Gastro pub, hunting lodge, village inn and parish hall -
the Hotel de l'Abbaye is all these and more. Nostalgia, old world
charm and conviviality make wonderful bedfellows with the generous country
cooking and infectious good humour of the patron. This, cher Francophile, is the genuine article, the archetypal auberge de
campagne.
The
location is second to none. Nestled on the edge of the Forêt de Retz,
picturesque Longpont looks a bit like a retro film set and is renowned for its
lovely Cistercian Abbey. The hotel itself is peaceful and has a little
garden where meals are served in summer. But it's the cosy bar, bedecked
with hunting memorabilia, where most of the sportsmen gather for a restorative
tipple after their exertions in the fresh air.
No prizes, therefore, for
guessing that game is the priority in season but rest assured that first-rate
standards are maintained in the restaurant year-round. Hearty portions,
cheerful service and keen prices are the norm here. Most
of the bedrooms are quite small but comfortable and impeccably clean.