Château de la Marjolaine

The host family were extremely polite and helpful, and the breakfast was excellent. We loved our first stop in France so much that we spontaneously booked Chateau de la Marjolaine again just before our return flight. The rooms are ultra-clean and truly beautiful. We highly recommend Chateau de la Marjolaine, 10+++.

The garden was charming, with roses, a lily pond and an herb garden, and we had a lovely one-night stay in this cozy family-run hotel. Our bathroom was spacious and had a sauna. Breakfast was excellent, with plenty of teas, cold cuts and cheeses, plus hard-boiled eggs and juices. We’d happily come back.

My room was large and lovely, but the stay was disappointing and didn’t feel worth a three-star price. The radiator in my room didn’t work. Luckily, the shower-room radiator was very hot, and leaving the door open helped warm the room. There was mold on the shower ceiling, and the grout was discolored, black in places, giving it an unkempt look. A raised ridge in the carpet by a window nearly tripped me and needs replacing. We had two rooms, but only room 2 had problems. On Sunday, nobody had checked our rooms. We didn’t need fresh towels or bedding, but it seemed reasonable to ask. No clean cups, tea, water or bathroom toiletries had been replaced. When I asked, they were handed over begrudgingly, and I was told the toiletries should be enough for two nights, which I disagreed with. The walk from the car park to the Château is about 70 metres without lighting until the steps, which is hazardous. There’s also a metal fixture sticking out in the middle of the gates that could trip someone.

A restful little break. Time seems to stop in this rather special chateau, with simple but luxurious comfort and vintage touches from the old family home. I’d recommend a winter walk by the river, then a siesta and sauna before an excellent meal.