08/10/2025: A family-run Swiss gîte in the hamlet of Montroc, our last stop on the TMB!
Setting: it's hard to imagine a more picturesque town than Montroc. Just a handful of homes and a few gîtes, incredible views, no stores or restaurants to speak of. The gîte itself was set on the edge of town, and had lovely outdoor lounging space.
Reception: Very friendly. The owner greeted us and personally showed us our room and the shared facilities. Boots and poles go right in the entry hall, very convenient, and we could take our bags into our room.
Showers: Just glorious. The shower room was large, with lots of shelving far away from the shower to set dry clothes. The shower was big, clean, hot, had great pressure, and was free of charge. They simply ask for guests to keep showers to 5 minutes or less out of courtesy to others/the environment, which is totally reasonable.
Toilets: very clean, and each in its own room off of the hallway, so private as well.
Laundry: no machine laundry, but we saw a line to hang hand washing.
Food: There was a nice snack/drink menu available before dinner. Dinner itself was lovely, with multiple courses brought to the tables by the owner himself (bottles of wine were also available for purchase). We had incredible salads with fresh fruit & veg, bread & local cheese, and a hearty mushroom dish as the main. Breakfast was nice as well, with fresh pastries, coffee/tea, and cereal.
Rooms: about 10 bunks in our room, so a bit tighter, but VERY clean and nicely laid out with some shelving available. It did get very warm at night, even more so than other refuges, and even though it was a cool evening in September. If the person in the bunk by the window doesn't open it, everyone will be sweating. The mattress was new and clean, but rather firm.
WiFi: They had it, but we had 5G connection and didn't use it.
Outlets: there were several in our room and more in the common area.
04/10/2025: A sweet husband and wife owns and operated this refuge. The meal was delicious for dinner and the large croissants were amazing for breakfast!