Nestled on the heights of Etretat, the hotel le Donjon – Domaine Saint-Clair is truly unique: the history, the decoration, the view, the atmosphere… They succeeded in creating a universe that makes you want to never leave.
In this article, we propose you a return in images on our stay in the hotel with our review and all the practical information for you also, to relax in this beautiful hotel!
This review is completely independent, we stayed anonymously and paid our bill in full.
Why stay at hotel Le Donjon – Domaine Saint-Clair in Etretat
Among the hotel offer in Etretat, the hotel Le Donjon is really one of our favorites for several reasons:
- For its inspired decoration
Between the textures and the colors, the team really did a great job. Every corner is unique and curiosity made us explore to try to discover every corner of this hotel.
We loved: the stylish textured wallpapers and the beautiful curtains that provide a beautiful setting for the view.
But what we liked most of all was the work on the light. The lighting atmosphere is very successful with originality, like these hats that you see on the photo above.
- For its architecture, history and location
Built in 1862, this medieval-style castle-house has had several lives (we’ll tell you about it later in the article).
It is a family home that has stood the test of time. It overlooks the town of Etretat, the beach and faces the cliffs.
Despite its conversion into a hotel, its architecture has been well preserved and this is what makes its charm: the staircases, the nooks and crannies, the attics… No rectangular room without interest!
- For his restaurant
The other advantage of this hotel is that you can treat your taste buds without leaving the hotel premises. The Domaine Saint-Clair restaurant offers gourmet dining in a uniquely decorated room designed by Castelbajav.
The vegetarian menu is particularly surprising. - A small point to know
Its location is exceptional with a view of the sea and the village. But to have this view, the hotel is located on the heights, on one side of the valley. The access to the village on foot is thus by roads well in slope.
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PLAN YOUR STAY IN Etretat
- What to do in Étretat
- Where to stay in Étretat
- Where to eat in Étretat
- The gardens of Étretat – coming soon
- The beach of Étretat – coming soon
Is the hotel Le Donjon in Etretat worth it? Our review
Yes. Absolutely.
We had a real crush when we discovered the interior of this hotel.
It has been very well transformed while keeping the family home feel.
It feels like home but with an exquisite decor…
We particularly enjoyed spending time on the veranda, surrounded by nature and old stones, by the fire: at snack time to savor a homemade cake, and before our dinner by testing one of the mocktails from the bar.
This is one of our favorite hotels in Normandy.
A personal note: our father was very excited to see our pictures of what the Donjon has become. Because when he was a kid, the place was abandoned and he would explore it with his friends, letting their imagination create lots of stories.
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Decoration and ambiance – The Room
Our room was on the pool side. We had our own staircase to reach it.
And we loved discovering it.
It was spacious with a sitting area and plenty of windows.
The wallpapers were very well chosen, elegant but original.
And as we already told you, the light decoration was also very successful.
The toilet was next to the room, but the bathroom was on a lower floor (accessible in the room). To bring light to the room, a skylight was installed in the floor of the room.
Personally I would never have dared the palm bread paper with the dark marble style. But it worked. The atmosphere in the bathroom was pleasant and the water pressure was excellent.
I (Claire) slept very well there, in the peace and quiet with a view of nature and the pool.
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Common areas
Our favorite part of the whole hotel is the veranda set up between the buildings.
It is a very pleasant place to rest with the ivy, the stones, the stove and the leather sofas and armchairs.
We would have stayed there even longer.
It is in this place that you will find games: chess, cards and others and also books to sit and read a little.
We had a real sense of design cocoon.
Every day, between 4:30 and 6:00 pm, they keep the tradition of the snack when you come back to the family house.
We found the attention charming.
You can choose between hot drinks, fruit juices and homemade pastries. Yummy. It reminds us a bit of our childhood, coming back from school.
The property is also in a small park with stairs.
If you want to stretch your legs after the little (or big) piece of cake, you can go explore the place (but it’s not huge). You will find a vegetable garden and beehives.
You can then continue towards the center of Etretat. But don’t forget that you’ll have to go back up there, and it’s pretty steep.
