Château Belmont (Jean Bardet)

Description:

• In three rooms of a 19th-century château, this restaurant is the creation of the Michelin two-star chef Jean Bardet, who considers all meals here "an orchestration of wines, alcohol, food, and cigars." That's not to say that you must partake of all four to have one of the best meals in the region. Specialties include lobster ragout, sliced sea bass with comfit of tomatoes and artichoke hearts, sliced pork with caviar, consommé of crab with squid ink, and scallops with a purée of shallots and truffle cream. The duck giblets and lobster accompanied by a red-wine and orange sauce are reason enough to visit.

  The rest of the château, a 21-room luxury hotel, is the domain of Bardet's wife, Sophie. The spacious, air-conditioned rooms are individually decorated; they have high ceilings, fireplaces, TVs, minibars, and antique furnishings. Some have private balconies that open onto the gardens. Bathrooms are luxurious, with tub/shower combinations. A double room costs 145€ to 400€ ($210-$580).

• © Frommer's 2012

Awards:

Frommer's

•  Recommended 2010