Château de Belet: a night in a 15th-century castle in the Périgord

The Château de Belet stands near Saint-Aquilin, a quiet village on the edge of the Double forest in the Dordogne. Wikipedia dates the castle to the 15th century and Expedia gives 1453; it is also the birthplace of Alain de Solminihac, the churchman beatified in 1981. Renovated in 2023, it now takes overnight guests, with a pool, a garden and breakfast included, about 19 km from Périgueux.

At a glance

Location: Saint-Aquilin, Dordogne department (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), in the Périgord, about 19 km west of Périgueux as the crow flies
Accommodation: 15th-century castle (1453 according to Expedia), listed as an upscale castle, over three floors; the whole property was renovated in March 2023
Highlights: Outdoor pool (closed 1 Nov–30 Apr), garden, terrace, fire pit, barbecue, bar/lounge, continental breakfast included, free Wi-Fi
Guest rating: 10.0/10 from 6 reviews on Expedia (as of 14 Oct 2026)
Check-in & check-out: Check-in 4–7 pm (late check-in 9 pm to midnight for a surcharge) · check-out by 10 am
Good to know: Dogs and cats allowed (daily fee per pet) · no lift · non-smoking · electric-vehicle charging point · dinner on request at extra cost

Check availability & prices on Expedia

Staying at the Château de Belet: a night in a renovated Périgord castle

Expedia describes the Château de Belet as an upscale castle in a rural setting, with individually furnished rooms. According to the listing, bedding is made of Egyptian cotton with a down duvet and a pillow-top mattress, and rooms have blackout curtains, air conditioning, a laptop-size safe and a private bathroom with a rain shower, underfloor heating, bathrobes and slippers. A 60-inch TV with cable, satellite and streaming services, free mineral water and electrical adapters are listed too.

A continental breakfast is included every day between 9 and 10 am. Dinner cooked by the host can be arranged daily at extra cost, with a reservation, and the castle also lists private picnics and dining for couples. Outside there are a terrace, a garden with a fire pit and a barbecue, and an outdoor pool that is closed from 1 November to 30 April. In-room massages, a laundry, guidebooks and romance and proposal packages are listed as well.

The castle has no lift. Public areas have tile, parquet and cobblestone floors, which is worth bearing in mind if you have limited mobility. Dogs and cats are allowed for a daily fee per pet (assistance animals are exempt), and there is a charging point for electric vehicles.

The history of the Château de Belet

Neolithic – The Dolmen de Peyre-Brune, also known as the Dolmen de Belet, is raised 1.6 km from the present castle.
12th century – The first written mention of the village of Saint-Aquilin appears, in the Latin form Sancti Aquilini.
15th century – The Château de Belet is built. Wikipedia gives the 15th century; Expedia gives the year 1453.
25 November 1593 – Alain de Solminihac is born at the Château de Belet.
1659 – Alain de Solminihac, by then abbot of Chancelade and bishop of Cahors, dies at Mercuès near Cahors.
1927 and 1981 – He is declared venerable in 1927 and beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1981.
March 2023 – According to Expedia, the entire property is renovated.

Wikipedia lists the Château de Belet among the monuments of Saint-Aquilin as a 15th-century private property, and the sources consulted give no more architectural detail. What is documented is the link with Alain de Solminihac (1593–1659), a churchman from the Périgord who became abbot of Chancelade and later bishop of Cahors, and who is now honoured as Blessed.

The area is older still. The Dolmen de Peyre-Brune, a short drive through the forest, holds the remains of burials from the Neolithic, and the grave goods found there in the 19th century are kept in the museum of art and archaeology of the Périgord in Périgueux.

Facilities and services at the Château de Belet

The details below come from the Expedia listing (as of 14 Oct 2026); room details may vary from room to room.

Rooms

Free Wi-Fi in all rooms (over 100 Mbit/s)
Egyptian cotton bedding, down duvet and pillow-top mattress
Blackout curtains, air conditioning and laptop-size safe
Private bathroom with rain shower and underfloor heating
Bathrobes, slippers and towels
60-inch TV with cable, satellite and streaming
Free mineral water and electrical adapters
Housekeeping on request

Food & drink

Continental breakfast included, daily 9–10 am
Bar/lounge
Dinner cooked by the host, on request at extra cost
Private picnics and dining for couples
Barbecue and picnic area

Grounds & leisure

Outdoor pool (closed 1 Nov–30 Apr)
Garden, terrace and outdoor furniture
Fire pit
In-room massages
Bike tours and private winery tours
Walking and cycling routes

Services

Free open-air parking without service (limited spaces)
Electric-vehicle charging point
Laundry
Cot and extra bed (extra cost)
Guidebooks, romance and proposal packages
No lift

See rooms & photos on Expedia

Where the Château de Belet is: in the Périgord, between Périgueux and the Double forest

The castle stands near the village of Saint-Aquilin, which lies on the eastern edge of the Double forest, a largely wooded area dotted with ponds. The village is about 1.5 km away, Saint-Astier about 7 km to the south-east and Neuvic some 10 km to the south. Périgueux, the capital of the Périgord, is about 19 km away as the crow flies. A car is the practical way to get around.

Expedia names Moulin de la Veyssière (about 13 km), the tourist office in Ribérac (about 16 km), the Vesunna Gallo-Roman Museum in Périgueux, Chancelade Abbey and canoeing on the nearby rivers among the attractions of the area.

Closer to the castle there is plenty for lovers of old stones: the Dolmen de Peyre-Brune, the Château de la Martinie, Puyferrat and the fortified church of Saint-Astier all lie within about 7 km.

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Distances (as the crow flies from the Château de Belet)

Saint-Aquilin (village)	approx. 1.5 km
Dolmen de Peyre-Brune	approx. 1.5 km
Château de la Martinie	approx. 2.5 km
Château de Segonzac	approx. 3.5 km
Château de Puyferrat	approx. 5.5 km
Saint-Astier	approx. 6.5 km
Château de Neuvic	approx. 10 km
Périgueux	approx. 19 km
Périgueux Cathedral	approx. 19 km
Mussidan	approx. 20 km

Distances calculated as the crow flies from the position given by Expedia.

Things to see around the Château de Belet

Dolmen de Peyre-Brune

approx. 1.5 km

A Neolithic burial chamber of six upright sandstone slabs under a tilted capstone. Excavated in 1874 and listed as a historic monument since 1889.