Susan Buchanan and Stephen White’s
BOUTIQUE STYLE LES CORDELIERS
Exceptional openings 2025/2026. Click here
Susan Buchanan and Stephen White’s
BOUTIQUE STYLE LES CORDELIERS
Les Cordeliers de Sarlat is an award-winning, boutique-style bed and breakfast. Located in the historical center of enchanting Sarlat la-Caneda, this 1870’s carved stone mansion is an upscale destination for a luxurious, comfortable, and tranquil stay with a warm, personal touch.
Your hosts, passionate about gastronomy, share their passion for travelling and exploring and take great pleasure in making sure you get the most out of your visit to the Dordogne. A delicious, continental breakfast with local produce, served in our elegant dining room, will have you out of bed and looking forward to the day.
Les Cordeliers is ideally situated to enjoy everything Sarlat has to offer, starting with the gourmet farmers’ markets, just steps away every Wednesday and Saturday.
You will savor the mornings at Les Cordeliers as you contemplate the day’s activities and getting to know the brilliant architecture, history and landscape of Sarlat and its surroundings. And after a full day of sightseeing, why not take in a relaxing massage at the wellness center across the street that will refresh you for an evening at one of the area’s many fine restaurants.
Whether you are here to appreciate the renowned historical monuments, the Truffle Festival, Theatre Festival, Film Festival, Christmas Market, Walnut Festival, cycling the Dordogne Valley, or canoeing on The Dordogne or Vezere rivers, you will find great comfort and relaxation at Les Cordeliers de Sarlat.
Many of the property’s elements are original, including the marble fireplaces, the hardwood floors, the 12-foot ceilings, the louvered shutters, wooden beams, windows and doors.
Les Cordeliers offers exceptionally spacious guest rooms, each with its own ensuite bathroom, all of which feel very open, airy, and sunny. In addition to the dining room on the ground floor, there is a kitchenette stocked with coffe, tea and filtered water for guests to share.
The view from several guest rooms is of the charming Place de la Petite Rigaudie gardens.
Les Cordeliers de Sarlat’s moment of fame came in 2009, with world famous travel writer Rick Steve’s visit. His review caught the attention of many global travelers:
“Les Cordeliers offers four-star comfort at two-star prices. The five, cushy guest rooms are cavernous; all are air-conditioned and beautifully furnished, and a small kitchen is at your disposal with self-serve coffee and tea.”
Les Cordeliers de Sarlat is a classic 1870’s ‘Maison de Maitre’ house and showcases one-meter thick walls of golden ochre stone.
Translated as ‘master’s house’, the maison de maître is an elegant mansion that served as the home of a squire or minor landowner. Its symmetrical facade with central front door, tall sash-style windows, shutters, and gently pitched roof with supporting chimneys make it instantly recognisable. Behind the stately facade, this maison de maître features evenly proportioned interiors with high ceilings.
There are two guest rooms, and a “petit salon” with outdoor terrace for all guests to enjoy on the third floor, three guest rooms on the second floor, and a dining room on the ground floor where breakfast is served. The home’s owner in the 1870’s would have received and entertained guests in this elegant space with grand, floor-to-ceiling windows allowing enchanting views of the village awaiting your discovery.
The house extends approximately 5,000 square feet. All guest rooms have en-suite bathrooms, and are accessible by one central staircase. There is no elevator and no public restroom on the property.
Les Cordeliers de Sarlat has been consistently awarded the winner of Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice and Booking.com’s Traveler Review Award for nearly two decades.
On a brief trip to Sarlat la-Caneda, Susan and Stephen fell in love with the town. They had been planning to relocate abroad after owning and operating their first inn and restaurant in Vermont’s ski country, but never imagined it would happen so quickly or in such a magical place: A vibrant community with easy access to hiking, cycling, water sports, downhill skiing as well as music, art, film and photography. Sarlat la-Caneda has it all.
Having extensively searched the Internet for months, Stephen found the listing for Les Cordeliers de Sarlat and immediately thought it would make the perfect bed and breakfast. Susan instantly agreed, and the acquisition was completed in just six months.
A chef, certified Spanish wine educator, former ski instructor and free-style competitor, Stephen loves imparting his knowledge of geography, history and all things culinary. A baker, near-native French speaker, interior designer, gardener and avid downhill skier, Susan enjoys being of service to guests and creating warm, relaxing environments for them. Together, Susan and Stephen bring their decades-long experience in hospitality, gastronomy, travel, special events, team-building and mentorship to Les Cordeliers.
Convinced that life is for living and learning, Susan and Stephen found the best place to practice the “joie de vivre” is in Sarlat-la-Caneda and the Dordogne region, where an appreciation for village life is high, relationships are profound, food is joyful, art is a necessity, and living an active life is accessible.
Breakfast is served daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM in the dining room on the ground floor which overlooks la Petite Rigaudie gardens.
In an intimate and warm atmosphere, conversations flow with the excitement of the day ahead as plans are made.
The breakfast menu is locally sourced and fresh: Espresso, juice, natural cereals, seasonally available whole fruit, yogurt, hams, cheeses and jams. Of course, there are viennoiseries and freshly-baked breads from favorite boulangeries. The creations from specialty shops like Chez Piero, Gbs Boucherie, Le Gourmet Perigourdin and Maison Lissajoux regularly grace Les Cordeliers’ breakfast table.
Ready and waiting. There is nothing more comforting than knowing that from the moment you wake up, your first and most important meal of the day is ready and waiting!
