Hôtel Restaurant Le Victor Hugo

On the crossroads between Dordogne, Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne, Vigiers Castle is a splendid 16C Périgord edifice set in grounds that are home to a vineyard and a well-known golf course. This several hundred-year-old castle houses a restaurant whose walls are graced with frescoes dating from the Renaissance period. Virtuoso chef Didier Casaguana paints from a palette rich in flavours and aromas, directly inspired by the region. This Toulouse boy, who admits to an overriding passion for nature and small-scale producers, also works with noble produce from the land of abundance that is southwest

At the top of the Bergerac vineyards, next to an old windmill, this beautiful and opulent establishment affords an unforgettable view. Chef Damien Fagette taps into the Périgord terroir and its produce, working with Blonde d'Aquitaine beef, foie gras and free-range Périgord chicken. His skilfully and meticulously crafted contemporary cuisine is a successful alliance of fine ingredients, accurate cooking and well-defined flavours: langoustine tartare with a spicy lemongrass shell jus and green asparagus; fillet of beef with Kalamata olives and stuffed morels; warm soufflé with Grand Marnier. A

The small village of Saussignac (some 20km from Bergerac) is home to this charming stone building that is typical of the region and located right next to the château. Beyond the wooden terrace, the restaurant interior, which features exposed stone walls, hardwood floors and white-painted beams, is brought up to date by a handful of more contemporary decorative touches. In the kitchen, a blend of styles and influences goes into creating colourful, innovative dishes made with seasonal ingredients: confit turkey leg, mashed potatoes, mushrooms and a corn and bacon sauce.