Surville. Not a place most people have on their bucket list. So where are we? In Normandy, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Paris, or roughly an hour and a half by car. Drive about as long in the other direction, and you reach the wonderful seaside town of Deauville. Surville itself is little more than a sleepy village, but at its edge a small road leads to a property straight out of a storybook: the Manoir de Surville, an ensemble of half-timbered houses whose foundations date back to the 16th century.
Your hosts, Camille and Hugues, usually greet new arrivals in their own language: Camille studied German law and speaks several languages fluently, and Hugues is originally from Belgium. You would hardly guess that, besides the manor, they are raising four children, though it makes the atmosphere all the more familial.
First impression: the house has not only history but also great style, and it was renovated at considerable expense. The lounge, part library and part living room, is worth the trip on its own. Everything here feels cozy and harmonious, perfect for a romantic getaway for two. The eleven rooms are spread over two buildings and designed so that you feel at home right away. “In theory, you could stay in your room all day,” says Camille, who did the interiors. And you could, since the floors, windows, beds and bathrooms are all first-rate. On the walls hang not intimidating abstract art but beautiful black-and-white photographs.
WELLNESS
Down in the cellar, Camille and Hugues have set up a small spa with a sauna, steam bath and relaxation room, plus a range of beauty treatments and massages. Here, too, the house motto applies: everything for your well-being. And since 2025, there has also been a heated 20-meter outdoor pool, open from May to September.
CUISINE
Chef Jordan Fouchet’s set dinner is part of the experience. Dining in is not obligatory, but almost every guest happily joins in. Jordan cooks mostly his own creations: French, fresh, organic and creative, with a single daily menu that follows the market. Add a nice bottle of local wine, and la vie est belle.
SURROUNDINGS
Camille and Hugues suggest that guests spend a day exploring the area on rented bikes. Families will enjoy Biotropica, France’s largest tropical zoo, about 20 minutes away by car. The enchanting village of Le Bec-Hellouin and the Château du Champ de Bataille are also well worth a visit.
JOURNEY
The manor is about two hours from Charles de Gaulle Airport. A tip for drivers: in the morning, avoid central Paris and take the northern bypass. From the manor, the magical seaside resort of Deauville is about another hour and a quarter.
Combine with
Start in Paris, stop for two nights at the Manoir de Surville, then continue northwest to Deauville and Trouville and stay at the Hotel Flaubert directly on the beach.
PRICES
Doubles with breakfast from 202 euros for two. Dinner is extra.
Booking & Contact
Manoir de Surville
Camille et Hugues
82 Rue Bernard Pétel
27400 Surville
France
