As lovers of the Perche region, after more than 20 years in Paris, we chose to experience time in a new way. This project was born slowly, with over ten years of reflection. The house gently revealed itself to us. It was an 18th-century manor house, nestled in a preserved landscape, surrounded by greenery and bordered by a stream. There was nothing ostentatious about it, but there was a presence, a perfect balance of proportions, an elegance to it. We envisioned a country hotel with the spirit of a family home. A place where guests are received just as they live: simply, but with care and attention. Our ambition was not to transform it, but to reveal its essence; to preserve the place’s soul by imbuing it with genuine hospitality.
The manor house opens out wide onto the grounds through tall windows. On the ground floor, the rooms flow seamlessly into one another, linked by double moulded doors that reveal original flooring and more recent oak parquet as you go through them. The woodwork has been preserved, maintaining the building's authenticity. Upstairs, the dimensions of the former master bedrooms have been restored, with their terracotta tiles, parquet floors, mouldings, and original details. At the back, a white stone colonnade connects two rooms, one of which was formerly a chapel. We have built an extension to this gallery in the form of a steel and glass canopy, echoing the design of orangeries and winter gardens of the late 18th and 19th centuries.
Originally, the Pigeon estate was a hunting lodge, sprawling across several hundred hectares of land and forest. As early as the 14th century, a modest group of buildings began to take shape here. Transformed over time, in the 18th century, under the impetus of the Longueuil family, it became a manor house whose outline is still visible today. In the 19th century, the Marquise de Longueuil bequeathed the estate to a religious order, on the condition that it be used to house children. The sisters settled there around 1850, founding an orphanage, which became a medical and educational institute in the 1960s. They left in 2018, leaving behind a place imbued with successive lives.
Here, the house works its magic with its chic country style, which invites rather than imposes. We envisioned a family home open to nature, with the attentive service of a country hotel. Our restaurant, "La Table des Prés," is nestled within a walled garden. Beneath the glass roof, the dining room opens out wide onto the terrace. The cuisine, simple yet generous, celebrates produce of the Perche region. The intentionally concise menu follows the seasons, enriched by the kitchen garden and a commitment to local sourcing. Stéphane, our chef and partner, began his career as an architect, which helped shape the hotel’s image and character. Later trained in cooking and pastry-making, he creates food here that is all about sharing. The swimming pool set in the grass, the banks of the stream, the boules court, and the meadow that invites you to linger, sit, read, chat, or simply let time drift by.
In Mortagne-au-Perche, the Saturday morning market is a must, with its stalls from local producers with regional products. Visitors can extend their stroll by visiting "Trudon" the oldest wax producer in the world, established in 1643, or "Un antiquaire et une photographe," a shop where images and objects converse harmoniously. The narrow streets of the village of La Perrière lead to peaceful viewpoints and a stop at "Café de la Perrière," a local eatery featuring regional products. The unpretentious restaurant "Paysage à Bellême" serves seasonal cuisine cooked over a wood fire. Finally, "Chez Nous Campagne" unfolds its unique world, a blend of tea room, antique shop, and timeless garden.
The hotel can accommodate working groups of up to 14 people. Participants have access to the entire property, surrounded by one hectare of land crossed by a river, which includes a boules court, a heated swimming pool, and an outdoor car park for 20 cars. The dining room, lounge, and part of the restaurant can be configured as meeting rooms. Accommodation consists of nine bedrooms. Seven of the nine bedrooms have double beds that can be converted into two single beds. The restaurant, located in the adjoining orangery, can seat up to 30 guests.
ref 559314
This property has been added to My favourites
This property has been deleted from My favourites
A link to enter a new password has been sent to you by email.
back
