Hôtel Château de Sissi

I didn’t exactly have delusions of becoming a new Monet, but I was full of optimism as we drove the hour or so from Le Havre. The boot of the car was piled with canvases, easel and paints, and if not a traditional artist’s smock in my suitcase, I did at least remember to bring a sun hat. Luckily, my husband had arranged time off to come with me and he too was in a holiday mood. The splendid sight of the château surrounded by parkland was almost enough to make me jump out of the car and get out the paints there and then. What a picture! There is something reassuring and familiar about a grand country house, almost a feeling of homecoming. It just feels right!

Inside, wood panelling, carved stone doorways and period furniture are just as charming as the exterior. Our ‘authentique’ room had a lovely view over the park. It was cosy and welcoming, with generously draped curtains, a pretty tapestry bedhead and a gorgeous marble bathroom. The walls were an earthy ochre colour, and with the soft lighting, it created a lovely golden glow. Since that reflected my mood rather well, I decided, having unpacked and freshened up, to book myself straight into the Wellness Centre for a massage to prolong the serenity of the afternoon. My husband took himself out to have a stroll around the park. When we met up again before dinner, I was glowing with contentment and he was full of enthusiasm for the lovely views and stately landscaping of the park.

Dinner in Les 3 Roses Restaurant was an experience to remember. It was included in our VeryChic offer, but I’m sure we would have chosen to dine in-house anyway. The setting was wonderful, in a hall with the original black-and-white floor tiling, wood panelling round the walls and a lovely old stone fireplace. The food easily lived up to its surroundings! The reputation of the restaurant goes beyond the confines of the hotel, and it is recognised as one of the best in the area. My duck pâté starter was delicious, as was the main course of slow-cooked lamb with baby vegetables. We were really experiencing authentic, classic French cuisine. The cheese board was perfect, and the dessert of caramelised apple just a dream!

We didn’t hurry over dinner, as we wanted to do justice to the arts of Chef Olivier Perreau. We planned our next few days as we lingered over the food. I intended to visit the coast at Saint Valéry en Caux and spend time painting; there was also the picturesque village of Veules-les-Roses to see. I wanted to paint there, but also to visit the gallery of a local artist, Françoise Lepreux, whose seascapes and studies of harbour-side were inspirational. My husband was planning to explore some of the villages and surrounding countryside by bicycle, courtesy of the Château de Sissi. Between us, we knew we were going to make the most of this wonderful location, as well as luxuriating in our château!