Chateau D' Ermenonville
60950 Ermenonville
Ermenonville, France
Website: www.Chateau-Ermenonville.com
Phone: +33 (0) 3. 44. 54. 00. 26
E-mail: ermenonville@leshotelsparticuliers.com

Hotel Review

Pricing: $$$$$

WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAY IN A FRENCH CHATEAU? If so, here is one we highly recommend.

Just north of Paris is the quaint little town of Ermenonville which has a gorgeous Chateau, The Chateau D' Ermenonville. This chateau has been converted into a very nice hotel with reasonably priced rooms. Weddings and receptions also take place in the fantastic surroundings of the Chateau. What is it like to stay at a French Chateau? Let us tell you about our visit!

The grandness of the Chateau is overwhelming as you approach the hotel. It seems unreal that this old castle still stands and is surrounded by such a serene setting. You can take a walk around the beautiful grounds and experience your own moat. Once inside, the staff is polite and quick to help if you need something. In the French countryside (outside of Paris), the staff is less likely to speak English, but knowing a few words in French will get you by. Bring a book of short French phrases to help with communication. That is all we brought and we got along very nicely. The Chateau has been modernized inside so that each room has its own bathroom. The suites are large with a lovely view overlooking the grounds. The regular rooms are adequate and reasonably priced.

Our experience: We enjoyed the ambiance of the French Chateau and it's beautiful surroundings. We took walks and imagined what it would be like to live in our own Chateau. We began each morning with a large country breakfast at the Chateau. We then set off in our rented car and took side trips to the neighboring countryside, the polo grounds in Chantilly and the Champagne region of France. We also took a couple of day trips into Paris traveling by train, which we caught in nearby Belleville. It was fun taking the train into Paris, and the French people were quite helpful along the way.

Dining at the Chateau:

Breakfast: The hotel restaurant offered a large, unforgettable "country breakfast" each morning. Imagine tumbling out of bed and downstairs to a huge array of breakfast delights. The country breakfast buffet included eggs, meats, cereals, juices, yogurt, croissants and other breads. You could eat as much or as little as you like for about 12 euros per day. We ordered a pot of hot chocolate each morning with our meal, which was a real treat. The French make delicious hot chocolate that is made of all real chocolate.

Dinner: Dinner at the Chateau was magnificent. The entrees were delicious including chicken, fish and veal. The wine with dinner was also fantastic, we had a delicious red wine from the region. The waiters did not speak English, and we did not speak French, but that did not keep us from having wonderful dinners at the Chateau. Because the Chateau is in the country, the hotel staff is less likely to have practiced their English, but we were able to communicate well just the same. Again, bring your phrase book.

Weddings at the Chateau:

An American couple had their wedding and reception at the Chateau during our stay. On the evening of the wedding, candles were lit and placed on each step of the staircase as it wound up from the ground floor. It made a marvelous setting for such a romantic event. The size of the Chateau was also perfect for a wedding. The dining rooms were large and could accommodate many guests for the wedding party. The grounds were also very romantic with the moat, swans and gardens surrounding the castle.

Recommendation: If you are looking for economical accommodations, book one of the regular rooms in the hotel. The rooms are not large, but they are inexpensive. If you have a larger budget, book a suite as they are large and the view of the grounds is gorgeous. Overall, any of the rooms are reasonably priced compared to American hotels.

For those who wish to visit France without knowing how to speak French, it is helpful to bring a small English to French phrase book. Keep it in your pocket to help you feel more confident communicating with hotel staff or when ordering meals. Despite our limited knowledge of the French language, we got around the French countryside just fine.

Other activities:

Ermenonville is a small town, but it is charming and you can walk some of the side streets and view some of the buildings. There is a small neighborhood cafe just up the street from the Chateau which serves good, authentic country French food. Look for the face of a cow on the menu if you want to order beef.

Nearby locations:

There is a beautiful English garden within walking distance of the Chateau. I am told it is the only English garden in France. While we were there, the author of a book about the garden gave a walking tour of the garden.