Le Marmagne

I was quite happy with my overnight stay at Le Marmagne; I would recommend this small hotel to another traveler, as long as I made it clear what to expect: it might or might not meet another person's needs. The hotel is small, with sleeping rooms above a small restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. It is at the edge of a road on which the traffic is fairly light and moves at low speed. When I arrived, earlier than the check-in time, one woman was responsible for both serving lunch in the restaurant and welcoming guests: she understandably asked me to wait, which I did while enjoying coffee, and she showed me my room when she had a spare moment. The building is of an era when stairs were narrower and steeper; I don't think there is an elevator. The room was small but quite clean and pleasantly decorated. The private bathroom was up a few stairs at the far end of the room. The bed was comfortable. My room was on the first (to Americans the second) floor, directly above the dining room, and during the dinner hour the sounds below were a bit loud: a person who really needs quiet might want to request a room on the next floor up. At other times I was aware of activity on the street and at the restaurant's outdoor tables, but it was fairly low-key even with the window open. All the staff were courteous, cordial, and efficient. The small town of Marmagne is a logical choice for someone who is planning to visit Fontenay Abbey. Le Marmagne is inexpensive and well-maintained; as a traveler who prefers a hotel that is privately owned and has character, I very much enjoyed it.