This most comfortable establishment is the French equivalent to a smart country house hotel in Britain. Chintz, leather, tartan and logs in the hearth – it’s the sort of place that exudes relaxation and ‘bien-être’ - both indoors and out.
The setting, in a pretty limestone village above a broad loop of the Dordogne, is also somehow reminiscent of the Cotswolds. But, if it resembles Bourton-on-the-Water, it is without the crowds. Here the lovely gardens, complete with diddy little bridges over a brook, are yours to enjoy in private. Their original design was by Vilmorin and, although the upkeep occasionally falls short of perfection, this is entirely in keeping with the ‘maison de famille’ ambience inspired by the owner, Bernard Giraudel. A self-professed ‘marchand de bonheur’ (literally, merchant of happiness), he runs the show with charisma, a twinkle in the eye and the sort of confidence inspired by previous Giraudels having lived here for the last 450 years!
The accommodations in the main building, which started life as a 16th century priory, are understandably far from uniform as indeed are the additional rooms in nearby cottages. Room 9 is not a favourite - it's very small and has a sloping ceiling. No need to take pot luck, however, when choosing where to dine. An old tobacco dryer serves as the stage for Michelin-starred cuisine by Vincent Arnould. And across the quiet street, under the same ownership, is the deservedly popular Bistro de la Place for lesser gastronomes with tighter wallets.