Where to stay in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, from the Dordogne to the Gironde vineyards

Where to stay in Nouvelle-Aquitaine by area

Nouvelle-Aquitaine is vast, and it is best explored by staying in one base and making day trips from there. My twelve places fall into three moods: the Périgord and the Limousin, the vineyards and the South-West, then the Charente and further north. I suggest choosing according to what you want to visit.

Périgord and Limousin

• chicÔtel Périgueux Boulazac, in Boulazac Isle Manoire. A budget hotel in the Agora hotel park, with functional rooms and a welcome that is often praised. It suits a one-night stop or a business trip, less so anyone wanting quiet at night.
• La Cabane à Papi, in Thénac. An independent lodge near Bergerac, with a jacuzzi, sauna, seasonal pool and fitted kitchen. I recommend it to couples looking for a romantic break, less so to anyone who wants a classic hotel with reception.
• Hôtel Restaurant La Truffe Noire, in Brive-la-Gaillarde. A traditional hotel in the town centre, with spacious, quiet rooms and very well-liked beds. It suits couples, families and travellers on a stopover, as long as you don't count on the parking.
• Manoir de Chantemerle, in Sainte-Fortunade. A guesthouse in the heart of a large park in the Corrèze, with spacious rooms, a seasonal pool, a spa, tennis and homemade breakfasts that guests like a lot. It suits couples who want to recharge.
• Roulotte La chouette des Granges, in Salles-Lavauguyon. An unusual stay with a bedroom for two, a kitchenette and a private garden. Rated five on Google, it suits couples looking for quiet, provided you have a car.

Vineyards, Gironde and the South-West

• Le Prieuré, in Saint-Pey-de-Castets. A guesthouse in an old stone house, with a seasonal pool, a garden, a terrace and countryside views. It appeals to couples and lovers of calm who want to visit Saint-Émilion.
• Domaine des Tilleuls, in Val-de-Livenne. A guesthouse among the vineyards of the Blaye coast, with spacious rooms, a pool, a garden and a large car park. I recommend it for a quiet stopover, provided you confirm your arrival well in advance.
• Château Vulcain, in Bernos-Beaulac. A house of character with a park, a pool and a jacuzzi. Reviews describe it mainly as a wedding and party venue, so it suits groups who want space.
• Gites Mirathon, in Baleyssagues. Country gîtes with a fitted kitchen, a private terrace, a barbecue and a pool in the garden. They appeal to families, groups of friends and couples who want a good base for exploring the region by car.
• Le Reflet des Torches, in Lacq. A hotel-restaurant in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, facing an industrial complex, with rooms reserved for adults and a large car park. It suits business travellers and lorry drivers passing through, less so leisure stays.

Charente and further north

• Le Clos des Cèdres, in La Rochefoucauld-en-Angoumois. A guesthouse close to the centre and the château, with a heated indoor pool, a park, tennis and a buffet breakfast. It suits couples and families looking for calm.
• Natura Serena, in Messé. A country gîte with a bedroom, a kitchenette, a large garden and a small pool. Nearly all reviews praise the welcome, and it is a good base for exploring by car.

What kinds of accommodation you'll find here

The region mixes country gîtes, guesthouses, unusual stays and a few hotels. Gîtes and guesthouses dominate, often with a garden and a seasonal pool. Hotels serve mainly for stopovers and towns.

For something unusual, there is the lodge in Thénac and the wooden caravan in Salles-Lavauguyon. For a house of character, Manoir de Chantemerle, Le Prieuré and Château Vulcain. In Lacq and Boulazac you are more in the practical hotel than the charming house.

Which place to choose for your trip

For a romantic escape I would look at La Cabane à Papi, the wooden caravan or the Manoir de Chantemerle. For a family, gîtes with a kitchen and a pool. For a stopover, a hotel is plenty.

When to go and how to get around

Warm days favour the pools, gardens and vineyards, but spring and autumn are my preference for the region. The car is almost essential, as the places are in the countryside and far apart. Towns like Brive-la-Gaillarde can be explored on foot once you have arrived.

Several stays work as day trips from one base, for example around Bergerac, Saint-Émilion or La Rochefoucauld. Check whether the pool is open in season, and whether the place has its own parking. In Brive, for example, you should not count on it.

What I would check before booking

You need to read each place on its own terms, because the style varies a great deal from one to the next. Some are quiet houses, others are venues for parties or practical stopovers.

Château Vulcain is mainly a wedding venue, so avoid it for a quiet weekend. Le Reflet des Torches faces an industrial complex and is poorly suited to late arrivals. At Domaine des Tilleuls, confirm your arrival in advance, and in Thénac, don't expect a hotel-style reception.