Château de l'Hoste

My husband and I are somewhat Francophiles. The early years of our relationship can be traced through a string of romantic trips to France. Yet the region of Quercy remained unknown to us before our jaunt to Château de L'Hoste. It's one of the regions of the south of France that has yet to become filled with the sound of British expats and holidaymakers - no offence to my fellow countrymen and women! This is the land of the River Lot, winding its way through verdant agricultural fields, demarcating orchards and wheat fields and passing under ancient bridges. This is pilgrim country, where walkers still make their way to Santiago de Compostela, as they have for thousands of years. They pass medieval towns glowing ochre in the warm southern sun, and solitary monasteries made from local creamy limestone. We were glad to realise there are parts of France we haven't yet traversed during the course of our marriage – it must mean there's life in us yet!

Château de L'Hoste is set in four acres of private parkland, a few kilometres from the charming town of Roquecor. Down a tree-lined avenue hides this gorgeous princely building. Just the word ‘château’ makes me a bit weak at the knees, never mind when I'm confronted by one. This is the good life in all its splendour. Covered lovingly in wisteria and surrounded by time-honoured trees, the cream-coloured stone and its wrought iron balconies are elegant and stylish to the highest degree, yet its countryside charm softens the grandeur. The staff were very warm and welcoming, showing us around and helping us plan what we wanted to do. I had secretly booked my husband a cooking lesson, a present for both of us! It's not as selfish as it might sound, as he really loves cooking and French cuisine, and the chefs and their classes at this château have a great reputation.

Settling into our room felt a bit like settling into another era. We loved the feature they made of the original exposed brick walls. The white-painted brickwork creates a rustic atmosphere. Alcoves with wooden inserts became frames for graceful sculptures and pottery. We had a four-poster bed with its wrought iron frame shaped into curves and swirls. Comfortable chairs and a coffee table were placed by the large windows, which looked out to the rolling fields beyond. The curtains were a blue chequered pattern which mirrored the tones of light blue elsewhere - it was perfectly French. There was also a work space, and the Wi-Fi was fast. Finally, we were delighted to see a separate toilet and bathroom, the absence of which has been known to cause mini civil wars between us!

It was over dinner, as my husband was using all the descriptive words he could think of to praise his dish, that I told him of his upcoming birthday treat! The restaurant had such a cosy atmosphere, with an open fire and candle light mellowing people's moods, as well as the deep red wine from the vineyards around no doubt. We reignited our love of France and found a new one for Château de L'Hoste!