Manoir de Laroque Delprat

The Manoir oozes grandeur with its sweeping limestone staircase, a grand piano in the vast dining room and a fire roaring in the hearth on cold days. This valley was once the playground of the French nobility, the countryside teeming with eagle owls, wild boar and hare. You are a world away from the bustle of modern life.

Rooms are beautifully decorated, all have excellent bathrooms, and each is filled with period pieces and pleasing details. Choose the double aspect LaoTse room in the attic for wraparound views, or Turenne with its hand painted ceiling and doors leading straight into the garden.

Julien and Aurélia grew up in Lot and look after you splendidly, arranging visits and booking restaurants; Julien also cooks delightful dinners. Breakfast on fromage blanc, seasonal fruit and fresh pastries under the shade of the ancient yew. There are boardgames and books, the sauna and spring water pool, and the pretty village to explore.