Manoir d'Hautegente ★★★★

Not far from the beautiful medieval town of Sarlat, we arrived at the Manoir d’Hautegente **** ready for a holiday in the luscious green countryside of the Dordogne. For me and for my other half alike, it was love at first sight.

The Manoir itself drew us in. With a traditional slate roof and charming windows, the entire building is covered in ivy. It is picturesque and romantic, almost like something out of a novel. At reception, we were told that it was originally an eighteenth-century forge. Thanks to the warm welcome from the Manoir’s owners, we felt very much at home right away. After we’d been handed our key, we set off to find our bedroom.

We then fell for the lovely Miller’s house, just a few metres from the Manoir, in which our bedroom was located. Decorated in a traditional French style with floral textiles lining the walls, pretty bedspreads and antique furniture, our room was both romantic and comfortable. I was at once drawn to the windows to take a look at the view, and it was magnificent!

The wonderful grounds were the next thing to further captivate us. Once we had unpacked our bags, we could no longer resist going off to explore the rest of the Manoir to find out all it had to offer. The hotel gardens are extensive and very well kept, with lawns, flowerbeds, walkways and hedges that provide plenty of space and opportunity for rest and relaxation. Nestled within the grounds, we discovered the hotel swimming pool, which is perfect in the warm Dordogne weather. Wandering on, we came across the river that runs through the gardens and right along the terrace of the restaurant. A waiter came over to let us know that you can fish all along its banks.

It wasn’t long before we had also fallen in love with the hotel’s surroundings. To start our explorations of the local region straight away, we decided to head out for the afternoon. Our first stop was at the Jardins de l’Imaginaire, which is located just ten minutes from the Manoir. There, as we wandered around the enchanting gardens, we enjoyed truly spectacular views of the Vézère valley. It’s an experience not to be missed when you’re here! Then, we went on to discover a little culture and history with a trip to the Lascaux II caves. Walking through the cool and fresh caves, the sight of the prehistoric paintings located here is truly unforgettable. Afterwards, we made our way back to the Manoir d’Hautegente for an obligatory dip in the swimming pool to relax after our busy afternoon.

When suppertime arrived, my other half revealed a surprise for me: he had booked us in for the restaurant’s tasting menu on the riverbank. The setting is truly idyllic, and we sat enjoying the relaxing sound of the river’s lapping at the banks as we savoured the exquisite dishes. It was a wonderful gourmet treat in the perfect spot! I must admit I really didn’t want it to end.

After a comfortable night in our room (which was very spacious, I must say), we settled on the hotel terrace to enjoy our breakfast with the gentle sound of birdsong. The gardens are gorgeous. I would love such a beautiful garden full of flowers and stone archways like this one is. In fact, I never wanted to leave!

Before moving on (because unfortunately you must), do make sure to stop by at the hotel shop. We stocked up on some pâté, olive oil and locally-made cakes to take home, which were a lovely reminder of our wonderful stay at the Manoir d’Hautegente **** when we got back to the UK.