Château La Chenevière

The setting is beautiful, and it’s a great base for visiting the WW2 historical sites. We were there with my sister and brother-in-law May 20 to May 23, 2025, and had a really good stay. The rooms are comfortable and well appointed, the grounds are gorgeous, and both restaurants served excellent meals, breakfasts included. One has a more formal, traditional feel, though head waiter Françoise knows how to lighten the mood. The poolside restaurant is more relaxed, with lovely staff and great food. There’s a nice bar too, and the front desk staff are welcoming. Highly recommend, and I’d happily come back.

The service was nice, and the main building is stunning, with a lovely garden. But for a five star hotel, I expected a suite that felt special, with a separate sitting area and a comfortable shower room. Ours was in the side building and felt small and ordinary, including the rather small wardrobe. The room lighting was awkward, with no central light, so every lamp had to be switched separately. The bathroom was worse. The bathtub felt sad, and I had to climb into it to shower. There was only a small shower outlet, making it hard to avoid washing my hair, and the water pressure was very poor. The outdoor pool is nice, though getting there meant walking in my robe past the main entrance. The spa was a joke, just a room, with nobody on site; they could call someone and see if they were able to come to the hotel. Maybe two stars is a bit harsh, but at a four star hotel I might not have bothered leaving a review. A five star hotel should have suites that leave you wanting for nothing.

We stayed in a dog friendly room in the main house and were all well looked after. The Botanist restaurant served excellent quality 1 star Michelin dishes, with friendly service. It’s a small boutique 5 star hotel in a chateau with a rich history and beautiful grounds. We didn’t get to use the pool, though it looked lovely. Glad we stopped for the night, and I’d highly recommend it as a place to stay when visiting the local war beaches.

My husband and I had a lovely lunch, with cocktails, wine, and a fixed price menu. We paid extra for a very delicious Lobster roll, which I highly recommend. What surprised me was being charged 5 euro for a carafe of water that should have been free. I think that’s against the law, especially since we’d ordered other drinks. It just isn’t normal.