Château de Saint Paterne

This is a really lovely half way stop as you head to the south of France. We had the evening meal and it is a lovely elegant dining room. The food was nice and simple but tasty. The staff were friendly and the rooms were very clean and comfortable. The location is an interesting one as it is well placed but it is also not the most charming area.

I don’t usually bother writing reviews of tourism experiences but make an exception when the venue is extremely good or bad. In this case the tourism product is outstanding. Now, the Chateau is hundreds of years old so cut it some slack, it no doubt requires continual maintenance but Ségolène and her team make this hotel well worth visiting . We stayed for one night on our way back to the Cherbourg ferry and wished we had stayed 2 nights. If you are staying don’t miss the evening dinner which was superb. Our future visits to Northern France will include a visit here .

We stopped off here en route to the Dordogne. The hotel itself is beautiful, just like being a house guest in a gorgeous chateau. The pool area is exceptional, with hot tub, lovely pool, sun loungers, sauna and honesty bar. Lovely grounds and terraces. Room was comfortable and quirky, authentic chateau style. Loved the relaxed feel, honesty bar etc. What let it down was the dinner, which we had high hopes for and were expecting a gourmet treat. Instead it was barely edible, a starter of beetroot “gazpacho”, which managed to be both lumpy and watery, woefully under seasoned and frankly odd. No-one on my table finished it. The main course was a chicken breast (mine was underdone), with roasted new potatoes (soggy) and creamy peas. Taste was pleasant but bland and I can cook something far better myself. Pudding was a few slices of micro thin pineapple and a tiny shot glass of frozen pina colada with a few pomegranate seeds, perfectly edible but not substantial or skilful. The cost of all this was €52. Breakfast cost €26 each and was not much more than some cereals, baguettes and bog standard mini croissants. The whole overnight stay for 2 adults and 2 teens sharing a bedroom suite (sofa bed) was over €700, we loved the place but the food was truly below what we should have got for that price. Maybe chef was having an off day…..

Just checked out from our second visit here and can’t fault it. The most beautiful hotel and grounds, lovely staff, comfy bed. Came last time as couple and this time with our son who also adored it. Wonderful value and a perfect stopping point on a journey further south. Hope to return again!

We have spent one night in this beautiful establishment. No stone is left unturned. Attention to detail is top of their list. The chateau is beautiful and so was the food. Great value for what you are given. The setting is magnificent and so relaxing. Highly recommend for a short break or an overnight stay.

Worth visiting for the food alone. You will be very well taken care of here. Beautiful setting, excellent staff.

The Chateau and grounds were beautiful. The staff were friendly and accommodating. Our room was large and luxurious. The 3 course set dinner was tasty and the breakfast was excellent. The location is good for onward travel further south in France but the venue would also be good for a short break. No complaints. I'm sure we will be back.

Summary: chateau yes, food no. The chateau, grounds, pool are all very pleasant if a little cluttered and eccentric (as you might expect from such a place). The dinner however is simply not acceptable. A virtually inedible gazpacho (blackberry coloured not even tomato) was disgusting. The main course of what seems like cheapest quality bulk buy chicken breast with tinned peas and potatoes was of school dinners standard. Pudding was a few ultra thin pineapple slices (curling around edges) with an eggcup of pina colada flavoured white stuff. I seriously doubt the cost was even eur10 per head to make. Breakfast was also very bog standard with the ubiquitous self bake mini croissants and poor quality jam and cheese etc. 10 minute gaps while thermos of hot water for tea was being refilled. Dinner bed and breakfast for family of 4 (teenage children on poor quality sofa beds) with a eur38 bottle wine and dull white wine aperitif came to just over eur700. Avoid.