne) :
Natur' Hotel ** € EU eco-label.
Modern motel-style hotel, rooms opening out directly onto the gardens. Clean and functional, and good value for money. Disabled access.
Aquitaine - Saint Cricq Chalosse (40 Landes)
Hôtel la Petite Couronne EU eco-label. -
A small hotel with 10 clean spacious rooms, a recent construction built of wood, standing in its own grounds in a rural location. Dutch owners. Outdoor pool, restaurants nearby. The hotel is located near Orthez, an hour from the coast and 40 minutes from the Pyrenees. Higly recommended.

Area 5 - Central southern France & Alps

Alps - Duingt - Lake Annecy - Savoie (73)
Le Clos Marcel **** €€€ French Green key label
Modern design hotel on the shores of Lake Annecy, with private beach, sauna and spa. The hotel has been renovated to the highest environmental and energy-saving standards. Consequently, it does not have air conditioning.
Alps - St Gervais les Bains - High Savoie (74)
La Ferme de Cupelin ***
A traditional Savoy farm renovated as a hotel since 2000, using traditional materials and modern technology. The restaurant serves locally sourced food. Garden. Calm location with views to Mont Blanc. Very friendly welcome; highly recommended.
Auvergne - Murol - Puy de Dome (15)
The Hôtel de Paris ** French Green key label
The hotel de Paris is located in the small mountain town of Murol, close to the high peaks of the Auvergne volcanoes regional park All rooms have a view towards the impressive medieval castle of Murol.
Auvergne - Salzuit (43 - Haute Loire)
Hôtel Domaine St. Roch near Paulhaguet .
Delightful boutique hotel in a recently renovated chateau on a hillside overlooking the valley. Just off the N 102 route through the Auvergne region. Spa. The hotel uses geothermal heating.

Area 6 - Mediterranean areas

Languedoc - Argeles sur Mer (66 Pyrénées Orientales)
Hôtel Centre Plage **
French Green key and EU eco-labels.
A strong environmental commitment at this simple 38 room hotel located in central Argelès about fifty yards from the beach. Most rooms offer sea views view or views to the mountains behind.
Languedoc - Belesta (66 Pyrénées Orientales)
Riberach winery hotel ****
In a village 20 km inland from Permignan, this is a modern 'design' hotel above a winery; the whole complex was renovated in 2008-2011 to run on geothermal and solar energy: the pool is replenished from rainwater. The restaurant serves local and other wines. 18 rooms, terrace, private garden.
Languedoc - Béziers, (34 Hérault)
Hotel des Poètes. ** € French Green key label
A small hotel just 200 metres from the train station, and looking out over the Plateau des Poètes park, Bedrooms are decorated with simple but good taste. The whole of the old city is within easy walking distance.
Provence - Bédoin near Carpentras (84 Vaucluse)
Hotel La Garance ** French Green key label
Two star hotel in a converted farmhouse in the Provence countryside; outdoor pool, gardens, en-suite rooms. The property is situated amidst vineyards and olive groves. Breakfast with organic produce. Electric bike rentals.
Provence - La Palaud (Alpes de Haute Provence (04)
The Hôtel des Gorges du Verdon ***
French Green key and EU eco-labels.
Sited on a superb hilltop location close to the gorges du Verdon (the deepest canyon in Europe), this is a modern hotel with restaurant. Ourdoor swimming pool
Provence - Lorgues (83 - Var)
Le Chateau de Berne €€€ **** EU eco-label.
This is an upscale chateau-hotel in the middle of 1000 acres of vineyards and mediterranean pine forest. 30 km inland from the coast near Sainte Maxime and Fréjus. Pool, restaurants.

► Click for regional index: Lots more small hotels in France

Free hotel listings with iHi - strictly for independent hotels

Recommend a good and calm independent hotel in France, Spain, Italy or the UK. For eco-friendly hotels, iHi currently only offers a specific "green hotels" section for France
If you run or have stayed in an environment friendly hotel that you think ought to be in this directory, contact iHi with details.

Maximum size: 40 rooms. iHi lists only independent establishments or hotels belonging to very small independent chains. Membership of a voluntary chain or independent hotels, such as Logis de France or Inter Hotels, is no problem.

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