Guest User
January 17, 2023
Located in the center of Sarlat-Le-Canéda in a building that dates from the 15th century, Le Petit Manoir is a boutique hotel that sports its history like a fine cloak. With its nine uniquely themed rooms and suites it achieves a perfect balance of the Old World and the new. Just walking down the curved stairway to the breakfast room below street level feels like an intriguing history lesson, where one might see the spectre of a former occupant of the monastery pass by. When we arrived we were warmly greeted by Cecile, and then Michael the next morning. The entire staff was professional, friendly, and excited by the renovated property, recently reopened in mid-2022, and their enthusiasm was contagious. We stayed in the elegant Josephine Baker suite, with its high ceilings and a layout affording the perfect amount of quiet seclusion in the off-season. It overlooks the courtyard and pool, but of course in December both were empty, so it had the feel of a private residence. While the suite is one that does not have a tub along with the shower, the bathroom is situated in such a way to grant the user a view of the older facades of the Manoir without being observed from the outside, which adds an additional level of that irresistible combination of history and luxury. Speaking of the bathroom, the problem of accommodating contemporary plumbing requirements with a building constructed in the 1500s has been artfully solved with the installation of a state-of-the-art combination towel rack\water heater\space heater in each bathroom that can be set by the guest to heat the bathroom, as well as water for the sink and shower in 15-30 minute increments or using a fully manual setting. The suites have all of the amenities one expects to find in a hotel of this caliber, including a few that are special to the region, such as the summer truffle chips, chocolates, fruit and other local baked goods, as well as the stocked fridge, coffee maker and a self-heating kettle that was a nice bonus for this tea drinker, who enjoyed several cups of Darjeeling to both start and end our sightseeing days. The king-sized bed was extremely comfortable with its striped satin-thread trimmed linens that have just the right blend of crispness and softness. We opted for the breakfast package, which allowed us to experience a full selection of brunch courses with local fare; meats, eggs with spiced tomatoes, yogurts, fruits and nuts and a variety of grains. A note re accessibility: the hotel does not have an elevator; the nine rooms are accessed via central spiral staircase that was quite manageable for us, but may not be for those with stair issues. Our days at Le Petit Manoir were extremely satisfying, and it was a complete pleasure to return to it at the end of each day. For us it was the perfect location from which to explore the chateaux and other attractions nearby. The hotel is ideal for those looking for a respite from the bustle of the city, while at the same time