The Marais Guesthouse is not a hotel, more of a cross between a hotel particulier and a prestige bed & breakfast. But it qualifies amply our 4 lys category. Yann-Gabriel Hentschke’s meticulously restored interior breaks the mold—and positively exudes attitude. He lovingly tracked down the raw materials to transform a derelict shell into a chateau-in-miniature. There are stone floors, furnitures brought back from Poitiers and Loire Valley. The fireplaces date mostly from the same era. Carefully selected antiques complete the effect, and go some way towards explaining the owner policy of disclosing the exact location when guests reserve.