Château de Belet

Châteaux come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but few are as photogenically castle-like as the Château de Belet, a 15th-century relic in the Périgord, which comes complete with battlements and towers, like something from a fairy tale. One half expects to find its surrounding woodlands inhabited by mythological creatures. This is the setting for what is, in the present day, a thoroughly unique lodging: a seven-room bed and breakfast whose throwback opulence is complemented by modern luxuries and contemporary hotel-style service.

Its rooms are named after artists of the caliber of Matisse and Monet; the latter is housed in the castle’s tower, and features rough-hewn stonework in the bedroom and an ultra-luxe spa-like bathroom beneath its well-worn timbers. All of them make use of this vibrant contrast between old and new, combining the comforts of a modern hotel with an atmosphere befitting a 15th-century château.

And though there’s no permanent restaurant per se, Château de Belet’s open-plan kitchen capably handles a daily breakfast for guests, and is available to host a variety of specially prepared meals, from a private bistro-style lunch to an elaborate gastronomic experience featuring a visiting chef.