Hotel de Seze

Travelers who do not want to pay the steep Grand Hotel prices but like the central location should consider this charming, family-run boutique property that feels très français.

• The unabashedly feminine Marie Antoinette Suite
• The lovely staff and vibe particular to a privately owned hotel
• The central location in walking distance to all the historic site's of the city center

Housed in three 19th-century buildings that have been connected, the boutique Hotel de Seze has 55 rooms, including three suites. The hotel was renovated top to bottom in 2012, and guest rooms have understated French flair, with pretty fabrics, leather headboards and colorful wallpaper. Best are the two suites: the grey-blue Suite de Sèze and the pink confection that's the Marie Antoinette Suite. Both have high ceilings, parquet floors and great views across the stately Alées de Tourny.

The downstairs restaurant Comptoir du Sèze is is local favorite for lunch, and all of the historic center's major sites, including the Grand Théâtre and Cathedral, and such acclaimed restaurants as Bouchon Bordelais, Miles and Chien Pavlov, are within walking distance to this charming little place.

Independent travelers who do not need round-the-clock pampering but who appreciate the classic, French style of a family-run boutique hotel.