The Spa and the Pool
The hotel also offers spa services. We didn’t have time to test them, but the desire was there: treatments, massages and complete rituals, and also a sauna with a view on the trees.
But if you really want something unique, try the Canopy: a private Jacuzzi at the top of the tower of the Donjon with a view on the sea! We’ll really have to go back there to test it…
Book your stay at the hotel Le Donjon
And in summer, you can also enjoy the heated outdoor pool, with a view of the house and a bit of the sea. Another great place to sit back and relax!
Breakfast
Breakfast is served in the bistro room at the end of the pool.
The room is pleasant with sufficiently spaced tables.
The team is very pleasant.
A great way to start the day.
The buffet is very well stocked with quality products and homemade pastries: brioches, pies, croissants … but also salty with eggs, cold cuts and cheeses Normand
Restaurants
On the Domaine, you will also find 2 restaurants: one gastronomic and one bistronomic.
Restaurant le Donjon – Domaine Saint-Clair
With a Michelin star and unique decor in one of the rooms, your experience will complement a night at this hotel.
This restaurant highlights local products with interesting mixes of textures between sea and land, or around vegetables.
Restaurant Le Bistrot du Donjon
In a relaxed atmosphere, the Bistrot offers a complementary service.
Installed at the end of the swimming pool, you will discover revisited Norman country recipes. The menu evolves every month based on seasonal products.
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History
The Donjon was built in 1862 by Zacharie Dollingen. An architecture like no other in Etretat. Passionate about the Middle Ages, he had fun giving the house an authentic character, as if it came from that era.
According to Bertall, he even set up a dungeon where a chained skeleton lay (according to documents shared in the room). And he populated it with owls.
The next successive owners made extensions but knew how to respect the original architecture.
In 1978, the Abo-DIb family renovated this house and transformed it into a tourist establishment.
Practical information about the hotel Le Domaine Saint-Clair in Etretat
Type of accommodation
Hotel
Price range
4 stars
See the availability of the hotel Le Donjon – Domaine Saint-Clair
Where the hotel is located
- Driving time from Rouen : 1h15
- Driving time from Evreux: 1h55
- Driving time from Caen: 1h35
- Driving time from Alençon: 2h25
- Driving time from Cherbourg: 3h
How to get there
- You can’t reach it by train. You have to get off the train from Paris or Rouen to Le Havre at the Breauté-Beuzeville station and then take the bus line 17 (30min trip).
- You can also take the bus from Le Havre (line 24)
- The simplest solution is still the car
OUR ADVICE FOR RENTING A CAR IN Normandy
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is comfortable enough (distances can be long) but compact (some parking lots and villages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
Parking
As the hotel is located on the heights of the city, it has a little more space.
There is free parking on site for those staying at the hotel.
There are even some electric charging stations.
Do not make
THE SAME MISTAKE WE MADE
On one of our last trips to Europe, a hacker stole our credit card details while we were using a hotel WiFi.
So our trip began with a “card blocked” call… Not funny at all!
Learn from our mistake, make a small VPN investment to surf without worry.
Is the hotel family friendly?
No, there is no family room.
It is an ideal hotel for couples, for a romantic and inspiring stay.
Our 3 best things to do in Étretat
Admire the view of the cliffs from the beach
Let’s stay on simple pleasures…
The whole city revolves around the beach. The waterfront is bounded by high, straight cliffs on either side. There is a wide walkway to get from one end to the other with beautiful views in all directions.
We recommend you to visit it at low tide and at high tide, as it has a completely different appearance.
Walk along the downstream cliff
In Étretat, there are several arches and formations. Most of them are on the south side called “Falaise d’Aval”.
One of the most famous formations is the “Aiguille Creuse”, where the fictional character Arsène Lupin (invented by the author Maurice Leblanc) hides a treasure.
Climb the cliff from the beach to discover wonderful views of the cliffs. And feel free to continue along the path to admire different angles.
Visit the gardens of Étretat
Étretat is a place where art is mixed with reality. The cliffs and the sky have long inspired painters.
Recently, Étretat has developed a garden in this spirit.
It is a unique place to visit because nature is really linked to art.
Reserve your entrance to the gardens
And to learn more:
