A private Renaissance style mansion dedicated to the Art of Hospitality since 1774
Marie-Christine, Hélène, and Didier Clément welcome you to the heart of the Sologne region and the Loire Valley's famous châteaux.
Experience a private Renaissance style mansion dedicated to the art of cooking & hospitality since 1774.
A private Renaissance style mansion
Built in 1540 by Jean Gitton, Lord of Montgiron and a friend of King Francis I, this Renaissance style mansion was the residence of the town's first aldermen and master drapers. In 1774, just before the French Revolution, the building was sold by Canon Nicolas Gitton to the innkeeper Sir Pierre Boiffard.
The Grand Hôtel du Lion has been a hotel, cafe, and restaurant since first opening its doors in 1774. It is therefore one of the oldest restaurants in France.
The hotel has been owned by the same family since 1961 and they will celebrate their 60 years as a family business in 2021!
Ancient woodwork, church style slabs, stones with bas-relief, sun-shaped mirrors, modern lighting…
Rooms & Suites
In the Renaissance Wing with its Napoleon III style balconies, 16 newly renovated air-conditioned rooms are arranged around a wooded inner courtyard.
Gourmet Cuisine
Shallot, angelica, wild thyme, elderberry, "cooking tobacco," grains of paradise...You have to imagine Didier Clément’s signature cooking before tasting it. A pioneer in the unearthing of forgotten spices and ancient ingredients, Didier takes you on an unforgettable culinary journey. His inspiration? Ancient French cookbooks and walks in the forest.
"For me, nature is an infinite source of inspiration. My cooking can also be influenced by chance encounters with new people,as well as by traveling, which is helpful for creating new and somewhat exotic touches.”
A guardian of his "terroir," Didier Clément encourages local farmers to produce rare types of vegetables. He supports farmers who raise local breeds and local food distribution channels.