Historic mill becomes luxury Dordogne hotel

In the heart of Brantôme-en-Périgord, one of the Dordogne’s most picturesque villages, the Moulin de l’Abbaye Hotel occupies three historic buildings tied to the local abbey. The main building is the old mill itself, a sixteenth-century structure that once ground grain, spun textiles, and supplied electricity to the town before shutting down at the end of the 1800s. During the 1980s it was carefully restored, with white stone walls and wooden beams left exposed, and reopened as the first luxury hotel in Brantôme.

Just a few meters from the mill, by the entrance to the Troglodyte caves, sits Miller’s House. Across the river stands the eighteenth-century Abbey House. Together these three buildings hold twenty rooms, each named after a famous French wine and divided into three main categories. The old mill, the miller’s residence, and the abbot’s house all blend preserved period construction with contemporary design and modern amenities.

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Rooms with Private Terrace come with a private jacuzzi and overlook the river and the Jardin des Moines, a park on the opposite bank. Each building also has a Family Room, which can sleep up to four using a sofa bed alongside the main bed. Classic Rooms are on the ground floor and the third floor of the Abbot’s House, about 300 meters from the mill; one is equipped for guests with mobility problems. Dogs are welcome.

It is popular with couples looking for a touch of luxury, but the hotel also works for families — there are three family rooms — and solo travelers. Prices start at £163 per night for two adults in a Classic Room, breakfast not included.

The hotel is seasonal, opening at the end of March.

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The hotel offers three restaurants with different menus. The Restaurant Room sits on the water’s edge and has earned a Michelin star for its refined Dordogne cuisine. Guests can eat indoors or on the terrace. Au Fil du Temps is a bistro focused on local traditional dishes using ingredients from regional markets and producers. Au Fil de l’Eau, a fish restaurant, is right on the bank of the Dronne River and specializes in traditional fish dishes from the area. Meat dishes are also available — it is Périgord, after all. Drinks from the hotel bar can be taken in the lounge, on the terrace outside the restaurant, or under the trees in the riverside garden. Free public WiFi is available throughout, and room service operates during the season.

It sits on the Dronne River, which flows around it, offering views of the Jardin des Moines on one side and the Brantôme Abbey on the other. The gardens include shady secluded spots and a sun terrace.