Maggie L
The charming medieval town of Torigni sur Vire was only a 10km detour from the bike path along the Vire River that we were traveling on, how bad could it be? Six miles by bike isn't bad, unless it's 6 miles uphill at the end of the day. By the time we arrived in Torigni sur Vire, we were tired and looked pretty haggard as we had bicycled over 80 km, including the steady uphill to our destination for the night, Le Clos des Matignon. What a sight we must have been for our hostess for the night, Colette Martin when she graciously welcomed us to her home!||||From the moment Colette greeted us until the next morning when we said our goodbyes, our stay at Le Clos des Matignon was as perfect of a French experience as you could ever have. To say that Colette is the perfect hostess is an incredible understatement. She sets a whole new standard for making you feel welcome. Despite our worn out appearance, Colette received us into her home as if we were personal family guests. Before we knew it, she was offering us something cold to drink. She brought a lemon cake that she had just baked, insisting that we sit in the library and have a piece before we unpacked. I could have eaten the whole loaf it was so incredibly good!||||Despite the fact that we were only staying one night, Colette had prepared a huge packet of tourism information for us. It was as comprehensive as you would get from any office of tourism!||||Colette speaks some English, our French is basic, yet we managed to communicate perfectly. As we were enjoying our snack and discussing dinner options, her husband, Daniel arrived. Since he spoke more extensive English, we asked him questions about the house, and he asked us questions about the bicycling journey that we were in the midst of. I found it incredible that we shared conversation as if we had known each other a long time. Daniel and Colette have a way of making you feel completely at home, an perfect French experience indeed.||||Where to begin about the house? To begin with, it's huge, taking up more than a city block. It is an outbuilding of the Castle of the Matignons, and the Martins have been meticulously renovating it for a number of years. The house and walled gardens are spectacular. The warm and inviting reading room is perfect for enjoying a book and a cup of tea, or an after dinner drink. The curved staircase that leads up to the three B&B rooms is magnificent. Furnishings throughout the home reflect David's extensive travels in Africa. ||||Our room for the night was the Savannah. At 145Euro/night including breakfast, it was our "splurge" for this bicycling trip. I could not have chosen a more perfect indulgence: the Savannah was huge with exquisite built-ins and furniture, a huge canopy bed with the highest quality linens and a master bathroom that defies description. ||||And then there is the breakfast. To begin with, it's served in a gorgeous restored kitchen brimming with copper cookware. Then there's the food, a total epicurean's delight with homemade jams, honey, croissants, local cheeses, yogurt, sliced meats and bread, local brioche and pastries.||||Torigni-sur-Vire is the type of charming town that you could easily spend several days, and Le Clos des Matignon is the perfect place to call home during your stay. Le Clos des Matignon is much more than just a place to stay. Guests here are welcomed by Colette and Daniel as if they are family. While I wished that my stay had been longer, I am so happy that I had the opportunity to meet Colette and David. Meeting them, and spending an evening in their very special home was a highlight of my trip in Northern France, and is a memory I will remember forever.||||If you are looking for a real French experience, rather than just a place to spend the night, look no further than Le Clos des Matignon. And it's well worth a detour!
