Business of the month
A luxury bed-and-breakfast considered one of the best places to stay in the Périgord Noir is up for sale, Ruth Wood discovers
It’s hard to imagine that Sarlat-la-Canéda was once a sleeping beauty of a town.
When this beautiful mansion was built in the 1870s, the Dordogne community was a backwater, its population much diminished from its trading glory days, its fairytale buildings only whispering of medieval grandeur. And then along came a handsome prince – or rather France’s Minister of Cultural Affairs André Malraux.
Thanks to his efforts in the 1960s, Sarlat became the proof of concept for a new law on restoring and safeguarding towns of historic importance.
Today, the capital of the Périgord Noir is glowing with health – literally – for the famous golden glow of its medieval buildings is as integral to its popularity as its gastronomic reputation and Unesco World Heritage Site status. On the edge of the historic centre, this luxury B&B business also basks in the Sarlat glow – but that’s not the only reason why Les Cordeliers has glowing reviews. Since taking over the property four years ago, owners Jeffrey Klein and Seung-Won Oh have worked tirelessly to renovate the property and build an impeccable reputation.
Les Cordeliers is featured in the Michelin Green Guide and Rick Steves Guidebook, and has over 700 reviews on TripAdvisor, with an approval rating of more than 99%. In fact, at the time of writing, the tourism website ranks the B&B as one of the top 10 places to stay in the whole of Dordogne. Offering 400m 2 of living space, the handsome maison de maître has seven spacious guest bedrooms, an owners’ apartment and a large breakfast room overlooking the enchanting Place de la Petite Rigaudie gardens. “Guests often describe a feeling of both warmth and elegance because there’s all the friendliness and intimacy of a guesthouse, yet the space and privacy of a mansion,” says Jeffrey. “I love seeing their initial impressions as they glance around and have a glimpse of the dining room, which inevitably evokes the wow factor.”
Les Cordeliers enjoys 85% occupancy from April to November, generating a healthy 15% yield. Almo
