Passing through an old wooden gate flanked by redbrick pillars and topped by a pair of lions, a short, shingled path leads to a lush, secluded garden full of flowers and shrubs that's dominated by a huge old Araucaria tree. Set in this leafy glade is La Maison du Parc, an 18th-century redbrick townhouse covered in ivy. It has pretty wood-shuttered windows adorned with decorative floral boxes and lace curtains. Built in 1764 by a wealthy ship owner, it feels like this country-style townhouse has changed very little since. It retains plenty of its original feel and features such as period patterned tile flooring, wood paneling, and a huge carved fireplace.

This B&B is located in the Saint Leonard district of the port town of Honfleur on the northwest coast of France where the Seine meets the sea. It's a quiet and residential neighborhood, a little away from the crowded city center, but still within walking distance of charming bars, restaurants, and bakeries. The sandy Plage du Butin beach is a five-minute drive away, while the Plage du Vasouy is 10 minutes away by car. The Seine estuary nature reserve is a bit farther along the coast. The historic capital city of Normandy -- Rouen -- is an hour's drive and Paris takes around two hours by car (expect traffic delays on sunny Sundays and at the end of long weekends).

The five rooms at the Maison du Parc are spacious and individually decorated with an eclectic mixture of antique furnishings from throughout the ages, splashes of modern decor, and many original period features such as fireplaces and herringbone parquet flooring. All rooms include flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, while most feature four-poster beds. No two bathrooms are alike, and vary from traditionally styled bathrooms with roll-top tubs, to a contemporary black-tiled wet room in the Araucaria Room. The open-space l'Orangerie Suite is located in a separate building in the garden and has exposed brick walls and its own sunroom. It also includes a particularly impressive bathroom with a sauna and a deep soaking tub, as well as a personal fitness room.

As the Maison du Parc is a B&B rather than a hotel, there's not a wide range of facilities on-site. However breakfasts are certainly a highlight -- homemade jams, produce from the property's own garden, bread from the local bakery, and eggs sourced from a nearby organic farm are all served in a fabulously atmospheric dining room filled with oil paintings, area rugs, and weathered antique furnishings. Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the property and breakfast is also included in the rate.