Chateau de Fontager

We only stayed one night because we were continuing our bike trip, but we’ll definitely come back. The atmosphere is just wow, and the food is simple and really good. We’re from Basel, Switzerland, and can recommend it to people used to Swiss standards. It’s an easy place to relax with good books and food, and you could happily stay a month.

The room was clean and the bedding fresh, and the cleaning ladies were kind and thorough. I also liked finding one of my favorite personal care brands in the shampoo and shower gel. With the mosquito screens, we could sleep with the windows open and wake to birdsong and fresh air. The château itself is beautiful, quiet, and beautifully kept, with elegant interiors and grounds that feel restful. We’d booked the most expensive room listed on the website, but were first given an accessible room for disabled guests instead. Reception did move us to another room after we raised it, though there was a wait and some unnecessary stress. We also found cut-off lamp plugs exposed in the sockets, which felt dangerous, especially with a young child in the room. Dinner was uneven: the fish was good, but the meat was rubbery. Breakfast was a real disappointment, with stale croissants and baguettes, dried-out cheese and ham, and muesli that tasted old. As someone who is pregnant, freshness and food quality matter a lot to me, and they were lacking. At these prices, this is especially disappointing in France. The restaurant staff were the biggest problem. There were very few guests, yet service was slow and inattentive. We kept having to ask for help, and I eventually cleared our table myself because no one came. It felt like the staff had time but little interest in helping, like a game of hide and seek. This place has a unique, moving feeling that makes me hope we’ll return and find things improved. The château has so much potential, but at these prices guests should feel welcomed, respected, and cared for. Hospitality, safety, professionalism, and attention to detail need serious work.

The pool was completely empty after check-out, but when we tried to relax there for a while, we were told, “no longer hotel guests - please leave now.” That rigid response felt like a real lack of basic hospitality. We stayed one night with friends in late June. The setting is beautiful and the concept interesting, so the hotel could be special, but poor management and unprofessional service let it down. The rooms felt overpriced for their condition: ours smelled musty and stale, had no air conditioning, and the old bathroom clearly needs renovation. In warm weather, sleeping there is simply not possible, and you can find much better nearby for the same price. Dinner was tasty, but €45 per person for steak and potatoes with pavlova felt too much for a single plate of meat and dessert. For that price, I expected more variety or better presentation. Breakfast was very poor too, with small portions, low-quality bread, a slice of ham, cheese, and an egg. That doesn’t meet expectations for a luxury hotel. The place needs better management, staff training, and investment in guest comfort. Until that happens, I wouldn’t recommend staying here.

Absolutely fantastic experience! The six-course dinner was out of this world, and the Danish sommelier’s wine pairing was extraordinary. Bravo 🎉 A YouTube video will be coming soon.