Detailed Review
Beaune, the heart of Burgundy’s wine region, is one of France’s most interesting cities: its famous basilica, hospice, bell tower and ramparts are part of its heritage as, indeed, is Hotel Le Cep in the town centre. Once a private residence, it features a magnificent tower and a most beautiful stone staircase. An ancient artesian well and Renaissance medallions sculpted into rock can be found in the hotel square. Two classified historical courtyards and a garden provide a sanctuary of privacy within the hotel’s urban environment. All 57 air-conditioned guest rooms are decorated in traditional French style. The corridors and lounges are lavishly furnished with beautiful antiques. Many are drawn here by the contents of the prestigious cellars of Bourgogne. You will find great wines matched by imaginative cuisine at the restaurant ’Le Morillon’.
Press Quotes
"A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World line, this hotel dates back to 1442. Climb the tower staircase one evening for a magical view over Beaune’s rooftops." In-Lan Magazine 06
Independent Reviews
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"Simple yet delightful small town hostelry with a fabulous garden restaurant attached"
Hotel Le Cep
By Jamie Dunford Wood
Beaune is a wonderful market town in the heart of the Cote d’Or of Burgundy, and its cooking is renowned. Le Cep is a townhouse hotel attached to perhaps one of the best restaurants in Beaune, Bernard Morillon’s Michelin-rated establishment. A characterful mix of antiques and old world French country charm such as one would have found in any number of inexpensive and undiscovered 3 star lodgings the length and breadth of this country, it was places like these that made France, until recently, the best place in Europe for the classic driving holiday. Unfortunately two things have happened. One, they’ve been discovered; and two, they’ve seen fit to join a marketing organisation, in this case the Small Luxury Hotels of the World group, which has enabled them both to raise their prices and to tart themselves up, both of which have gone against the grain of what had been simple and unpretentous French country taste and hospitality. The rooms here are named after famous wine regions of Burgundy and the walls are hung with anonymous local oils. Floors are carpeted in old country patterns, and the wood panelled corridors are slightly gloomy. Bathrooms are simple and tiled, and a melange of antiques are dotted about. Downstairs the reception areas are a series of comfortable ingelnooks, full of character, while at the back a courtyard lightwell shows off the age of the building. Breakfast here on a summer’s morning is delightful, as is the gastronomic dinner in the quiet secluded garden, from which herbs are collected daily by the chef. The standard rooms are smallish, while the deluxes, and suites - a modern affectation one feels - are capacious. One, 210 (Gevry), has a large stone balcony overlooking the courtyard. Some suites are in the form of duplexes. All in all, a delightful French country inn which is holding on by its fingernails against the march of international luxury tourism.
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