La Villa Eugène - Hotel in Marne

On the prestigious Avenue de Champagne, this 19th-century mansion was the home of champagne magnate Eugène Mercier; old family photos still line the staircase and the staff can tell you which room belonged to whom. Then there's the décor, an enticing balance of traditional French with contemporary touches: walls the colour of whipped cream, furniture Louis XVI or 'colonial' (dark wood, leather and wicker), soft yielding curtains, gracious parquet floors. There's modernity in flat-screens and WiFi, pampering in the bathrooms – all a good size – with fluffy towels and luxurious products by Keiji; it earns the five stars the owner is so proud of. The buffet breakfast is an array of homemade cakes, tarts, yogurts and breads, served in the light-filled conservatory – whose mosaic floor has been lovingly restored – or in the garden with its heated summer pool, colourful beds and young palm trees. Just 30 minutes from Reims and its mesmerising cathedral, a smart launch pad for the three major Routes de Champagne. Then return to the luxurious cocoon that is the bar.