Chic chateau charm in Chantilly forest just north of Paris

‘And… relax!’ should be the words emblazoned over the door as you cross the threshold of Chateau de la Tour in Chantilly forest. Because although you’re so close to Paris - 45 minutes by car or quicker still by train - this is exactly the kind of hotel you want to escape to when you know you need to get away from it all: impeccable service, luxury rooms, champagne to toast togetherness, and vast grounds with trees every inch as old and characterful as the chateau itself.

With all the flexibility you need to spend as little or as long as you like at base, it could be good to know that you can book up a gloriously indulgent massage on-site, or for the ultimate atmospheric treat, why not dine-in? Chef Cédric Boissart cut his culinary teeth at some of Paris’s finest eateries - something that becomes abundantly clear in inventive concoctions such as opéra de foie gras, cranberry and cassis biscuits, fillet of trout and tome-cheese risotto…

As if you need any more convincing, this best-of-both worlds hotel also has a third dimension: its proximity not only to the iconic Château de Chantilly - with its Versailles-like gardens, its world-class art collection second only to the Louvre, its racecourse and its majestic stables - but also to the lesser-known yet equally picture-postcard town of Senlis – all medieval heritage, boutiques and delightful cobbled streets.