Chateau de La Caze

We previously stayed here under former owner operators of this hotel. clearly things had changed and service levels are not as good as previously. Being a very hot day the pool was a welcome relieve but the poolside bar not operating and no idea how to get a drink. Dinner on the terrace was very pleasant but late afternoon we're told the bar didn't open until dinner time - odd for a 4 star hotel. The rooms historic if a little tired. The breakfast buffet adequate but uninspired. Dinner was fine and dishes well prepared and presented. Value for money is questionable as the place is expensive. Being only open seasonally it's probably hard to get, train and retain staff....and it shows. Despite all the above we did have a pleasant stay and interactions with staff were fine.

The chateau is in a magnificent position at the bottom of a steep gorge and next to a river. It. Is a 13th century chateau completely unspoiled from the outside. On arrival we could find nobody at all so wandered around for 15 minutes until we heard voices. Our room was in the converted maison in the grounds and was very spacious, with a sitting area inside, a balcony and modern bathroom and toilet. There is a very pleasant pool just by this additional maison, with plenty of shade, trees and parasols. Getting a drink before dinner was challenging as despite the barman being there he seemed uninterested in providing 2 G&Ts and took 3 requests before we got enough ice. Dinner was a disaster, apart from the 5 wasps that buzzed us constantly, the veal was an undercooked lump, and there were very unpleasant looking smears of purple beetroot purée and orange carrot purée, with what appeared to be small blobs of poo but may have been anchovy in view of their saltiness. The Sancerre wine was dreadful despite the price, and after 1 glass each we left it for whoever wanted it! The owner needs to spend time here tasting the meals provided, and get someone with the necessary to provide a decent wine list. These are my husband's comments and he is a hotel manager with 50 years experience and also was a Michelin Guide inspector.

A beautiful old chateau in a stunning location. The hotel interior and rooms are splendidly authentic. Aside from a tiny bathroom (which I can forgive in the interests of authenticity) our suite was spacious, clean and comfortable with a lovely private terrace overlooking the river. There are pleasant grounds with access to the pool and walks along the river in which you can swim. You can also arrange for kayaks directly from the hotel. But this is a 4 star hotel with prices to match but in some respects it falls woefully short. During our 3 day stay, we saw no evidence of any management. There was no welcome, no introduction to the hotel or its facilities nor any offer to assist with our bags. Whilst not rude or unpleasant, some staff were quite scruffy and it was difficult to identify who worked there. There was engineering work being undertaken at the side of the hotel, but there was no apology for the noise and disruption in such a serene location. Strangely there was no menu displayed anywhere, neither at the hotel entrance to nor the restaurant. We quickly discovered why. The menu was somewhat unusual and not very appetising. Service was slow and we were not even given bread at the table until we asked for it. The food when it arrived was the most disappointing we have eaten in a French hotel of this standard and we have eaten in many 4/5 star hotels across France to be able to compare. The next morning we cancelled our table for the remainder of our stay.