Heading to Normandy? Then Lisieux is bound to be on your list. For stays, Hotel Saint Louis, which conveniently sits in the center of Lisieux is a great choice for those who are looking for unique and boutique blended into one.
Hotel Saint Louis isn’t a luxury hotel, nor does it have the bells and whistles you might need from a chain if you’re traveling on business, although they do have reliable wifi. It is all things quaint and charming however in more ways than one. The outside courtyard below is in the front of hotel, which immediately faces the infamous historical cathedral across the street. It’s a great place to sip that morning coffee during warmer months.
The place is run and managed by a highly energetic local woman who is not only hospitable and friendly, but she seems to be able to “do anything,” so if you have a quirky problem, run it by her and chances are she’ll come up with a solution. Below is the ever so French breakfast they serve in the morning in a delightful side room where guests meet up in the mornings. Juice, fruit, yoghurt, tea or coffee, baguettes, croissants and plenty of homemade jam.
The other thing that is special about the hotel are the artistic details throughout the property, from the lighting and teddy bears to the unique design of each and every room.
Below is a sample of some of the rooms, which are scattered across three floors. Each room is individually designed and no two rooms are alike. While some rooms may have a more spacious bathrooms, others make up for it in the main room, mainly in the details. My room faced the fabulous cathedral, so I was able to open those French windows every morning, and let the sunshine (and the spiritual presence of the cathedral) into my day.
What’s not to love? The only thing to note for those now accustomed to staying in inns, smaller or 3 star properties in Europe, they’re not abundant with toilet paper, shampoo or towels. I tend to ask for additional towels when I first arrive at a hotel in France if its not in Paris or a major city – they’re on the small side compared to what you might be used to in the states, but its nothing that an additional towel can’t fit.
Be sure to check out our Brittany/Normandy food & wine section (and posts), as well as our general section on Brittany/Normandy. And, of course for the passionate about all things France, we have quite a bit of content in our France section as well as Paris.
Note: My trip was hosted by the French Tourism Board, however all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Details:
Hotel Saint Louis
4 Rue Saint-Jacques
14100 Lisieux, France
+33.2.31.62.06.50
Note: My trip was hosted by the French tourism board but all opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.