Instead of bombing down the A26- A1 autoroutes to Paris, take the quieter A16 towards Abbeville,…read morethen leave it and have a break. Drive through the easternmost edges of Normandy and pick up the D29 for Aumale. Aumale is in Haute-Normandie, metres from the boundary with Picardie, but in character it is full-on Normandaise. It's scarcely credible that Normandy lovers can have their fix this far inland, but it's true! The Villa des Houx (Holly Mansion) is a beautifully restored old Norman house, all timbered frames, with 22 rooms at delightfully low prices, and a Logis de France recommended restaurant. It's the ideal place to break to journey to Paris. Wander about the 5K sq.m. gardens, or stroll up to the old village. The restaurant will not disappoint you, and you can expect the typical cuisine of Normandy - perhaps a little rich for some tastes with abundant cream, cider and calvados featuring in many dishes. There's a lovely little pond with seats, in the gardens, where Dick used to like to sit and ponder. No pun intended! http://www.qype.co.uk/lists/317758-John-Richard-Hurst

The staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful. They fulfilled every request and helped in every…read moreway possible. The staff deserve every bit of praise. The room, however, left something to be desired. Our junior suite was large, but the furnishings felt like something from an airport hotel. And the style of the room leaned too much into the castle motif with the rock tile and dull color. The history of the building offers some explanation, but the given that it was remodeled in 2010 makes me wonder why it still felt so old. The excellent staff, great location, and incredible history of the hotel made for an enjoyable stay. But there is definitely room for improvement.

The Mr. and I recently spent 3 nights in the magnificent Hotel de Bourgtheroulde Autograph…read moreCollection, in a Junior Suite with a courtyard view. This is a beautiful, well located hotel that offers impeccable service and attention to detail. We enjoyed the extensive breakfast buffet each morning of our stay. With both sweet and savory options we were spoilt for choice. There was a full bar with a piano player every night but Sunday. It was a fun place to gather after a day of touring. Located in the heart of the old city, we were able to walk everywhere. If we return to Rouen, the Hotel de Bourgtheroulde would be our first choice for accommodations.

Great little central hotel at very reasonable rates, tucked away from the busy shopping Ganterie…read morestreet at the back of its pretty courtyard. Cozy decor with old pictures of Rouen 100 years ago, and a fireplace inside. I think that most rooms are rather small but they are all nice (except the one on the ground floor, to be avoided because their kitchen fridge is on the other side of the wall, so the noise is ridiculous). The continental breakfast has suffered from the subpar bakery across the street which supplies them. The bread used to be nice but now it's very mediocre. The tea, freshly squeezed OJ and the farmer yogurt are still excellent, though. They also do a brisk lunch service (most savory dishes are just OK, but the Normand chicken is nice), and they have great home-made desserts which they serve all afternoon long, with tea or coffee. Service is a little rough around the edges but still bearable. I have only one issue with them: they play the same Diana Kroll CD non-stop, from morning to evening, every day. I don't know how the staff cannot go nuts. As a hotel and tea room, I give them 4 stars (too bad their Wifi only works on ground floor, and they have very few TV channels); as a restaurant, I give them 3 stars (it's still a good option for a lunch in town, particularly on a Monday, when most places are closed).

Le Vieux Carré, both a hotel and a tea room, is a hidden treasure tucked away from the bustling rue…read moreGanterie. The cobblestoned courtyard sets the mood for this outright charming place. Inside, the room is artfuly curated with what seems to be flea market finds: aged furniture, black and white photographs of a distant past and vintage posters on the walls, an old piano, warm up the space. So do Diana Krall and the like whose songs are played on heavy rotation in the background. Despite the occasionally patchy service (the owner is a bit stiff), it's still an excellent place to have lunch (their savory tarts are good), or relax in the afternoon, cosying up in one of the coveted armchairs, while drinking a cup of tea and eating a piece of cake.