Fit for a king

  I’m slightly at a loss for words. The place we stayed on our first night was off the charts and unfortunately there’s no way to communicate the full majesty of the place unless you actually visited.

  Of course, after an introduction like that, it would be rude of me if I didn’t give you at least a glimpse, an impression or even a hint. The first clue, that I failed to pick up on, that didn’t really sink in until after we’d arrived, was that the place was signposted from quite a way away. I’m not talking about the town being signposted, I’m talking about the chateau.

  At the end of a dead end, there was a gate to which we had been given a code. We rode through dark woods, up the long, cobbled drive until a building emerged. There could be no mistaking we were in the right place because the code had opened the gate, but we had no expectation of the thousand year old chateau that awaited us.

  Actually, to be completely accurate, some was eleventh century, some twelfth and there was a modern bit that was tacked on in the eighteenth century, but there was no mistaking the august presence of such a place. As the drive approached the house, it passed between stables on both sides of an area almost as big as a football pitch which, no doubt would have been used to park carriages as well as shelter horses and probably house many staff.

  Though not in the least bit ostentatious, the main house was certainly grand and the gardens extensive. Tiers of flat, well manicured lawns flowing into one another as they cascaded down the sides of the hill on which the house stands tall. Behind the house, a splendid view over the vast river inlet, now unfortunately spoiled by the industry that has recently arrived. Our accommodation was in one of the barns, now tastefully converted but retaining may original features including many exposed beams and the original staircase. From the fact that I have spent a whole post describing the place, you can tell it made a huge impression.

  All I can add to the description is a short note about supper; a simple but appropriate dinner of bread, cheese, charcuterie and salad that no doubt would have been quite familiar to the original residents. Check in tomorrow for fun in the sun on the route to St Malo. ​​​​​​​Hmmm, upon reflection, maybe I wasn’t so lost for words.

Kirk out

Chefsebastian.com