A bucolic retreat in a conservation area of Basse-Normandie, just 90 minutes from Paris, this hotel-meets-medieval-village was dreamed up by Dutch expats Michel Mulder and Sofie Sleumera, a musician and fashion designer respectively. Guests are accommodated in a clutch of brocante-filled cottages, ancient and cosy, and there are some that can sleep four to six. A super convivial central cafe/restaurant/bar area dispenses coffee, wine and evening meals cooked with love and using locally-sourced produce. The surrounding countryside of Le Perche is a treat, with little-visited evergreen forests, rivers, medieval castles, manors and authentic rural villages. duneile.com
