Saint Paterne has been in our family since the 19th century. My husband took over the chateau at the age of 23, after studying business in Paris. The property, which had been derelict for 30 years, was divided into small flats and a second-hand goods dealer occupied the living room. A banker touched by his motivation granted him a loan to renovate six rooms, which launched the adventure in 1989. The first years were difficult for us, as bed and breakfast accommodation was still not widely practised. Our family-run business now offers eleven rooms in a "family home" atmosphere that we have maintained.
The chateau has a remarkable 15th-century main building. Once heavy, like a fortress, the building was remodelled in the 18th century. A major wing was then added, its windows enlarged and its stairwell transformed into a more open, user-friendly space. One of the rooms features a spectacular 16th-century painted ceiling depicting the coat of arms of Henri IV and one of his mistresses, Diane de Courtemanche. This very well-preserved ceiling was rediscovered by my husband's grandfather four centuries later. In another room, a trumeau reveals Henri IV on horseback, with the construction of the Louvre and Notre-Dame in the background. The house is surrounded by ten hectares of grounds, the work of the famous landscape gardener Édouard André.
The chateau originally belonged to the Marquis de Saint-Paterne, then to the Lecouteulier family. During the Revolution and the war of 1870, the building was hit by bullets, and bullet marks can still be seen in the grand salon. In the 20th century, during the Second World War, the chateau was requisitioned by the Germans. The villagers, anticipating their arrival, emptied the property of its furniture and hid it in the surrounding farms to make life less comfortable for the occupiers. At the Liberation, the Americans set up a hospital in the chateau before family life resumed.
We offer a relaxed atmosphere that reflects our personalities. Our welcome is genuine and unpretentious. We share our family home, now firmly rooted in its time and activity, and have moved away from the classic bed and breakfast idea to offer an experience somewhere between a guest house and a hotel. Seven months a year, a chef is on hand at the chateau to prepare meals for our guests. Dinner is a special occasion, served in the candlelit dining room in winter, or in the grounds in summer. At the chateau, there are no false pretences. Our team is fully trained to follow this philosophy.
In Alençon, "Galos Expérience" offers seasonal cuisine, guided by a constant quest for innovation. In Bellême, “Paysages” serves wood-fired cooking and the menus are designed to reflect the seasons, the rhythm of the crops, the life of farms and the gentle maturing process. In Réveillon, "Sauge", a gourmet Percheron inn, is a unique place where conviviality meets elegance. At La Perrière, "La Maison d'Horbée" is a genuine country second-hand shop with an ultra-refined tea room. In Radon, in a huge 19th-century farmhouse, "Harmonie du Logis" displays a host of ancient materials: fireplaces, floor tiles, parquet floors, furniture, bistro counters and more. A unique place well worth a visit.
For seminars, guests have access to a 55 m2 meeting room, the chateau's communal areas and the grounds. The eleven rooms are located in the same building and can accommodate up to 24 people in single beds. Relaxation areas - a swimming pool and ten hectares of grounds allow you to recharge your batteries between work sessions. The calm, leafy setting is ideal for organising team-building activities.
ref 449935
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