BEST TRAVELER'S CHOICE 2026
BEST TRAVELER'S CHOICE 2026
Seven days in the real Dordogne behind Martin Walker’s beloved Bruno novels, with Martin himself joining you for a day of market, history, and wine.
For readers of Martin Walker’s Bruno novels, the Dordogne is not fiction; it is the market at Le Bugue, the châteaux above the river, the quiet villages where his Chief of Police, Benoît Courrèges, keeps watch over St. Denis. This seven-night journey, offered twice in April 2027, moves through that real landscape, based entirely at Les Cordeliers, our 1870’s maison de maître in the heart of Sarlat’s medieval village.
The week travels through prehistory at Lascaux, a Saturday market beneath Sarlat’s stone arcades, a hands-on cooking class with Chef Ian Fisk, the gardens of Eyrignac Manor, and the châteaux of Milandes and Beynac. At its center, a single day hosted entirely by Martin Walker: an open-air market tour, the historical sites that shaped his books, a wine tasting at Julien de Savignac, and lunch with the author himself at his private home.
2:00 pm – 5:00 pm arrivals · 6:00 pm reception.
– Guests arrive at Les Cordeliers throughout the afternoon
– Opening reception with wine and grazing boards
10:00 am – 6:00 pm.
– The Museum of Prehistory
– Lunch at La Poste in Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère
– Lascaux IV in the afternoon
– Wine and grazing boards at Les Cordeliers
– Dinner at Gueule & Gosier
10:00 am – 7:00 pm.
– The Sarlat market
– Lunch on your own
– Guided walking tour of Sarlat departing from Les Cordeliers
– Dinner at Le Présidial
10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
– Full-day cooking class at CookDordogne
– Wine and grazing boards
– Light supper at Les Cordeliers
10:00 am – 7:00 pm.
– The gardens at Eyrignac
– Lunch on site
– Château de Commarque in the afternoon
– Dinner at Le Coin Coin
9:15 am – 4:00 pm, in Le Bugue.
– A tour of the market
– The historical sites that shaped the novels
– Wine tasting at Julien de Savignac
– Lunch with Martin
– Wine and cheese, then a light supper at Les Cordeliers
10:00 am – 6:00 pm.
– A final market morning
– Château des Milandes and Château de Beynac in the afternoon
– Dinner at Aux Trois Sens
Departures from 10:00 am.
– Breakfast
– Farewells and departure at your own pace
Every evening returns to Les Cordeliers for wine and gourmet grazing boards before dinner, with hosts Susan Buchanan and Stephen White present for nearly every part of the week. Susan and Stephen fell for Sarlat on a brief visit in 2025 and never looked back, trading their inn and restaurant in Vermont’s ski country for this 1870’s maison de maître in the heart of the medieval city. Stephen, a chef and certified wine educator, loves sharing the region’s history and gastronomy; Susan, a professionally trained baker and near-native French speaker, has a gift for making a stay feel like home.
Before Sarlat, Stephen spent nearly two decades in wine and spirits sales in New England, later earning his Certified Spanish Wine Educator credential and WSET II. Susan spent over twenty years as a professional fundraiser for leading medical research institutions, including Massachusetts General Hospital and Johns Hopkins Medicine, and holds a law degree and a master’s degree in French, with a fellowship year in Strasbourg.
Together, they ran Tucker Hill Inn & Restaurant in Vermont’s Mad River Valley, and now bring that same hands-on hospitality to every signature trip they host. One or both of them will be with you throughout the week.
For readers of the Bruno novels, the Dordogne bears his signature. At the heart of the week, a full day hosted by Martin Walker himself: a tour of Le Bugue’s open-air market, the historical sites that shaped his books, a wine tasting at Julien de Savignac, and lunch with the author himself, at his home.
Chef Ian Fisk leads the week’s hands-on cooking classes at CookDordogne in Saint-Cyprien: Sarlat market produce, French techniques, and the dishes you create yourself around his table.
Typically, no fewer than 6 and no more than 12 participants (not including guides and support team).
Single occupancy requests require a supplemental charge, considered on a case-by-case basis depending on availability. Request a quote from Les Cordeliers.
Should it be necessary to cancel, the reservation may be transferred to another person following their acceptance by Les Cordeliers. Otherwise, the following charges apply per person:
Final itineraries may vary slightly; inclement weather may also necessitate alterations.
All trips are conducted in English
