Hôtel de Bouilhac

Hôtel de Bouilhac is a 17th-century hôtel particulier, listed as a French historic monument, in the centre of Montignac-Lascaux. Its pale Périgord stone façade and slate roofs overlook the Vézère valley, home to some of Europe's most important prehistoric sites, a few minutes from the Lascaux cave.

Inside, period rooms sit alongside contemporary furnishings: a lounge with fireplace and board games, the bar, a terrace in the courtyard, a heated indoor pool with glass walls opening onto greenery and a small gym, both open from 8am to 8pm. Rooms are spread between the main house, which has a lift, and an annex. Sarlat-la-Canéda is about 25 km away.

Reception is open from 8am to 8pm; check-in is from 3pm to 8pm, with a dedicated procedure for later arrivals, and check-out is by 11am. The hotel offers free private parking with electric vehicle charging, bicycle hire and a concierge service to arrange visits and excursions in the valley.

Pets are welcome on request, for a supplement. The entire property is non-smoking.

The sixteen rooms and suites are all different and each has its own name, from «Sous le cerisier» to «Chant du rossignol»: antique furniture, exposed beams and natural materials alongside modern bathrooms with shower or bathtub. Categories range from Standard and Prestige rooms to Junior Suites overlooking the Vézère or the cliff, Family Junior Suites with extra beds, the Deluxe room with terrace and the Royal Suite, with a living room, two bedrooms and two bathrooms for up to six guests.

Amenities: air conditioning, soundproofing, flat-screen TV, minibar, coffee machine, safe, bathrobes and toiletries, free WiFi. One suite is adapted for guests with reduced mobility.

Breakfast is served from 7.30 to 10.30am and made with local produce: pastries, fresh fruit, cheeses, charcuterie and homemade cakes, in a continental or «à la française» version.

The hotel is home to ro.bo, the fine-dining restaurant of chef Nick Honeyman and sommelier Sina Honeyman, who also run the Michelin-starred Le Petit Léon in Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère. The name recalls Robot, the dog who led to the discovery of Lascaux in 1940. Contemporary cooking rooted in French tradition, Périgord produce and a five-course tasting menu with optional wine pairing; open for dinner Tuesday to Saturday, booking required. The bar opens at 4pm.

Montignac-Lascaux is a small town on the banks of the Vézère in the Périgord Noir, with stone houses, wooden balconies and a bridge over the river. About 2 km away is Lascaux IV, the International Centre for Cave Art, which reproduces the entire painted cave, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The valley holds one of the highest concentrations of prehistoric sites in Europe: Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère and La Roque Saint-Christophe are a quarter of an hour's drive away, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac about 25 km. Sarlat-la-Canéda is about 25 km away, the Château de Hautefort and the gardens of the Manoir d'Eyrignac about 28 km. The nearest airport, Brive-Vallée de la Dordogne, is less than an hour's drive.