4 Best Hotels in The Dordogne, France

Certainly the most spectacular château-hotel in the Dordogne, this Relais & Châteaux outpost sits amid Baroque gardens perched over the Dordogne River. Located in Lacave, northwest of Rocamadour, La Treyne was nearly destroyed in the 16th-century Wars of Religion but reconstructed under Louis XIII. Today the Michelin-starred Great Lounge restaurant (no lunch except Sunday) is a feast of crystal, boiserie, and Louis XIII chairs. Stylish guest rooms range from the stunning Prison Doreé (or "Golden Prison," set atop the castle tower) and the hyper-charming Soleil Levant (the former chapel, now glowing in historic lime and yellow), to a deluxe suite with gorgeous antiques and views over the river.

This historic 19th-century manor—the only five-star hotel in the Périgord Noir—is hands down the Dordogne's most extensive luxury resort, offering swimming, a nine-hole golf course, fine dining, and a Nuxe spa. Stylish Roche-Bobois interiors throughout proclaim the wonders of French savoir-faire while the guest rooms (all with magnificent bathrooms) are well-appointed and unusually spacious, many with balconies and jaw-dropping views over the valley. In-hotel dining choices include a stylish bistro, a gastronomic dining room with a Michelin-starred chef, and, in summer, cocktails and "street food" on a wide terrace offering panoramic views. There's also a chic bar for snacks and cocktails.

Antiques mingle with vintage touches and modern amenities at this lovely 18th-century chateau hotel, a historic property a stone's throw from the Lascaux cave and museum. Each of the 17 rooms are unique, but the first-floor deluxe suites, offering giant balconies and river views, are the most popular. Along with a small indoor pool, the spa offers several advanced technologies to melt away body fat and cellulite, if that's your thing. The acclaimed gastronomic restaurant (where you can dine by the fireplace in cooler weather) is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, so if you want to dine in the hotel be sure to book accordingly.

Built around the most gorgeous dining room in the Dordogne, this vine-clad manor house in Trémolat is one of the region's top hotels. The warm guest rooms vary in size, but most face the well-tended garden and a rushing brook; the best of the bunch have terra-cotta tile floors, stone walls, and suitelike bathrooms. The lounge is très chic, with exposed beams, Louis XIII–style furniture, and mounted faïence plates over the fireplace, while the one-Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant is a vision in half-timber and pink-and-red paisley fabrics. Its six-course dinner menu might include chef Vincent Arnould's forte—veal in a mustard sauce. Less expensive fare is available from a second restaurant, the wildly popular Bistrot de la Place, located in a house at the gates to the property.