La Gamade

We stopped at Donzenac on our way up from the Languedoc to the Channel and were looking forward to our stay at La Gamade based on previous Tripadvisor reviews. First impressions were good. The hotel stands in a prominent position at the top of the Main Street. However, at 3 in the afternoon it was totally shut with just a notice on the door saying it was open at 5. We returned at the appointed hour to be met by an unsmiling and monosyllabic landlady. Thankfully we spoke basic French as she made no attempt to even exchange pleasantries in English. Our room was accessed through a door on a back street and was somewhat basic - very dark and with an extremely noisy loo!! On enquiring as to an evening meal we were told that none was available in the hotel but no attempt was made to offer a recommendation as to a local restaurant let alone make a booking. Be warned, Donzenac is short of restaurants and they are pretty much booked solid at weekends. We did finally eat on the terrace of the pizza restaurant across the square which was actually very good but heaven help us if it had been raining. We would have gone to bed hungry! The following morning’s breakfast served in the charming dining room of the hotel was actually very good with freshly squeezed orange juice, pancakes and local honey and the landlady’s male partner was friendly and anxious to ensure that we had everything we wanted. This could be a super little place in an attractive village not far from the motorway but sadly we won’t be returning!