Between Haute-Garonne and Haute-Vienne, from Toulouse to Limoges, Relais & Châteaux has created an itinerary for nature lovers looking to recharge their batteries. The route takes the traveler through the natural parks of the Causses du Quercy region before winding along the Millevaches plateau and amidst the geological treasures of the Périgord region. You’ll stop in villages with artisanal and gastronomic traditions sometimes centuries old, and taste truffles in Limoges porcelain ...
This route was created by Michel Trama, Chef and Owner of Hotel Restaurant Michel Trama
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Hotel and restaurant in the country. On the hillsides of Aureville, in the Toulouse countryside, Isabelle and Frank Renimel have designed a welcoming and authentic home with a touch of whimsy. The brick and pebble walls of the old building have been preserved and stand in exquisite harmony with the new additions of sleek geometric lines. The decor is simple and warm, embellished with splashes of bright colours here and there. As for the five rooms, they each evoke an emotion: fun, indulgence and so on. The magic continues with the cuisine. Composed like paintings, the dishes are each signed with a flower from the garden. Highlighting the best of the region, enjoy such specialities as suckling pig or caviar from the Pyrenees.
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Some claim that the red bricks of the Sainte-Cécile cathedral can be seen from Rome! Built in the thirteenth century to restore Catholic authority in the region, the cathedral remains a mixture of finesse and power. Adorned in the same manner, the entire city dons its red hues above the emerald waters...
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Toulouse-Lautrec, an Albigensian painter
Nestled in the striking Berbie palace, the Toulouse-Lautrec museum has the largest collection in the world of the eponymous artist’s masterpieces. A native of Albi, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is associated with the world of Montmartre, from the Moulin de la Galette to the Moulin Rouge. Yet the majority...
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The splendid episcopal city of Albi
Some claim that the red bricks of the Sainte-Cécile cathedral can be seen from Rome! Built in the thirteenth century to restore Catholic authority in the region, the cathedral remains a mixture of finesse and power. Adorned in the same manner, the entire city dons its red hues above the emerald waters...
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Toulouse-Lautrec, an Albigensian painter
Nestled in the striking Berbie palace, the Toulouse-Lautrec museum has the largest collection in the world of the eponymous artist’s masterpieces. A native of Albi, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is associated with the world of Montmartre, from the Moulin de la Galette to the Moulin Rouge. Yet the majority...
Restaurant and hotel in a village. Contemporary interior designer Jacques Garcia has worked wonders with the décor of this 13th century bastide, that was once home to the Counts of Toulouse. The mood is theatrical and luxurious. Sofas with feet that look like lion paws sit beside ancient floor tiles and velvety wall hangings. There is a touch of the artist Jean Cocteau here too, with an avant-garde chandelier that appears out of a wall. Your itinerary should include visiting the region which is one of the most beautiful parts of France, and sampling the recipes dreamt up by Chef Michel Trama, this extraordinary self-taught starred Chef, who strolls through the Lot-et-Garonne farmer markets looking for the best and the unexpected. His cuisine reveals his love of wholesome food and of life in general. You'll sample notably his potato papillote and his lobster lasagna, a few reasons the restaurant is not to be missed.
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It’s a farmers’ market. A real market, dedicated to nature, where people still roll their ’’r’’. Here, people still count to the last penny. It’s a place of freedom, where you won’t be cheated. For ’’fatty’’ products, go to the Valence-d’Agen market.
“Our” Cloister
In 1998, a cloister was added to the main building, designed by Jean-Louis Costes and decorated by the interior designer Jacques Garcia. It was inspired by the superb Romanesque cloister of Moissac Abbey. Today, those who (re)pose here have the feeling that it has always existed! We come here to find...
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The Agen Market
It’s a farmers’ market. A real market, dedicated to nature, where people still roll their ’’r’’. Here, people still count to the last penny. It’s a place of freedom, where you won’t be cheated. For ’’fatty’’ products, go to the Valence-d’Agen market.
“Our” Cloister
In 1998, a cloister was added to the main building, designed by Jean-Louis Costes and decorated by the interior designer Jacques Garcia. It was inspired by the superb Romanesque cloister of Moissac Abbey. Today, those who (re)pose here have the feeling that it has always existed! We come here to find...
