Chateau Les Merles

Rooms

Les Merles’ guest rooms have been slotted into the triple-storeyed corps of the original château. Standard or deluxe status is based on size and how good a view you get, but all rooms, with the exception of the small basement single, feel light and airy thanks to their mostly south-facing windows. Suites are differentiated by their separate living rooms and come with baths and showers; there’s also a large 2-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and private terrace. Ground-floor rooms gain from the extra ceiling height whilst those on the attic floor feel cosy, tucked in beneath Les Merles’ ancient rafters. Our choice of room would be No 7, a suite with a sweeping vista of the wooded valley.

The decorative palette sticks almost exclusively to white and black with an occasional splash of brightness in the form of zesty-coloured lampshades. If the spare, angular look is reminiscent of Nineties minimalism, the Starck perspex chairs, ornate chandeliers and Old Master repros add a more eclectic note, as do period fireplaces, radiators and planked floors.

Mattresses are laid atop dark, boxed bases; 2 singles are slotted together to make doubles which, unusually, are made up with 2 double duvets and a double bank of pillows, all clad in the best Dutch linen. At the end of each bed i-escape guests will find a black box containing complimentary satin bed slippers. All rooms come with a TV, DVD player and safe box, but no minibar. The bathrooms have double sinks, wall-mounted toilets and bidets, stacks of black and white towels, hairdryers, and bath products carrying the château’s logo (3 blackbirds). Big twin mirrors up the feeling of space, as does the floor-to-ceiling white tiling.

The monochrome, rather Zen look of the hotel rooms spills over into the self-catering villas, set 100m away from the main building. Each has 3 or 4 bedrooms (double or twin bedded), 3 bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a living room with shuttered French doors and huge grey sofas. The muted décor - polished concrete floors, white walls, dove grey beams - is offset by bright wall prints and sparkling chrome candelabras. Outside are private terraces with sleek chairs, tables and umbrellas. The villas (and the owners themselves) share a lovely large pool; some villas also have their own smaller private pool.

Features include:

• Fan
• Hairdryer
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Les Merles' culinary pitch is 'New Périgord Cuisine', which looks to the region's time-tried recipes and uses a 'keep it seasonal' brief. Much of the content is lifted straight from the estate's organic veggie garden and orchards.

La Bruyère Blanche restaurant - where you can dine à la carte or opt for a 5- or 8-course set menu - has a black-and-white colour scheme dovetails beautifully with high ceilings, dark screed floors, Philippe Stark chairs and atmospheric lighting. In summer you can dine outside in the huge gravelled courtyard.

Everything was immaculately presented and tasted superb. A starter of duck liver paté with baby carrots caramelised with lime and black pepper was followed by a main course of tender fillet of beef in a red wine sauce accompanied by gratin dauphinois. All offerings on the cheese board were from the Périgord and my meal ended with a scrummy crème brulée served with slivers of orange.

I loved the château's wine guide, which only lists local varieties from the Bergerac. In addition to the year, ageing process and grape varieties of each wine, you’re treated to anecdotes about the particular vineyard and its owners.

Expect a big breakfast spread of cold cuts, regional cheeses, yoghurts, fruits and cereals. Bread is freshly baked in situ, as are the pains au chocolat and croissants, and - always a nice touch in my eyes - tea or coffee is served at your table.

The villas are let on a self-catering basis and have sleek, steel-clad kitchens equipped with a fridge, freezer, oven, hob and microwave, plus pots and pans, crockery and cutlery, and a chunky wooden table seating 6. There’s a supermarket a 10-minute drive away where you can stock up on provisions, but you’re welcome to book a table at the restaurant if you don’t fancy cooking.

Features include:

• Bar
• Breakfast
• Kids' meals
• Organic produce
• Restaurant
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Pit your skills against the 9-hole golf course, trying to avoid water features, sheep, ditches and the veggie garden
  
  
• Improve your swing on the driving range or practice your short sweeps on the putting green
  
  
• Book a place on one of Les Merles' cooking courses and learn how to prepare a few of the restaurant's flagship dishes
  
  
• Treat yourself to a 'bone therapy' massage or a beauty treatment
  
  
• Spend a day canoeing or fishing on the Dordogne
  
  
• Just 10-15 minutes away, Bergerac, self-styled gateway to the Perigord, has a vieille ville of cobbled streets and half-timbered houses, as well as boat trips, a Saturday market and an interesting tobacco museum (where smoking is forbidden!)
  
  
• Forget the hype about Bordeaux and discover the unsung vineyards of the Bergerac; reception can organise tours and tastings
  
  
• Play tennis and swim, then feel better about choosing the 8-course dinner menu!

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cooking classes
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Hot air ballooning
• Kayaking
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Wine tasting

Kids

Staying in a fairytale castle is as appealing to kids as it is their parents. Chateau les Merles welcomes kids with open arms and there's plenty to recommend it to families, from the wide lawns and pool to the fantastic location, offering a chance to explore the region. The second generation of the Van Grinsven family have their own offspring so they cope easily with yours.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

For a couple + 1, the deluxe rooms and suites can take an additional child bed. For a family of 4, the apartment (2 double bedrooms) works well. For larger families, there are 3- and 4-bedroom villas with kitchen, living room, terrace and private parking.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

Distances:

• Airport: 15 minutes (Bergerac), 1 hour 20 minutes (Bordeaux)
• Hospital: 10 minutes
• Shops: 10 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Château les Merles is situated in the Périgord region of southwest France, 15 minutes from Bergerac.

By Air:
Bergerac Dordogne Périgord (12km away) is the closest airport, with several budget airline links with elsewhere in Europe, but Bordeaux (110km away) has more flights. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
The château offers a transfer service from either airport - see Rates. Alternatively, it's an easy drive if you want to hire a car (see below).

By Car:
For car hire, please see our car rental recommendations. The château has off-street parking and the villas have their own private parking spaces.

By Train:
If you'd prefer to travel overland from the UK, take the Eurostar to Paris, then a TGV to Bergerac or Lalinde. From there, hire a car or arrange a transfer with the château.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com

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