A stay at Château de Mercuès encourages a stroll through centuries of art and history. 13th century Mercuès was the summer home and ancient dwelling of the counts and bishops of Cahors for more than 1200 years. Specially selected as one of the first Relais and Châteaux properties, it is now a beautiful hotel, which has returned to its original vocation as a wine-producing estate, proud of its historic past.

The year 1992 signalled the arrival of the manager, Bernard Denegre, who was joined 5 years later by the accomplished chef, Phillipe Combet. Throughout the years, through their combined effort, the place has developed a special, almost sublime, spirit of its own with a penchant for professionalism.

In its present incarnation, its fairy-tale turrets and towers converted into sumptuous and authentic guest rooms are individually decorated but all are impossibly rich. Some with stone walls and exposed timbers, others more refined, with fabric-covered walls and ornate antique wardrobes.

Gastronomically famed, the château enables you to savour a superb marbre d'asperges vertes au foie gras à la vinaigrette d'huile de truffes, famous in this area, before deliberating over the elegance of the latest vintage wines produced in the château's superbly stunning vaulted cellars.