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Southwest France in 8 days - Dordogne help where to stay

Southwest France in 8 days - Dordogne help where to stay

Old Apr 10th, 2009, 07:08 PM
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Southwest France in 8 days - Dordogne help where to stay

This is our third trip to France. I am planning an 8 nt trip to Southwest France in September. Ideally, we will fly in and out of Toulouse. I have been reading the comments on this site and due to the mixed messages, I thought I would ask the question straight out. What two locations would you stay in Dordogne (including lodging)

In order to see the Dordogne, I would like to stay in two different locations. My first thought was to spend 4 nts at Chateau de la Treyne near Souillac. I am looking for a second location - somewhere where we can visit Carcassonne and other areas. My husband and I enjoy a slow paced trip with beautiful scenery, history, wine and food. We enjoy a little luxury in lodging that has a good location and English speaking conceirge ranging $250 - $400 per night.

Any Ideas?

Any ideas??????
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Old Apr 10th, 2009, 08:14 PM
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It sounds as though you want to visit the Dordogne and the Languedoc, not find two places IN the Dordogne.

Souillac is outside the perimeter of the "typical" (and advisable) area for visiting the best of the Périgord (though Souillac has some fine attraactions). I would encourage you to pick someplace within about a 25-mile radius of Sarlat (preferably to the south, north, or west) for at LEAST five days, then move south the the Languedoc, visiting Peche-Merle, Albi, etc., on your way to Carcassonne.

This really isn't a trip, as I understand it given what you've said, to split up as 4 days in one place and 4 in another, because the overwhelming number of attractions are in the Périgord Noir, and you can zip through the others in 2 days pretty easily and still get back to the Toulouse airport.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 02:58 AM
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I wonder how many hotels in the area are going to be up to the standard of the Chateau de la Treyne...I did not stay there but a friend did and raved about it.

Along those lines and also an RC, but not in a castle, is this hotel: i've had lunch here and wandered around a bit; the place looks truly lovely. I think it is closer to the main sites in the Perigord Noir:

http://www.vieux-logis.com/
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 03:52 AM
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I forgot about this place in Domme. They speak English and it has a very good restaurant. Maybe not up to the standards of the Treyne, but very very lovely:



http://esplanade-perigord.com/
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 05:23 AM
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Thank you - that is the help I was hoping for. I will spend 5 nts north of Toulouse and 2 - 3 nts south of Toulouse. I will look at the hotels listed above.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 05:48 AM
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Hotel Esplanade in Domme is very nice, and I would also consider Le Moulin de l'Abbaye in Brantome. Beautiful location and great restaurant.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 06:09 AM
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The Esplanade is indeed lovely, and I love the restaurant. The Vieux Logis is a gem, too, but very quiet and a bit stuffy IMO. The Moulin d'Abbaye is again outside the "typical" area one wants to visit, being in the Périgord Vert, not the Périgord Noir. Besides Brantôme itself and Bourdeilles and maybe the Château d'Hautefort, you'd have to do a whopping lot of driving each day to get to and from the main sites.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 06:27 AM
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Lexus:

I wholly agree with the complimentary remarks on Domme's Esplanade Hotel and it restaurant...when there, don't miss going out to the back viewing point for perhaps the most classic view of the Dordogne, far below. It's the one seen on postcards and guide books.

When both EKSCRUNCHY and St.Cirq recommend a restaurant in the region, it's best to heed their advice.
Have a great visit.

Stu Tower
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 06:38 AM
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I'll check availability at Esplanade...any suggestions for lodging somewhat near Carcassonne.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 06:47 AM
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We're celebrating my wife's birthday at l'Esplanade.

I agree with St Cirq on location - close to Sarlat. The Chateau de la Treyne is a lovely property, but I have kind of a mental thing with driving past Soulliac and the A20. To me, it's the dividing line between where I want to spend most of my time (close to Salat), and where I go for an extended day trip or even a 1 nighter. Driving through Soulliac & close to the A6 is really not that pleasent either. When friends stayed at Chateau de la Treyne about 10 year ago on their honeymoon, they were required to have dinner at the Chateau each night (at least pay for 2 dinners).

Personally, if this was my 8 day trip I would stay 5 days near Sarlat and then 2 days at Chateau de la Treyne so you can easily visit Rocamadour, Padirac, Autoire, Loubressac, Carennac, Martel, Grottes de lacave, Collonges la Rouge, Turenne, Castelnau-Bretnoux - all the sites east of Soulliac. Then visit Figeac, Cele river, Peche Merle (reserve ahead) & St Cirq Lapopie on the way to Toulouse & spend 1 night in Toulouse (one of my favorite cities in France). I'm guessong you'll need to stay close to Toulouse for your flight home. Save Carcassonne for another trip.

Stu Dudley
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 07:28 AM
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I want to make sure that l'Esplanade does not get "oversold". We've dined there 4-5 times (but never stayed there), and we've "walked" the entire property (incl indoor dining room & outside terrace) at Chateau de la Treyne. l'Esplanade is not nearly as elegant as Chateau de la Treyne. l'Esplanade is mainly a restaurant with rooms. The hotel gets 2 "roofs" in the Michelin Red guide. The restaurant and the views of the Dordogne below are the main draw. The restaurant was formerly a Michelin 1 star. Friends have stayed there, and most rooms (I believe), do not have views. The restaurant is large, and although there are some windows, unless you are sitting right next to a window - you won't get much of a view because the views of the Dordogne River are down below (Domme is a perched village).

Chateau de la Treyne has 4 "roofs", and is noted as very "restful" in the Michelin Guide. The restaurant is a Michelin 1 star. Rooms are 290/490, while they are 77/148 at l'Esplanade. If you normally stay at $250 - 400 per night hotels, you may be disappointed in l'Esplanade - especially compared to Chateau de la Treyne.

Stu Dudley
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 09:24 AM
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Thanks Stu...based on the price of L'Esplanade and tripadvisor comments, I did not expect a high end place. I dont have to spend a lot of money to enjoy a specific lodging. Sometimes the location can be so primo that it makes up for the worn furniture in the small room. I came across Chateau de la Treyne when I read Fodors summary on the location. We will definately dine at L'Esplanade. Still deciding on how best to embrace the region....and still visit Carcassonne (my husband's specific request). Thinking now of staying in Albi near the end of week and driving to Carc..on a day trip, and still being close to Toulouse airport before departure.
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Old Apr 11th, 2009, 01:07 PM
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There are some very nice things to see near Albi - which is another of my favorite towns. Gorges de l'Aveyron, St Antonin Noble Val, Cordes, Bruniquel, and one of my favorite Bastide towns - Castelnau de Montmiral.

Stu Dudley
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Old Apr 19th, 2009, 02:51 AM
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I would agree with staying at Albi. We did a day trip to Carcassonne last week, from a more distant point. I was underwhlemed, I have to say.
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