Published by Lyn on 16 September 2015
Tracy Melass stayed at Manoir Michelet in Nogent-le-Rotrou when she rode the Veloscenic Paris to Mont St-Michel bike route. Here's what she thought of the B&B. Photos thanks to Chenél Ferreira.
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Manoir Michelet
4, rue Bourg-le-Comte, 28400 Nogent-le-Rotrou (Eure-et-Loir, Centre)
Map
+33 (0)6 09 78 13 09
Click here to book
Because every traveller should spend the night in a manor house...
Situated in Nogent-Le-Rotrou, the capital of the Perche region, Manoir Michelet makes you feel like a medieval time traveller. From the moment you step behind the fortress-like stone wall and are whisked to your vast chamber, sparsely decorated with interesting antiques, you'll be transported to another age. It's like sleeping in a museum. Owner Marc Veldman is also something of a fascination...
Bikes are parked in a driveway, undercover, behind a sturdy wall. Safe as houses, er, manors. Laundry facilities are available on request, but note there is no wifi in this particular time warp.
5 things we liked
1) Owner Marc is one of the world's foremost authorities on antique keys. He has a personal collection of around 300, has written a book about them and is in the process of writing another. With a little nudging, he'll show some off and regale you with their background in passable English.
2) Breakfast in the banqueting chamber. Think cavernous space, long wooden table, amazing collection of antiques, iron chandeliers... Not quite Game of Thrones, but close.
3) It can sometimes be tricky navigating in and out of cities and towns on the Veloscenic. Ask nicely and Marc will drive you to the exit point – well, he'll drive slowly, you'll follow behind on your bike.
4) Talking about kind gestures... If you miss your dinner reservation due to a wrong turn, Marc will pop you in his car and drive around town on a Sunday night, looking for an open restaurant.
5) A shower the size of a room with a shower head the size of a tea tray. You'll feel Lilliputian as you wash your achey limbs in a welcoming stream of hot water.
Manoir Michelet
4, rue Bourg-le-Comte, 28400 Nogent-le-Rotrou (Eure-et-Loir, Centre)
+33 (0)6 09 78 13 09
Click here to book
More bike-friendly places to stay in France
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