The Manoir d’Hautegente claims to offer three buzzwords: ‘charm, comfort and cuisine’. Even sticking to their alliterative theme, you could mention ‘calm’ and ‘countryside’, with the hotel set amid an extensive park, a mixture of gardens and famous, wild, lush green landscapes. Or how about ‘classy’ and ‘classic’? The hotel oozes sophistication and style, and everything about it is authentically French - a true, unspoilt, grand country house. This is a list that could continue forever – ‘convenient’, located just half an hour from Brive airport and in the heart of a region rich in history and culture.
No one can doubt the prestige of French food; I have frequently felt the urge to cross the channel and spend a week doing a gastronomic tour of the French countryside. It was therefore with high hopes that I took my seat at the gourmet restaurant and ordered the Menu Dégustation. In the peaceful setting of the riverside terrace, we were presented with exquisite dishes, blending modern and traditional cuisine.
The rooms all enjoy beautiful river views. Rich shades of red and gold line the corridors and the décor and furnishings are refined and traditional. Every one of the rooms is a perfect blend of old-fashioned French charm with the very best modern standards of comfort.
I could spend many a happy afternoon wandering around the park and gardens surrounding the Manoir d’Hautegente and following the river along the dramatic cliffs or taking refuge in the shade of the mighty oak trees. And to complete a relaxing afternoon, nothing is more idyllic than soaking in the sun while lying beside the outdoor pool, surrounded by beauty on all sides and taking the occasional cooling dip.
We truly had found our clichéd vision of rural France, the heavenly holiday for which we had been hunting for so long!