Ever wondered what it would be like to grow up in a rural 16th-century manor house in Normandy? Better ask Camille. She restored her childhood home into Manoir de Surville, a handsome, timber-framed hotel surrounded by green fields and apple trees. Camille and her Belgian husband Hugues still live on the estate with their 4 young daughters, and take gracious delight in sharing their beautiful family home. Blond-pine bookshelves line the library/lounge where a plump sofa and armchairs face an open brick fireplace; stone steps lead up to 11 immaculate and charming rooms, tucked beneath ancient wooden eaves. The feel is relaxed elegance, and all who've stayed say it's wonderfully quiet and warmly welcoming.
Back downstairs, the modern restaurant serves superb multi-course suppers: seasonal dishes that are fresh and non-fussy. For explorers, the hotel is near historic chateaux, abbeys and gardens. Guests who prefer to linger can indulge in a massage and steam at the exquisite spa. Children love to play in the heated pool or roam the grounds by bike; couples may prefer a quiet game of backgammon and a glass of Calvados from the honesty bar. We think it all sounds blissful – so, à bientôt!
Highs
- An excellent base for Normandy's historic chateaux, castles and quaint half-timbered towns
- Just 11 chic bedrooms, with flatscreen TVs, WiFi, bathrobes/slippers and luxurious Hermès products
- Green Key certified and impressively eco-friendly: rainwater harvesting, composting, geo/aero thermal energy, LED timed lighting and Tesla chargers
- Delicious seasonal dinners in the modern restaurant: the 4-course menu changes daily, ingredients are locally sourced and mostly organic
- Kids love the heated swimming pool and giant Mikado set, and there's lots of baby kit for parents to borrow
Lows
- No air con in the rooms, and little wardrobe/drawer space
- Breakfast isn't included in the rates and is a served Continental meal (no hot options); no lunches available
- The restaurant is only open for dinner Thurs-Sat, and holiday eves, except in July/Aug when it is open every evening except Tues
- A car is essential for excursions – taxis are expensive in this region, and there's no public transport
Best time to go
Late spring, summer and early autumn are lovely in Normandy. Spring for the blossoms, summer for the sun and autumn for the harvest. Bear in mind that Normandy is France's rainy region and it can get chilly in the winter. Manoir de Surville is closed for the second half of October and over Christmas and New Year.
Our top tips
- As an aperitif, try the pink rose cider, a speciality of the Eure orchards.
- For design and décor enthusiasts, there’s a book of photos about Manoir de Surville’s renovation in the bibliothèque.
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 1 independent review from i-escape guests
Very nice, warm pool and immaculate garden with play toys and sitting areas. The living room area was really comfortable and had lovely free tea / coffee and great for little ones as they had lots of toys. Dinner was absolutely superb! A real treat and very creative dishes which were full of flavour and also healthy. However, rather pricey to stay for more than a few nights if you don't fancy 4 course meals.
Kids loved the fire and roasting marshmallows. Nice little touch to have a nappy bin in the room. Baby/toddler dinner was at 7pm which is too late for us, plus difficult for parents to get them to bed and prepare for dinner at 8 pm. They did make us some pasta earlier after many families requested it.
Rooms were very hot even though it wasn't hot outside, and seemed a little overpriced in my opinion.
The surrounding area is a bit glum and you need to drive to get anywhere interesting to walk, see sights, etc.
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape