Two hours from Paris, caught between Normandy and the Centre‑Val de Loire, and jealously guarding its Perche Regional Nature Park, the Perche is drawing more fans—and with them, a handful of standout inns and guesthouses that travelers quietly pass along. For a weekend escape amid hedgerows and forests, Karla Miller highlights five of the Perche’s finest hotels and bed-and-breakfasts that will enchant your getaway.
Casa Pertica
Ceton, a small village in the Perche Regional Nature Park. Within it, a discreet address with undeniable charm. Although her first name sounds English, Kimberley, the owner, grew up in the Perche. From her paternal grandfather, a butcher-charcutier in Bergamo, Italy, she inherited a love of Italian products; from others—regional heritage restaurateurs—the respect for old stones.
The result? A 17th‑century longère set in a leafy park and meticulously restored. It houses three charming duplex cottages, each about 56 to 64 m² (roughly 603–689 sq ft). A spacious bedroom with its ensuite, a living room and a fully equipped kitchen, perfect for a self‑catering escape. Exposed beams and oak floors, light woods and travertine, vintage finds and pops of color establish a gentle, buoyant atmosphere that even seeps into the final jewel—a suite laid out in a ground‑level outbuilding.
With its winter‑garden, usable in summer as well, for reading or breakfast; a heated pool flanked by loungers; and hidden corners for better meditation— yoga classes can be reserved— the whole place exudes a serenity that laughter from a family game of foosball or croquet might brighten for a moment. At mealtimes, you have two options: an order for a basket of fresh, local produce for breakfast, antipasti imported from Italy, vegetables for grilling on the barbecue, or simply sit down at La Bergamasca, the family trattoria in Nogent‑le‑Rotrou: just a 12‑minute drive away, and you’ll be ready to devour wood‑fired pizza or pasta fresca.
Maison Ceronne
This address, five minutes from Mortagne‑au‑Perche, has its own little reputation. Set on two hectares of wooded and flowering grounds, this sturdy 17th‑century house is joined by two additional buildings. The owners, Vincent‑Louis Voinchet, an interior architect, and his partner Clément Lescot, spearheaded a remarkable restoration of the ensemble. What started as their country retreat is now a highly sought‑after bed‑and‑breakfast.
To the authenticity of the original bricks and exposed timbers respond steel, concrete, and, in the foreground, black marble. Each room crafts an atmosphere both intimate and minimalist—a melting pot of vintage finds and contemporary touches that lets the shared spaces—sitting room and dining room—foster a convivial mood, ideal for gatherings and, notably, meals: breakfast with homemade jams and farm‑fresh eggs, followed by simple yet flavorful dinners. And then there are the art pieces, such as Julien Colombier’s large diptych, which give the place a distinctly design‑forward dimension. On the activity side, there are a few surprises as well. Beyond two pools—an indoor and an outdoor—the combination sauna, steam room, Nordic bath, and gym can be balanced with a movie night, a karaoke evening, a horseback ride or a cycling outing. Or simply surrender to contemplation.
Hôtel Les Prés
What a history this hotel‑restaurant has: once a hunting lodge, a marquise’s residence, and a house of the Sisters of Notre‑Dame de la Fidélité; today it is a haven of tranquility for stressed Parisians. In each of the nine rooms, there is a personality of its own, with color dominants ranging from lime and powder pink to pale yellow or stark white. Whether you’re leaning toward the rooftops or watching the sunrise, the place feels like a cozy cocoon or a loft‑suite, wrapped in a gentle, benevolent quiet.
No TV or telephone to perturb this quiet. Stroll through the living areas: here a fireplace and worn terracotta tiles, there an old portrait and a tired piece of furniture. Then it’s time to explore the garden‑land, neatly tamed: flowering borders, lush vegetable beds, and a pool shielded by cypress trees. Down below, the murmur of the Hoëne brings a refreshing note. The restaurant’s chef is one of the owners. An architect in a previous life—responsible for renovating the house with partner Éric Brossard—Stéphane Renaud now presides in the kitchen. On the summer terrace or under the greenhouse of the former Sisters’ gallery, he crafts relaxed, unpretentious cuisine—generous, seasonal, regionally sourced, and partly from his own kitchen garden—an offering as joyful as it is honest. This is a place for families seeking a weekend of togetherness, and for couples wanting to whisper tender words on a bench by the stream.
Le Repère Sauvage
Already, the name invites curiosity. And with 42 hectares of land, the estate has plenty to tempt. Indeed, it was a crush for the two young owners, Capucine Châtelier and Caroline Costagliola Condy. The manor exudes presence—a hunting lodge from the 19th century and later a training center for cabinetmakers, it now offers 16 rooms and suites and, scattered across the property, no less than twenty cottages accommodating 2 to 5 guests.
From the outset you sense that nature leads the dance. Jaams Architecture has slightly raised the wooden lodges—no touching the ecosystem!—isolated them with straw, and created a wide view of the trees; the atmosphere imagined by Gwenaëlle Girard borrows from the environment its colors and light, with lightness and softness forming a bespoke décor that feels almost monastic yet colorful. For families, you can hand the kids over to the smart kids club: a little farm and a zip‑line, they’ll be delighted! Then, with friends, enjoy the 22‑meter heated pool, the many trails that invite wandering on foot or by bike, and even a circus workshop or a wine‑tasting class. For dining, expect a bistro vibe, with thoughtful, locavore, seasonal, regional cuisine crafted by chef Arnaud Domette. A place as joyful as it is authentic.
Le Moulin de Belle Queue
Head to the Sarthe side of the Perche to discover this property superbly restored: it’s a long road back when you learn the place had been abandoned for more than a century! That didn’t deter Marine Gabily and her partner Lucas Madani, an interior designer, who were looking for their own country home. On two hectares, a 14th‑century mill and several outbuildings. The result? A handsome complex to rent for a tribe, friends, and family, to reconnect with nature for a weekend.
Beautiful rustic floors, wide openings, six bedrooms in total, including two upstairs in the main house. And then there’s the utterly charming bergerie with its pretty floral wallpaper, 22 m² duplex but with a superb panorama of the park. It feels like arriving at a home that has lived—and still lives—an organized jumble of furniture and finds from the region’s many flea markets; a touch of the Fifties, with nods to the Seventies; mosaics created by the owner mingle with Pierre Frey fabrics, and an Atelier Paolo tapestry drapes the living room’s fireplace—overall, it might seem baroque and eclectical, but it comes together into a true harmony and a singular balance. And there’s this freedom: to dip your bare feet in the brook, pick an apple from the orchard, host a barbecue on the terrace, or hire a private chef. A yoga class? A massage beneath the weeping willows? Pure happiness!
