The Dordogne, in south-west France, has a knack for making holidays feel bigger than the sum of their parts. Medieval honey-stone towns like Sarlat, riverside villages crowned by châteaux, prehistoric caves, vineyards, truffles and evening food markets all sit within a short drive of each other. And increasingly, travellers are choosing to base themselves not in a hotel but in a private château, estate or architect-designed villa — which is where specialists like Luxury Rentals Dordogne come in.
Founded by Zsuzsi and Floris, who have spent 25 years in the region, the company hand-picks and personally inspects every property in its portfolio. Stays range from an intimate manor for two to grand houses for groups of up to 24, including Château de Rouffillac, perched above the Dordogne river, and Domaine Rubis, set in eight hectares of wooded parkland with views over the bastide town of Domme. There's also Le Haut Coustal, a contemporary villa for six with a heated private pool, and Domaine de Bonnefond, a country estate with its own tennis court.
What makes the region itself so rewarding? It's split into four areas — Périgord Noir, Pourpre, Vert and Blanc — each with its own character. Sarlat's cobbled streets and markets are among the best preserved in France, while Beynac-et-Cazenac clings dramatically to the riverbank below its medieval castle. The Jardins de Marqueyssac offer six kilometres of paths winding past 150,000 hand-pruned boxwoods, and the Gouffre de Padirac is a 75-metre-deep chasm with an underground river and towering limestone formations.
Then there's the food. Duck confit, foie gras, walnuts, cèpes, truffles and local wines anchor one of France's great gastronomic regions, with marchés gourmands — evening markets where everyone eats at long communal tables — plus plenty of Michelin-starred options such as Le Moulin de l'Abbaye in Brantôme, a former abbey mill on the water.
Active types are well served too. Options include a Via Ferrata at Marqueyssac, a 200-metre rock-face route 100 metres above the river, the gentler Vélorail on disused railway tracks, plus hiking, cycling, horse riding, golf and fishing on well-marked trails and quiet country lanes.
The rental company also arranges the extras that turn a good holiday into a memorable one: private chefs who shop, cook and clean up, in-villa massages and yoga, wine tours, caviar tasting, or a white-dress picnic among the twinkling lights of the gardens at Château d'Eyrignac.
Why it matters: for families or groups of friends, renting a whole property in the Dordogne often works out better value and far more atmospheric than hotel rooms — you get space, a pool, a kitchen full of market produce and a base that feels like a home. It suits travellers who want the region's history and food on tap, without giving up comfort.
Story via The Good Life France
