We are increasing the frequency of our trips to Bordeaux as we look for a second home and had planned to stay at Les Sources de Caudalie. However, they are now closed for renovation but a room was available at their “annex”, la Chartreuse du Thil.
Details
- 9 rooms
- From £225 euros
Chartreuse du Thil is a mansion in the woods near les Sources de Caudalie
Location 4.5/5
La Chartreuse du Thil is nested in the woods, about 1.5km from les Sources de Caudalie. It’s a big bourgeois mansion with a vast park surrounded with ancient trees. It makes for a very peaceful setting. Yet, it is still very close to Bordeaux center and Bordeaux airport, about 20 minutes really. We had no problem finding it.

A classic French style with lots of warmth
Style 4/5
The design of the Chartreuse is much more successful in my view than the one at Les Sources de Caudalie – so that’s good that they are renovating it.
The chartreuse is a typical French bourgeois house, long with high ceilings and tall windows, wooden floors, fireplaces and chandeliers.
When we arrived, very tired after a long road and day under miserable weather and lots of rain, we loved the cosy warm vibe that welcomed us. The hallway is painted dark with some accents of lights in many places. You felt warm and embraced right away.
The common rooms are lovely: a lounge with a grand piano looking out to the park and a breakfast room which is all wood panelled with some very nice paintings. There is also a restaurant room, again with panels on the walls and a nice fireplace.
The bedrooms are really vast and pretty. We had two bedrooms and even Mademoiselle’s room, which was a lower category than ours, was very big. Opening the shutters and the tall windows onto the park in the morning felt very French. The decor is a mix of antique furniture and a play on furnishing with different colours of the curtains and wallpaper depending on which room you are in.


The bathroom had two sinks and a bath and there was a separate toilet and shower area.
The bed was probably a super king and was really comfortable. We could hear the music from the Valentine’s diner in the evening as we were getting ready but of course, this had stopped by the time we went to bed.
With the thick traditional shutters and being in a middle of a park, we had a really peaceful sleep.
Friendly for families
Families 3.5/5
We didn’t get to try much of what it’s like for families for a long stay but we did see a few families with children younger than ours. They were able to sleep in their parents’bedroom.
The bikes and the sensory walk in the forest nearby would be a good activity for children.
Chartreuse du Thil restaurant: probably not their best feature
Food 2/5
We had to have the Valentines dinner there. There was a lovely atmosphere as they had planned for a singer and a guitar player to be here. Her voice was very soft and gentle and they played a series of French and English songs that created a nice soft atmosphere. The service was lovely and while the food was pretty to look at, it was nothing sophisticated and was purely produce put together and assembled. It was expensive for what it was but we were very happy to be able to just stay at the Château and not have to go out for dinner.
Breakfast is a nice selection of savoury and sweet options: cereals, fruits, ham, cheese, lots of breads and pastries and you could boil your own eggs.

You can benefit from the activities at Caudalie
Activities 3/5
It was winter and we used the hotel as a base rather than a place where we would rest, relax and do activities.
They have bikes at your disposal, which means you can easily cycle to les Sources de Caudalie to enjoy the activities: indoor and outdoor pool, spa, restaurants etc..
And then get back and have a quiet evening at la Chartreuse which will feel much less busy.
La Chartreuse du Thil: a quiet base to enjoy Caudalie and Bordeaux
Overall 4/5
La Chartreuse du Thil is a lovely hotel to experience a true French house, not far from Bordeaux and also being able to enjoy all what Caudalie has to offer in a much more quiet way.
I’ll be curious to see what Caudalie looks like after the renovation. If it’s not to my taste, I’ll be perfectly happy to go back to la Chartreuse.