Chateau de la Treyne

Dramatically perched over the waters of the Dordogne, surrounded by acre upon acre of the valley’s lush greenery, the Château Treyne is the archetypal French fairy-tale castle, a majestic sixteenth-century chateau converted into a modern hotel. This is the perfect place to indulge any aristocratic fantasies you may have, surveying the forested landscape from the privacy of one of the tower rooms.

It’s a family affair, owned and operated by Michèle Gombert and her son Philippe, and its air of casual collegiality stands in stark contrast to the rarefied hauteur of some other French chateaux. Service is friendly, rather than sniffy, and though the public spaces drip with Louis XIII pomp, there are contemporary-styled rooms available, light and airy spaces for those who prefer simple comfort to the opulent grandeur of the antique-style guest rooms.

Enjoy a walk through the landscaped gardens, a hike on one of the many trails that criss-cross the valley, or even a run on the postman’s trail cut into the cliff above the Dordogne. There’s a swimming pool and a tennis court available, as well as a helipad for grand entrances, and a French country hotel just wouldn’t be right without a fine restaurant—in this case, Stéphane Andrieux’s establishment, offering outdoor dining on a terrace above the river.

How to get there:
Chateau de la Treyne is approximately a 20-minute drive from Brive–La Roche Airport (BVE).