Abbaye De Villeneuve

Chandeliers hang from 13th-century archways in the lobby, which tells you most of what you need to know about how a Cistercian monastery becomes a luxury hotel. The sandstone staircase and earth-toned guest rooms carry the calm that monks presumably intended, and the greenhouse bistro beside the circular pool is a charming pivot from sacred to secular. Bicycles are available for exploring the countryside outside Nantes.