Hôtel & Spa Château de La Côte

This spectacular 15th-century château has been owned and run by the same charming family since the last century. Travel past golden sunflower fields and the château emerges regally through a forested hilltop. The interior oozes aged grandeur – original stonewalls, wood panelling, a suit of armour in the hall, and huge fireplaces in almost all the rooms. Bedrooms are old-fashioned but impressive with antiques and numerous four-posters to choose from; bathrooms reflect the age of the building (sometimes slightly eccentric but always spotless). Ask for a room in the tower if you don’t mind stairs; one has a fabulous private roof terrace-leading up from the bathroom! Views are panoramic. Dinner is a fixed simple menu of local specialities (quite expensive), and a continental breakfast can be taken in the ‘tower room’ or on the front lawn. Enjoy an aperitif or local wine under an ancient tree and admire the rolling countryside. There’s also a pool, spa with a sauna solarium, massage treatments, children’s play area and a secret arbor within the twenty acres of grounds. A wonderful retreat full of character – come for history, romancing, rambling and exploring the Dordogne.