Hôtel Le Cro-Magnon

A big thank you to Jan and Ruud for inviting the Starr family to dinner during our holiday. We really appreciated that kindness. Jan’s food was a delight, fresh, delicious, perfectly cooked and beautifully presented, and Ruud and his team served it with smiles. The hotel is beautifully decorated and looks like a luxurious place to stay. We hope to do that in the future. I highly recommend the limecello! Many thanks from me, Keith, Val and Cassie.

They even took care of my very dirty camping laundry and rented me an electric bike for the ride to Lascaux and back. The hosts are warm and wonderful, and they fed me well too. I highly recommend doing that ride, at least in the off-season: take the quiet route east of the Vezere on the way up, then come back through the small towns on the west side of the river. They really went above and beyond to make my stay special.

After first staying at the Cro Magnon about 45 years ago, and once eating at its restaurant back when it had a Michelin star, I returned to find it reimagined by a Belgian couple. You get a lot for your money: good service, excellent breakfasts, good dining and easy parking, at least in the off-season. My only quibble was the lack of a grab bar in the deep, slippery bathtub.

The bar is exquisite, with local beers, personal favorites and even some Belgian ones. Jan and Ruud can also help book other great nearby places to eat if you want. The rooms are clean and comfy, and the pool and terrace are excellent. It’s a lovely traditional hotel brought up to modern standards, with warm service all around, a perfect continental breakfast and a restaurant with a varied menu. These guys are just awesome.