RIVEAU MANITO

We went there for an anniversary with my partner and it is a beautiful and quiet place! A bit disappointed with some of the cleaning/ room in construction points in our bedroom, a lot of unfinished details ( curtains unhooked, fresh stains on the carpet, tv and fridge unplugged, carpet not glued to the floor so we kept tripping in it and the plumbing system not finished under the sink) but I’m sure they will take the time to fix them after they are done renovating. The staff was really nice and attentive to us

First class. Fab food. Wonderful service. Creamy white carpets (hope they stay that way!) Beautifully refurbished. Elegant. Not a fan of dogs in breakfast room though. Won’t put me off a return visit!

Huge shame that it was not quite as we’d have hoped it would be.|Room was up far too many stairs; exhausted by the time the room was reached. Room itself was mostly okay, the bed was comfy and the shower was nice.|Not being able to walk through the hotels own field and access the river for a walk was disappointing - something about an angry horse that sounded like it could have been sorted with a temporary electric fence. Made the stay feel quite claustrophobic, being restricted to the grounds or driving to somewhere to walk (not easy after an alcoholic drink).|The pool area was having some work done, with construction work making it a place you couldn’t relax in or even get changed at - wish we’d been made aware of this in advance; as we really wanted a place with a pool and paid more for this place because of it. Another guest told us it was nowhere near the 26C the hotel said it was heated to, and that was late afternoon after it had heated all day.|Dinner wasn’t fun. I don’t eat fish or mushrooms - so that left one vegetarian main option; the most expensive risotto I’ve ever had. Long waits without drinks; and in the end gave up waiting for cheese and just went to bed - that’s when we saw the number of flies landing on the uncovered cheese trolley.|Had really looked forward to this visit to break up a very long drive, and so left disappointed

Accomadation was first class, as was the whole hotel. The staff were excellent and very friendly. The food was a gastronomic delight along with superb views from the restaurant. Therefore overall a truly 5 star experience.

Travel Journal — July Evening at Château de Noirieux Leaving behind the industrial elegance of Bilbao, we journeyed northeast through the shifting landscapes of France, slowly trading the rugged Basque coast for the serene Loire Valley. The air grew softer, the light more golden. By late afternoon, we arrived at Château de Noirieux — nestled quietly near Briollay, like a secret kept by the trees. The castle welcomed us with quiet grace: ivy-clad stone walls, manicured gardens, and a hush in the air that felt sacred. We were led to our room — each corner infused with old-world charm and gentle touches of comfort — before descending for dinner as the sun set beyond the Loire. Dinner was unforgettable. A sequence of delicate, inventive courses — seasonal, local, and deeply French — each one paired impeccably with wines selected by sommelier Martin. He appeared at intervals with stories behind each bottle, his voice calm and reverent, treating each wine like a poem. One vintage, from a nearby vineyard, tasted of sun-warmed stones and distant rain. And then, as if the evening hadn’t already unfolded like a dream, we met a couple seated near us — from New York. They were graceful, luminous in the way some people are when they’ve lived richly. Conversation began over shared compliments and lingered for hours, unhurried, weaving between our lives and theirs. Their fathers had been architects — creators of lines and light — and now they lived in what had once been a cancer treatment castle NY themselves. There was something surreal in that. Stories of family, travel, loss, reinvention. They listened deeply, and we spoke openly — the kind of conversation that rarely happens unless you’re far from home and the night is generous. By the time we parted, the stars had filled the sky above the château. The old stone walls seemed to hold our words in their silence. We returned to our room walking slowly, grateful, aware that some nights are not just experiences,but gifts.

Exceptional staff at this hotel, which made our stay - from the young lady who did our check-in and sokindly brought ourroom service along with our favorite waiter tothe gentleman who checked us out - service exceptionnel - 10/10

This is a very special place and we loved it. All the buildings have been lovingly restored to a high standard. We have one or two comments about the beautiful bedroom 10. The bed was stunningly comfortable. A very large TV on a big floor stand occupied too much of the room. In this environment a TV is not really necessary. One of the wall cupboard doors could not open due to the bedside table. The room needed another waste bin and a box of tissues. Apart from those few things it was a perfect retreat in rural beauty.

We stayed 2 nights at Château de Noirieux. The building is stunning and set in a picture post card setting....our room was luxurious and comfortable with a large modern bathroom. We ate in the main restaurant in the evening which was excellent...all the staff were very helpful and accommodating, although I think a few extra staff may help. The main criticism would be breakfast. A 25 euro price tag for essentially a continental self-serve breakfast! There were scrambled Eggs which were pre-made and kept warm on a hot plate, however for a hotel that wants to sell themselves on the quality of food and considering the high price this should be a waited-on made to order breakfast service.