Hôtel de Bourgtheroulde

Plenty of ink continues to be spilled about the south of France, but there’s plenty worth seeing up north as well. Rouen is the ancient capital of Normandy, perhaps best known for Notre Dame, a gothic cathedral which dates back as far as the 12th century. It’s this historic side of Rouen that the Hotel de Bourgtheroulde is meant to express — though its vintage as a boutique hotel is quite recent, the building that houses it was constructed in the 16th century.

It would have been a shame to strip out all the rooms’ period detailing in pursuit of something entirely modern, and thankfully the Bourgtheroulde didn’t go that way. Instead these rooms are full of antique woodwork and timbered ceilings. What’s not authentically antique is traditional in style, like the intricate tilework in the bathrooms. All the modern conveniences are present, naturally, but take a back seat to the historical ambience.

The highly regarded Restaurant d’Aumale, on the other hand, is strikingly modern, as is the spa, a high-luxury full-service affair, the centerpiece of which is an underground pool beneath an atrium skylight. Beneath a historical facade, a very modern boutique hotel — it’s an excellent fit for an ancient city like Rouen.