Chteau De La Fromental

What People are saying

For Francophones only.

anny0on 07/07/2011 13:06

I wish I could write a review as good as all the others here, mainly because Danielle is a lovely person. She would do anything to help anyone - charming and very friendly. However, I found Claude difficult - brusque and impatient. This would not normally bother me - we usually stay in hotels - but in a Chambres D'Hote situation you are more at the mercy of the owner's personality. My French is not bad - I chat happily with anyone - but I do need people to speak clearly and a little more slowly. Not only was he not willing to do this, but when Danielle tried to speak English he told her to speak French!
We were due to arrive on a Sunday night and I therefore e-mailed them in advance to ask to eat that evening. They did not respond. When we arrived they said that they weren't expecting us until the next day and we would have to eat in the village. Luckily, the restaurant in the village did feed us (and were very pleasant) and they said they had a lot of people from La Fromental eating there. It was a bit suspicious, but perhaps it was a real error. We ate at La Fromental the next evening, but the food was nothing special.
Our room was fantastic - beautiful, comfortable, very clean and well-equipped (a small fridge would be a good addition). The village and environment is delightful.

5* Chateau B&B Living

LeTerribleon 15/06/2010 15:40

I travel to France many times a years and have many friends and a life there so I thought I'd share an objective expert's opinion of places I have stayed as i've explored all of my France from my residence when in Provence.

I was never one for the 'doing the chateau/mas/moulin where you stayed with the owners but in a semi-hotel situation'. I had stayed for years with my best friend at her beautiful Moulin in les Alpilles where she ran this type of establishments and I enjoyed meeting the people and the family style dinners ..mostly because i was part of the family side ! It was with a bit of trepidation that I booked one night at the Fromental in the heart of the Cantal country in the Auvergne.This beautiful Chateau was lovingly restored by the wonderful couple. Danielle,who greeted us, most be one of the warmest, sincere and
giving Hotesse that I've ever met. In fact, she received several packages for me (for business) as a favor before I arrived. She is the essence of the Fromental that gives it that extra besides the superb decor, dinner, grounds and stunning design. Danielle and Claude have wonderful taste and the suites and rooms are deocrated in 5* fashion.
The bathroom could be found in the 'Grand Intercontinental' in Paris! The bedrooms and othe rooms have lovely period furniture and wonderful touches by Danielle who makes stunning white/blue faience and other little details that a worn-traveler would quickly note. Not too shabby! The grounds are lovely and we enjoyed meeeting the animals over by the barn and then walking down by the garden and pool. Our room had all modern luxury items from flat-screen Television to lovely toiletries. Okay...I decided that so far I was impressed by the work and warmth they had obviously worked hard to achieve...but soon it was time for meeting other guests for appertifs in the bar and then going to a family stlye dinner. We are a non-traditional couple and so I had let Danielle know this well in advance not wanting to feel awkard in this more conservative region. Awkward? By the end of the trip, Danielle and I were talking about our different but similar passions (She loves Faience/ I am an expert in Terre Vernissee(french antique glazed pottery) and I even opened one of my boxes to show her an example of my type of collection. The dinner was wonderful and the other guests (all French) were a bit formal at first but as the evening continued and we all enjoyed the first rate wines that Claude was pulling out of his cellar....the conversation started moving. Thank goodness I can understand about 90% of French and can speak almost as fast when they are in conversation mode. I must admit that sometimes I'd add a remark one subject behind everyone else and we all laughed as they loved that I could speak as well as I did...no attitude about my lack of
following what became a conversation filled with colloquial phrases of the region that left me cluless. When I would stop them and ask...they'd ;laugh and explain. Voila! Now I know that the term for "police or Gendarme' in the Auvergne is 'Flic' (phonetic spelling) :)
The dinner was generous and superb. I was not surprised as Danielle is a giver in personality. Wonderful Asparagus soup with little chunks of local goat cheese. Another appetizer...Eggplant beignet with leeks and garlic topped with just cooked egg..incredible. Danielle had noted that I did not eat red meat so she made a quail dish that she and I shared. The others had a cut of grilled beef in a light vegetable sauce. Side dishes of lightly pureed potatos accompagned the main plate. All was served in a fun, friendly stlye but the presentation was wonderful. Incredible Salad followed and then...local cheeses that were some of the best of the trip. Dessert was a mouse with part whipped creme and meringue on top...delicious. What a meal. Bread never stopping. Wine always being poured....and all for 38 euros a person? Incredible. The breakfast was just as special with muffins that were made that morning, fresh juice, breads, yogurt, and cheese. This was included in the very reasonable price. Well...my experiment was a success. The problem is..I don';t think there are many 'Family Chateaux' that are run to this degree of excellence. If there was a star system for this type of lodging choice...Chateau de la Fromental would get 5* ....without doubt!

PS The wonderful village of Salers, Aurillac and St Flour and many others are all nearby to explore.

A wonderful experience

AberdeenshireSheilaon 05/10/2009 14:48

Situated at the end of Fontanges village in a very pretty valley this is a small chateau which the owners have lovingly refurbished . Danielle the co-owner, is an artistic and gifted ceramic artist so plates, tiles etc are hand made and the soft furnishings (also handmade) are beautiful and stylish and in the Empire style appropriate to the chateau. A warm welcome, lovely ambiance and local, freshly made food eaten en famille made this a memorable visit.

Heaven in France!

MmeJeannetteon 14/08/2009 10:33

Words can not explain the surrounding, the hotel owners, the FOOD, the beauty of the Cahteau and the details of the rooms...
A place we found last year and stayed with our 3 children (2 teenagers and one toddler) and we had fantasies all year about the food and the wines and we just had to return this year; excellent choice!
Little tourists in theis area, the French are relaxed, the nature is amazing, the mountains, the waterfalls, the rivers, the towns, villages, and so on. Biking, hiking, going from one castle to the other. Also in winter time it is a great place to be; skiing!

This Chateau is an exception. We have been travelling in France for over 30 years, this we have never experienced before.
The owners (Danielle and Claude) are so hospitable, kind and fun, the details of the Chateau and the rooms are all hand made (including the plates you eat from! you can but them to btw) and every evening the make the food with love.
You eat all together, apperitive starts at 7.30 pm in the bart and diner starts at 8pm. Conversations are pleasant and fun.
The pool and the garden is just a very relaxing place. We have at home a crazy schedule, always busy, but a few days in this place; it is back to normal! Calm and at ease...
Do not tell too many people about this French- secret, but make sure you have this exoerience and you will look at the French from a different view:-))

Listen to the cow bells

Witshubon 25/09/2008 19:52

Fontanges village is 5 bendy km outside Salers and, apart from those cow bells, a quiet place to stay and a good centre for excursions in the Cantal mountains.
Chateau de la Fromental is just beyond the village. It had been used as a childrens' vacation centre and the concrete dorm block is still there but not in service. Claude and Danielle have restored the old house and made 5 large or very large 2-room suites. Ours had enormous bedroom, vast sitting room, bathroom with sink and seperate shower room with loo. Everything is immaculate. The period furnishings look, well, period; but we would have preferred some comfortable arm chairs. Paul (who comes from Provence) cooks an excellent dinner if ordered earlier in the day and the "table d'hote" is just that. You sit down en famille and enjoy top class home cooking. Breakfast is also beautifully presented with home baked bread. For variety, the Auberge at the other end of the village has a good restaurant. We stayed two nights, had our laundry washed and hand ironed and downloaded our e-mails.
This is a good alternative to a regular hotel, very friendly and good fun.