Hotel and restaurant in a vineyard. Staying in this 13th century château overlooking the Lot valley is a truly unique experience, an authentic immersion in the history of France during the Middle Ages. Built on a rocky promontory, this was the summer residence of the Counts and Bishops of Cahors for seven centuries. Today, the chef draws his inspiration from local producers, and has won an international reputation for working wonders with black Lalbenque truffles and Quercy lamb. The wine list includes the great Malbec wines and vintages produced in the château’s very own wine cellars, because before being the owner, Mr. Vigouroux was the wine grower.
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It’s one of the most beautiful estates in Cahors - the Château Lagrézette - whose first Malbec vines were planted in the early 16th century. Now owned by Alain Dominique Perrin, the château is classified as a historical monument.
Cahors, Medieval Town
As the emblem of the city, the Valentré bridge is a real masterpiece of medieval military architecture. Its three fortified towers still dominate the Lot River, old alleys and tall houses. The medieval city was patiently restored, offering a visit back in time. At night, it’s easy to imagine knights...
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Georges Vigouroux, Great Malbecs
Georges Vigouroux has restored the prestige of Château de Mercuès’ vineyards. Today, the superb Malbec is one of the jewels among Cahors wines, honoured in many competitions. His son, Bertrand Gabriel, a trained wine grower and oenologist, presents the latest vintages in the cellar located under the...
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Château Lagrézette, Caillac
It’s one of the most beautiful estates in Cahors - the Château Lagrézette - whose first Malbec vines were planted in the early 16th century. Now owned by Alain Dominique Perrin, the château is classified as a historical monument.
Cahors, Medieval Town
As the emblem of the city, the Valentré bridge is a real masterpiece of medieval military architecture. Its three fortified towers still dominate the Lot River, old alleys and tall houses. The medieval city was patiently restored, offering a visit back in time. At night, it’s easy to imagine knights...
Hotel and restaurant on a river. The towers of this château are so close to the river that it feels as if they are floating on it. Located between the Lot, known as the “land of marvels”, and the Dordogne, home to more than one thousand châteaux, the Château de la Treyne is the ideal base from which to set off and explore this fascinating region. The Chef adapts the cuisine of the terroir, based on foie gras or lamb from the Causses du Quercy nature park. A delicious dinner can be enjoyed in the Grand Louis XIII Salon, or on the terrace overlooking the Dordogne. Breathe in pure, fresh air and look around wide-eyed to take in this extraordinary setting.
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In Auriac, an authentic Corrézien village, recharge your batteries and relax in contemporary gardens. Since 2007, Bernard Mas and landscape architects have been designing the gardens with various species, delicate and rare, with respect for nature. A set of intimate enclosures with varied atmospheres...
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A River Runs Through It
A Relais & Chateaux fishing relay?
The department of Lot offers exceptional opportunities for fishing enthusiasts! Nearly 2,000 km of preserved streams, rivers, lakes and ponds, offering infinite possibilities...
In the Dordogne, fly fishing is practiced while wearing boots in the water. A true fishing...
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Rocamadour
Rocamadour is known to many primarily as a goat cheese, and not the village from which it comes. Served with a bit of walnut or hazelnut oil and a few truffle slivers, this raw milk cabécou is without compare. As well, for over 25 years, the eponymous village has been holding a festival for its cheese...
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Truffle Market, Sarlat
Going to Sarlat is really making two trips: the first to the Middle Ages, the second to the heart of the truffle world. In December, two markets, one reserved for professionals, and the other for the general public, line up stalls in which the "black diamonds" compete. It is followed by the Truffle Festival...
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Jardins Sothys
In Auriac, an authentic Corrézien village, recharge your batteries and relax in contemporary gardens. Since 2007, Bernard Mas and landscape architects have been designing the gardens with various species, delicate and rare, with respect for nature. A set of intimate enclosures with varied atmospheres...
Read Moreless
A River Runs Through It
A Relais & Chateaux fishing relay?
The department of Lot offers exceptional opportunities for fishing enthusiasts! Nearly 2,000 km of preserved streams, rivers, lakes and ponds, offering infinite possibilities...
In the Dordogne, fly fishing is practiced while wearing boots in the water. A true fishing...
Read Moreless
On the route
The Lascaux Cave, Montignac
The site was closed to the general public in 1963 due to temperature and humidity problems in the cave. Some 1,900 depictions of animals, painted or carved, still decorate its walls. Although, a mere two hundred metres away, one can see a very high-quality reproduction of this incredible treasure from...
Hotel and restaurant in the country. Just outside Limoges, there is a peaceful haven where the lush vegetation is at its most beautiful. Time seems to stand still at La Chapelle Saint-Martin, where guests can step back in time and experience what life in the private residence of this 19th century porcelain manufacturer would have been like. Those who are partial to a beautiful landscape will instantly fall in love with the chapel surrounded by 35 hectares of 200 year-old trees. The surrounding countryside is delightful, and the grounds, ponds and old dock are the perfect place for quiet contemplation. While the house and gardens are historic, the inspirational cuisine is refreshingly modern.
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Limoges porcelain is known throughout the world as a symbol of the "French art of living", and is constantly renewing itself. The daughter and granddaughter of great porcelain makers, Sylvie Coquet has created for Michel Trama's establishment a tailor-made tasting plate as well as porcelain bells in...
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Bernardaud, masters of Limoges porcelain
Masters in porcelain for more than 150 years, the Bernardaud factory offers real interactive tours of its workshops. Here, you will discover the different stages of the manufacturing process, from the raw material to the finished product. Visitors are encouraged by the guide to touch the material in...
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Weston, exceptional shoes (Limoges)
Cutting the leather, stitching the upper, shaping the sole, assembling all the parts... it's difficult to imagine all the steps necessary to make a pair of exceptional shoes. By walking around the workshops of J.M. Weston, a company founded in 1891, visitors will discover all the facets of the art of...
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The porcelain museum, Limoges
After significant renovation and expansion works, the Adrien Dubouché National Museum reopened its doors in 2012. Created in 1845, it remains the largest public collection of porcelain from Limoges, with 12,000 porcelain and earthenware pieces! As such, the route will take you on a real journey through...
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Limoges-Bénédictins railway station
It’s the kind of station one goes to without having a train to catch. The Limoges train station is one of France’s most impressive, and its architecture makes it a real attraction. A mix of late Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Neoclassicism, this station – classified as a historic monument, and still in use...
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Sylvie Coquet, and the New Porcelain of Limoges
Limoges porcelain is known throughout the world as a symbol of the "French art of living", and is constantly renewing itself. The daughter and granddaughter of great porcelain makers, Sylvie Coquet has created for Michel Trama's establishment a tailor-made tasting plate as well as porcelain bells in...
Read Moreless
Bernardaud, masters of Limoges porcelain
Masters in porcelain for more than 150 years, the Bernardaud factory offers real interactive tours of its workshops. Here, you will discover the different stages of the manufacturing process, from the raw material to the finished product. Visitors are encouraged by the guide to touch the material in...
**Offer cannot be combined, valid for an itinerary in at least 2 different Relais & Châteaux establishments, reserved with Relais & Châteaux concierges, discount applicable on certain rates and certain establishments. List available from our concierges.
Total price communicated as an indication, based on a stay of the number of nights recommended on this webpage, taking place in the next 3 months, and based on double occupancy (excluding recommended activities, excluding properties not bookable online).
Reservation Service
To give you inspiration, Relais & Châteaux presents the Routes du Bonheur:
Suggestions for travel itineraries that you can fully personalise according to your wishes and the experiences you would like to discover. Our consultants are available to help customise your route and assist you in making reservations at our properties. It is up to you to reserve any recommended activities on-site or nearby that might interest you.
** Offer cannot be combined, valid for an itinerary in at least 2 different Relais & Châteaux establishments, reserved with Relais & Châteaux concierges, discount applicable on certain rates and certain establishments. List available from our concierges. Call our concierge to tailormade your booking and itinerary*. *Price of a local call
From Toulouse to Limoges: the nature and wonders of the great Southwest
This route was created by Michel Trama, Chef and Owner of Hotel Restaurant Michel Trama
"Born in Constantine, I studied psychosociology in Washington, D.C. and in Montreal, and then did a year of preparatory classes for Arts Déco before leaving for Club Med, where I worked as a scuba diver. Upon joining Captain Cousteau, I met my future wife, Maryse, with whom I would later move to Paris. I first worked as a server in a pizzeria, and then, in the hall for a Greek restaurateur. I learned about cooking through August Escoffier’s and Michel Guérard’s books. I copied them, tried the recipes a thousand times, making mistakes almost every time. Basically, that’s the story of my life. I had never been to Puymirol before buying this forgotten building in 1978. There was the sunshine, birds singing, and grandmothers sitting on benches in the shade of century-old walls. We never left, having discovered a region with a wealth of diverse scenery, products, and people…"
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