19 rue Eugene Boudin, Honfleur, France | (251) 219-4428
Well-maintained
Norman manor house with extravagantly lavish interiors
Located in a
quiet street in Honfleur town center minutes from the Old Port
Inviting outdoor swimming
pool with sun loungers
Spa area with
sauna, steam bath, and hot tub
Some rooms also
extravagantly decorated
Two cozy lounges and a
billiards room
Free Wi-Fi
throughout
Some annex rooms are subpar compared to lavish rooms in main house
Breakfast not
free
No elevator and lots of
stairs
The 30-room Hotel l'Ecrin
is set in an 18th-century manor house in the center of
the pretty, medieval town of Honfleur. Interiors are lavish to the extreme and
facilities way beyond what you'd expect from an advertised three-star property. Some annex rooms are disappointing, though generally standards are
high and the outdoor swimming pool and spa are impressive. Everything considered, this
hotel is great value for money -- just insist on a room in the main building.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Eighteenth-century Norman manor house with lavish interiors and peaceful gardens
Once an
18th-century Norman manor house, the Hotel l'Ecrin -- with its pretty shutteredfacade, intricate wrought iron detailing, and stately neo-classical portico --
has retained plenty of the property's original elegant grandeur. Through a pair
of tall, wooden doors, however, the interiors are lavish beyond expectations.
The reception alone is awash with richly decorated period furnishings, thick
red velvet tasseled drapery, and numerous antiquities and exotic curios, all
overlooked by an impressive and intricately carved white-stone fireplace. Even
more extravagant displays of opulence can be seen in the hotel's dining room
and lounge, while an elegantly spiraling staircase connects immaculately
finished crimson hallways illuminated by cut-glass chandeliers. Despite its
wall of geraniums, the rear conservatory is comparatively drab, though it does overlook a tranquil garden comprising of well-tended lawns, pretty
flower beds, and another traditionally-styled, though much more restrained,
relaxation lounge. The property also includes the mansion's former
semi-timbered stables as well as another period building overlooking the
hotel's parking lot.
Location
Situated just off a quiet street in the center of Honfleur close to its pretty Old Port
The hotel is
located just off a narrow, quiet road in the heart of town of Honfleur, just five minutes'
walk from its old picturesque port -- as frequently painted by the
Impressionist painters of the time. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and patisseries within a short
walk through the quaint medieval streets, while the pretty Notre-Dame de Grace
church is a 10-minute walk away. Slightly further afield the golden sanded
Plage du Butin is around 20 minutes away on foot, while further down the coast
is Plage du Vasouy and other D-day landing beaches. Normandy's historic capital
city, Rouen, is an hour away by car, while the French capital is at least two
hours away.
Rooms
Sumptuous furnishings and impeccable finish -- though not in all rooms
The hotel has 30
rooms in all, 11 in the main buildings and the rest spread between two annexes
(which are generally inferior -- some are even scruffy). Interior design varies
in degrees of opulence, from Deluxe Rooms in the main building -- packed with
sumptuous period furnishings and lavish decor -- to the more sober yet still
traditional styling of Standard Annex Rooms. Bathrooms are all simple, modern, and clean, while in-room amenities include the standard free Wi-Fi and
flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Movie buffs might find it interesting
that the Green Room is the one featured in François Truffaut's 1978 film La Chambre Verte.
Features
Impressive facilities include outdoor swimming pool and separate spa area
Unusual for
hotels in Honfleur, the hotel has an outdoor swimming pool surrounded with sun
loungers -- though it is heated it can be cold in the cooler months. Guests
also have access to a nicely finished, modern spa area with sauna, steam room,
and hot tub, although it's quite expensive and unstaffed. Breakfast is served
each morning (for a fee) in the conservatory overlooking the garden, while
relaxation can be found in two lounge areas or the hotel's billiards room
with an antique table. Free Wi-Fi is also
available throughout and those arriving by car have access to free secure parking.
