Le Moulin de l'Abbaye

France isn’t exactly facing a shortage of exceedingly picturesque locales, but even by local standards, the village of Brantôme is a spectacular one, with a medieval bridge crossing the Dronne river as the immediate backdrop for the Moulin de l’Abbaye, the region’s longest-serving luxury hotel. It started from rather prosaic beginnings — the name simply means “the abbey’s mill” — but a few hundred years of patina, a generous coating of ivy, and a thoroughly luxurious renovation have transformed it into a hotel that’s anything but mundane.

Its twenty rooms, each one named for a famous French wine, are divided between three buildings: the old mill itself, the miller’s residence, and the abbot’s house. All expertly blend historical atmosphere and well-preserved period construction with contemporary design and modern luxuries; the best of them look out over the river from private terraces. So far, so good; throw in a MICHELIN-Starred restaurant, serving refined Dordogne cuisine in a lovely dining room right by the water’s edge — as well as a pair of high-quality bistros by the same chef, set close by in the village — and you’ve got yourself a truly unforgettable experience.

Please note:
Moulin de l’Abbaye is a seasonal hotel, and is closed from mid-November through late March.