Owned by the Girardon family, this lovely 18th-century mansion, once the country home of the bishops of Lyon, is on the edge of a Rhône valley village. It has a 'beautiful terrace', a big garden with a pond, a steeple dating from 1736, and a walnut-drying house. It was found 'wonderfully rewarding, relaxing and peaceful' by one couple, but another guest thought the welcome 'offhand'. 'The food was fantastic, my room was large, comfortable and inexpensive,' says a report this year. Chef Philippe Girardon's Michelin-starred dishes include nénuphar de homard en salade; truite aux parfums de citronelle. 'The chocolate desserts have to be seen to be believed.' The best bedrooms are in the annexe, Les Jardins de Clairefontaine, which has a sleek lift, automatic sliding glass doors, electronically operated shutters, smart bathrooms. The family also own the ten-bedroom Marais St-Jean, nearby.