Our hopes regarding a stay in the Perigord boiled down to a beautiful (borderline elegant) country estate well situated for exploration of local chateaux / villages / truffles / foie gras / walnuts. Chez Colette et Mimi at the Chartreuse du Maine easily exceeded those hopes.
Maxence and Catherine are perfect hosts, providing beautiful accommodations and all the TLC a stranger to the area could need. Their property resembles a monarch's weekend hunting lodge -- expansive, gorgeous, quiet, secluded. The only neighborhood noise comes from Zebulon, the family donkey, who hee-haws at all hours and becomes your bff after the first apple. Wood for the fireplace, flowers on the table, wine and cheese and fresh fruit on arrival --- these folk could give lessons to Dale Carnegie.
We will hope for an early return and can't imagine a nicer place to center a sampling of the Dordogne.