Chateau d’Audrieu became a hotel in 1976, but the building itself dates back at least to the beginning of the 18th century. Legend has it that the Lord of Percy, who originally oversaw the chateau's 30 hectares of land, was also personal chef to William the Conqueror.

The hotel has 29 renovated rooms and suites—27 in the main building and 2 in the small cottage immediately beside the main chateau. The top accommodations are the deluxe rooms in the detached cottages, which are spacious and decorated in subdued colors with large, almost floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the chateau's elegant landscape. The bathrooms are spacious and modern with oversized bathtubs and large rain showers.

The recently renovated 1715 Bar is great for a drink before heading downstairs to the chateau’s gastronomic restaurant, Le Serán, which is part of  Relais & Chateaux. There aren't any restaurants nearby, so guests will be eating most meals on property or can rent a car to dine in Bayeaux.

With multiple gardens and an expansive park, guests at Chateau d’Audrieu will want to spend their time outside. Guests can use one of the complimentary bicycles to ride around the park and into the tiny village of Audrieu. There is also an outdoor pool, a small playground and a tree house, making this an ideal choice for families.

Reminiscent of an era of feudalism, Chateau de Sully is a collection of well-appointed parts that do not necessarily make a cohesive sum, but still compose the elements of a satisfactory stay. While the property is set back behind what feels like miles of perfectly manicured fields and a roaming driveway, the Chateau is actually conveniently located between Port-en-Bessin and Bayeux.

Eighteen rooms are decorated with a healthy dose of old-fashioned feminine patterns and sometimes bold colors. The décor makes spaces feel cluttered, but each room has large windows overlooking the expansive grounds. The Duplex Suite is a good choice for larger groups.

Other than the restaurant, which feels sparse in comparison, common areas have less frilly color palates but striking patterns and carved, delicate furniture gives the spaces a regal feel. The wellness center, which features a spa and pool, feel lighter, housed in what feels like an oversized greenhouse with magnificent views.

Similarly, the restaurant is decorated with more restraint. Window treatments and the carpet are busy, but the tablecloths and walls are crisp and lightly hued, allowing the focus to be on chef Nicolas Fages’ delightful food.

This chateau rests at the end of a long, grand country driveway and still feels like the elegant 18th-century manor it once was. There are 29 rooms and suites, 15 of which are located in the main building. In the main building the décor is neutral with greys, beiges, whites, creams and browns as the dominant colors. The annex buildings incorporate more color into the rooms with pale blues, yellows and pinks. The suites in the annex offer a bit more privacy and sit in an L-shaped annex, formerly the commanderie (commander’s quarters) and forge (blacksmith). All rooms are different in their details, but share the same winning combination of 18th-century country elegance and contemporary amenities. And air conditioning was added to all rooms over the last few years so those who are heat sensitive needn't worry. Views are of the grounds or other buildings on property, all of which are charming

The fine dining restaurant Le Botaniste is open for breakfast and dinner. The food is excellent (it’s considered one of the best in the area), and the dining room is elegant yet unfussy. The hotel also has a more casual farm-to-table restaurant open for lunch and dinner, Le Petit Jardin, which is great for in-house guests or those touring the sites in the area during the day. Diners can sit outside in the garden or in the atrium next to the pool.

The outdoor grounds and gardens are beautifully manicured and maintained. Younger visitors and nature-lovers will enjoy the hotel’s complimentary tree guides, which label each tree on property. Guests can also grab one of the complimentary bikes for a ride around the property and into neighboring Port-en-Bessin. The hotel also has an outdoor pool and a small gym as well as a massage room, and e-bike rentals are available on property for touring around.

Situated just outside the small fishing village of Port-en-Bessin (about 5 minutes driving or 15 minutes walking) and a 20-minute drive from Bayeaux, the chateau is an ideal jumping off point for those who want a countryside experience near Normandy's towns. It’s also ideally located for D-Day touring along the coast.

As the only one of the three Barrière hotels in Deauville that is open year-round, with a location just a stone’s throw away from Coco Chanel’s original clothing boutique, Le Normandy is a favorite. The hotel hosts many Parisians, most of which are repeat guests who’ve been traveling to the area for years. The lobby of Le Normandy saw pre-G8 Summit refurbishments, but unlike its sister, the Royal, it feels brighter and more sunlight permeates the building. The 271 rooms and suites feature a mostly grey, blue or red color scheme, some with classic exposed Norman half-timber beams, and others are covered in cheerful Toile de Jouy wallpaper. The two-bedroom Family Suite is ideal for larger groups or longer stays. On property, there is an elegant brasserie Le Belle Epoque and the wood-paneled Normandy Bar. There is also a gym and spa, as well as an indoor pool. The hotel is within walking distance of the Plage de Deauville, and just steps away from the infamous casino and international luxury shops surrounding it.

Since most of its accommodations have views of Deauville’s vast beach, the Hotel Royal Barriere’s draw really is its location. Despite a refurbishment to prepare for the 2011 G8 Summit, the property still has an old-world, almost buttoned-up sensibility.

