Chateau De Bagnols | South China Morning Post

Where? In the heart of the Beaujolais countryside, 30 minutes' drive from Lyons in south-east France.

So, perfect for wine buffs? Set among vineyards, forests and lush pasture land, this ravishing 13th-century castle is also favoured by interior designers, who salivate at the sight of its soft furnishings.

Drool-inducing decor, eh? Restored to its original splendour by Lady Hamlyn, the chateau opened its huge stone portico to the public in 1992, and was promptly voted best small hotel by the British magazine Tatler.

So what's all the fuss about? The sense of history, mostly. From the medieval towers to the Napoleonic baths, and the Roman pool to the Renaissance wall paintings, this place positively aches with antiquity.

Who goes there? Past guests include avid letter writer Madame de Sevigne and Charles VIII, while present-day fans include Tom Cruise and Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Then the guest quarters must be pretty sumptuous? Each of the 12 rooms and eight appartements, complete with marble and wood-panelled bathrooms, is furnished with beautiful antiques, soft velvets and period furniture. Modern gizmos - TV, phone, video - are disguised behind swathes of shimmering silk, or slotted into 17th-century armoires.

Are all the rooms alike? Guests can choose from a variety of styles, ranging from over-the-top opulence to quaint rusticity. The Appartement aux Bouquets is particularly breathtaking with its vaulted ceiling, painted wall panels and Louis XVI a la Polonaise-style bed, which is draped with silk the colour of egg yolk.

Talking of food . . . Predictably delicieux. The Michelin-starred restaurant offers regional specialities such as spit-roasted meats, plus dishes cooked with a seductive Gallic spin and washed down with flagons of honeyed wine.

Anything else we should know? Acquisitive guests will love La Boutique, which sells more than 400 objects and furnishings including china, glass, linen and tableware that also feature in the hotel.