Azteca

It’s apparent from the name alone that Aztéca, in the Ubaye Valley town of Barcelonnette, is not exactly typical among French hotels. In fact it’s a tribute to the long history of emigration between Barcelonnette and Mexico, and its public spaces (and a few rooms) are full of Mexican artworks and decorative elements. (Most of the rooms are in fact designed in a simple contemporary style.) The 1888 wing is the more atmospheric of the two, though a renovation leaves it looking fresh indeed. Breakfast is an event, as is the afternoon tea service; the bar serves light bites.