The beachside entrance to the hotel is less than a block from the Lucien Barriere Casino and leads into a royal purple and red soaked lounge with a bar to the left and reception on the far end. The hotel feels as though the beach is near, but in the way that a 1930’s belted maillot swimsuit does: it's grand and classic, but aged and has an aesthetic that’s a matter of personal preference. Upstairs hallways feature wallpaper with stripes of deep green, maroon and gold. There are 217 rooms and 30 suites, and while they still have wallpaper in regal, floral or vertical stripe patterns, they generally feel more subdued than common areas do. Bathrooms are sleek and contemporary in comparison with solid colors, marble and, for most categories, a walk-in shower. The 30 suites are larger, most with views of the beach and sea and some have private balconies for enjoying the sunset over the water. This seasonal hotel has a small outdoor pool for guests as well as a spa, salon and gym. The hotel closes from November to March annually.

It is easy to understand why this place was once a second home to artists obsessed with the picturesque Norman landscape; some of the paintings created here dot the walls of museums, and former guests are now lauded as pioneers of the Impressionist movement. The manicured, lush growth of trees and flowers cultivated in a climate regulated by a salty breeze appealed to painters yearning to escape city life, searching for colorful, dynamic scenes to render on canvas. Once an inn owned by the Toutain family, who would rent rooms for a small fee or even a painting, Hotel Ferme St.-Siméon overlooks where the English Channel meets the Crique de Rouen, an estuary that becomes the Seine.

The often-changing light and beautiful greenery surrounding the blue grey building make for a bucolic setting. Wood paneling abounds and adds to the warm and light-filled atmosphere. Fresh-cut flowers on almost every surface and large windows certainly help. Behind the helm of the hotel restaurant is Chef Mickael Lelievre, who trained with some of the world’s best chefs including Alain Ducasse and Michel Canet of the Grand Saint Michel in Alencon. In overseeing the intimate, authentic dining room and La Ferme’s sole eatery, Lelievre’s goal is to keep diners on their toes. The kitchen staff keeps up with the latest culinary changes and trends, overhauls the menu on a regular basis, but manages to honor the traditions of Norman cuisine and to bolster flavors with local ingredients

Even the smallest rooms have a small seating area that can double as a breakfast nook if the sprawling buffet downstairs seems too far. Inside the main farmhouse’s first floor is the reception area, bar, smoking room and restaurant. Exterior staircases, a typical feature of 17th-century homes in this region, lead up to rooms on the second level. The Pressior, a separate thatch roof building set slightly behind the main one, has some rooms on the top floor. However, the focus of that building is its state-of-the-art spa with a huge indoor pool, steam room, sauna, Jacuzzi and treatment rooms.

Room décor is a nod to the property's rich past, featuring antique furniture and vintage photographs, but bathrooms and amenities are modernized. Touches such as Hermès bath products and hurricane lamps combine with the traditional theme and create a result that is comfortable, elegant and authentically Norman.

Upon leaving the Medieval streets of Bayeaux, a footbridge leads across the babbling River Aure that winds through the city, ending at a quiet landing. Villa Lara is dead ahead. So, while it is technically on the “outskirts” of town, most of the 28 rooms have views of the grand cathedral and the Bayeaux tapestry is a short walk away. The management has delivered on their concerted effort to offer the consistency and regulation of a proper hotel, while maintaining the quaint charm of a family-owned inn. This means that sometimes the guest experience will be imperfect, but overall the small property, which boasts a gym, library, bar and lounge hits the mark.

In Caen, where chain hotels dominate the scene, the boutique Ivan Vautier seems like a diamond in the rough. While it is located on the outskirts of Caen, the restaurant’s incredible food is worth the journey. Décor in the property’s 19 rooms is not impressive, but guests can expect each room to have a noticeable color theme of purple, lime green or orange. Luxe rooms and Junior Suites have more spacious slate bathrooms, while lower categories have just a shower. Some higher rooms are divided into two spaces by flat screen TVs, a convenient setup for families with young children.

L’hotel Bourgtheroulde is set in a Renaissance townhouse that has been deemed a historical monument by the city of Rouen. When it opened as a hotel in 2012 the management introduced a vibrant, almost futuristic aesthetic to the common areas.

These modern additions are in stark contrast to the ornate façade featuring reliefs of historical events. Not everyone will love the glass-floored lobby area that offers views down into the bubbling spa pool below, though spa lovers appreciate the large pool, six treatment rooms and variety of aqua fitness options.

Guest rooms include elements of the original structure with modern amenities added in, resulting in a somewhat confusing, strange aesthetic. Room sizes vary significantly because the initial layout of the home remains intact. The higher room categories might feature wooden paneling and sloped ceilings but there is unappealing brown tiling in the bathrooms. The views from rooms on higher floors – whether they look out onto the square or into the entryway – are pretty. The renovated modern rooms feature a lighter color scheme.