Chambres d'Hôtes Troglodytes le Clos de l'Hermitage

The place is beautiful and so unique. Prepare for a damp and dimly lit atmosphere and if you are sensitive to the cold, make sure to bring a jumper as it's a cave so it is much cooler than outside. We felt so immersed in the cave and relaxed. We tried the swimming pool - it is not a hot tub contrary to what is announced or described in other reviews. It's 28 degrees so you won't be staying long but the room is so beautiful with the lights and floating flowers, it would have been rude not to. Some rooms apparently have a bathtub and a private terrace but we were not given the option when booking so maybe you just need to be lucky. As stated in other reviews, the walls are thin and you can hear everything from a conversation to a snore to even people leaving at 7 am with their wheelie suitcases. Breakfast is generous but carbtastic (bread and pastries - which are amazing by the way). It would have been nice to have been offered some fruit or cereal. The welcome could be warmer and more helpful. We asked to have some hot water to have some tea in the evening and it felt like we were being a nuisance. When we got up for breakfast (you need to pre-order your time and drinks by the way), we asked if the table was set for us as we were a bit early and wanted to make sure. We were told that 'no this is for the birds' which felt quite rude even if we know it was meant to be humour. It's not humour I would expect in the service industry. Then on the way out my husband was just finishing to get ready, and luckily he had locked the door - as someone tried to get in, probably to clean the room but they didn't even knock to check and we hadn't given them the key back. This could have gone very wrong.

This is not a regular hotel. It's an experience. And a fantastic experience at that. The idea of sleeping in a very old cave with little ventilation, no natural light and high humidity might not sound appealing to all but we definitely enjoyed it. Personally I would not stay for more than one night but the property is well worth a visit. The room while not too bright is nicely decorated and pleasant to be in. The only complaint about the room is the wall between the room and the toilet which is not complete. Wall only goes until like 2 meteres and then there's a massive gap all the way to the high ceiling. You really need the toilet to be completely separate from the rest of the room which this was not. My wife and I have been married for several years but we still like our privacy and a sound/smell barrier is definitely needed if you know what I mean. Most of the staff were lovely. The gentleman that checked us in was very friendly and we felt welcome most of the stay. One complaint though - we first arrived about an hour before the designated checkin time and just wanted to use the bathroom urgently after a few hours of driving but the man who was there at the time (different person to the main reception gentleman) was very rude to us and basically kicked us out and told us to come back after the check in time. Bizarre. That man should not be talking to guests. Very angry person. So we had to leave and go search for a bathroom in a restaurant nearby. The experience improved a lot after we came back to check in though and we haven't seen the angry man again. The breakfast was excellent we just wished we had our own table rather than sharing with others. Not a dealbreaker but we like our privacy. Now our favourite thing about this property was the pool that never closes. So unlike virtually all hotels in the world, you can have a swim at any time of the day and night. Which we did, at midnight. While having a bottle of wine. It was incredible :)

There are many troglodyte caves in this area of the Loire valley, which served as quarries back in the 15th century to provide the stone used in the local castles and churches. As dwellings, amenities such as electricity, ventilation, plumbing and toilets have to be retrofitted, which tests DIY talents, and nevertheless leaves a certain mustiness in the air given porous rock. There is no such thing as a right angle, nor flat walls. It was our first experience of staying in such a hotel for a couple of nights: it was novel and quite interesting, but I’m not in any particular hurry to repeat the experience. The welcome we received was warm, and the included breakfasts were generous. Our bathroom had a jacuzzi, and the common area provided a large hot tub for guest, as well as a seating and TV area. Some people had their breakfasts there, ours was provided to us in our room, which looked out on the garden. The hotel is 8 minutes walk from the town centre, but it is possible to park free of charge closer in.

Look you are either going to love it or hate it here. It will not be everyone’s cup of T however if you want the badge “I’ve stayed in a cave”then this is for you. Hosts are pleasant. The rooms are basic and seem to be clean however there is NO sound proofing between rooms. You can hear everything…… yes there is a smell of dampness but that’s caving living for you. If this was my property I would give it a face lift, tidy up the front of house including the garden and entrance area.. if you look back at photos taken back in 2014 to now nothing has changed