Hotel Les Rives de Notre Dame, Paris

On entering this small 16th century building which is now an attractive hotel, it is immediately evident that the owner wants to whisk guests away from the noise and the bustle of Quai Saint Michel, in the heart of Paris, and transport them to the sunshine of the Provence and Tuscany. Perhaps the most pleasant surprise, however, is that the rooms are so quiet, despite the noise outside. The windows have been most skillfully double-glazed yet retain their character and thus play a vital part in making this ten bedroom hotel a veritable oasis of peace, charm and good taste while being only a few metres from Notre-dame.