LA SALAMANDRE
La Salamandre (Salamander) Suite, at 85 sq m in size, has a very large bedroom equipped with a 160 cm queen bed, a separate and roomy salon, fully equipped kitchen with a handsome gas range, bath with shower and a beautiful balcony – one of the prominent features of the whole of Sarlat. There is fine woodwork of the 18th century, original parquet floors, and two monumental wooden fireplaces dating from the period of Louis XIV. (Due to fire regulations, however, both are blocked and not in use.) Tall French windows and elegant decor make this apartment exceptional for lovers of Le Grand Siecle!
– In folklore, salamanders had fantastic powers surprising for what is a rather small, humble creature. The ‘fire salamander’ hibernated in hollow logs and with wood being the main fuel in ancient times; this may explain their sudden appearance amid flames. Withstanding fire became symbolic for endurance and loyalty. At the conclusion of the 100 Years War between France and England, the French king granted the Salamander as the badge of Sarlat to commemorate its absolute and never changing loyalty to France.
Guest reviews
“Fantastic stay, would definitely come back
Really lovely apartment, tastefully furnished with well-equipped kitchen and nice shower.”
“Nothing like it!
We stayed here for three nights and wish we had scheduled a month! Suites Sarladaises is no ordinary hotel or Airbnb. It offers whole apartments and studios that include everything one would need for a long or short stay. Kitchens are equipped with very nice dishes and even copper pans – the gracious owners spared nothing to please guests who want comfort, ease, and beauty… not to mention history. The suites also offer privacy and quiet – there is one staircase and two units on each floor. The Suites are in the center of Sarlat, conveniently located for trips along the Dordogne and pleasant walks in Sarlat. Car parking was not considered in medieval times when Sarlat was built, but the owners can direct you to a lot that is very conveniently close. Ask the owners about the building’s history. There’s nothing to not like here – we will return!”
“Dear Francesco and Dan
We wish to express our sincere thanks for allowing us the opportunity to stay in this wonderful building and apartment. It is so beautifully and tastefully decorated, and we love antiques.
Thank you also for the welcome goodies of wine, strawberries, fruit juice and water. The wine was extremely enjoyable, and we were impressed that you had thought of everything. We would love to come back again, but if we can’t, we will be happy to recommend it to anyone.
So thanks again. Our kind regards to you.”
“This apartment is in the most perfect location if you are going to stay in Sarlat. There are two parking options quite close (one paid (very expensive) and one free)but be mindful you still need to carry your luggage to the apartment and up some stairs. We managed with a baby but some may find this a bit challenging. We stayed in the large apartment and it was just perfect. Massive bedroom with an amazing balcony. Fully stocked kitchen, you name it, it had it. If you plan to go to Sarlat, look no further, you won’t be disappointed.”
“Beautiful apartment and location!
My husband and I had a wonderful 5 night stay in the Salamander Suite at Les Suites Sarladaises. I can’t speak highly enough of the beauty of the apartment and the location. The furnishings and details of the old building were magnificent, the kitchen was well stocked (cooking with the collection of copper pots was a dream!) and the bathroom was perfect. The highlight was the balcony, where we sat each morning for breakfast and in the evenings for drinks and/or dinner. The hosts are extremely helpful and accommodating and we appreciated their excellent local recommendations, from restaurants to which vendor has the best strawberries at the market. This apartment is perfectly located for exploring the highlights of the Dordogne valley area and we enjoyed taking drives each day and returning to our beautiful apartment each evening. Sarlat itself is also extremely charming and we loved wandering the town, especially in the evenings after dinner. We would be thrilled to have the chance to visit again one day and stay in this beautiful place. Daniel and Francesco, thank you for sharing your beautiful place with us and for a lovely stay!”
“I highly recommend staying at Daniels place while in Sarlat! It’s located in the heart of the town and an easy walk to restaurants and shops. We enjoyed the peaceful and charming balcony, and the period decorations inside are beautiful and bring you back in time! Daniel was an excellent host, he was very knowledgeable and gave us lots of useful tips and restaurant recommendations. We would definitely stay here again!”
“The apartment made it an amazing holiday. The property was stunning and had been sympathetically restored to its historical glory. The attention to detail was impressive a really beautiful apartment.”
“The experience of living in a Historic old town and apartment that added to the old French feel. The owners had spent a lot of time creating this beautiful place to stay.”
“Authentic in Sarlat
I had a wonderful 2-night stay in the balcony apartment. It was a great experience to be in such historic and grand spaces. The main rooms are immense! The hosts were very helpful and provided interesting information about the house, along with many useful tips. The central location was fantastic, and quiet for sleeping even with the windows and doors open (late June and warm). Thank you Dan and Francesco, a marvelously memorable stay”
“Stunning apartment in Sarlat!
This apartment (and others on the property) are truly architectural gems that are comfortable and have all of the modern conveniences one could want. The bedroom and living areas are spacious, the kitchen is charming and well equipped, bath is smallish but expertly designed, and the balcony is perfect for morning coffee and evening dinners. The location within Sarlat could not be better. If you are thinking of touring the Dordogne region, Sarlat is the place to be. Our hosts were warm, welcoming, and helpful in every way. They have lots of written notes about places to go and things to see. Communications from the moment we booked were outstanding. If/when we return to the area, we will stay here.”
“An absolute gem of a place to stay
The location and renovation of a very old historic building was amazing in character but full of quality fitting. I don’t think there could be a better property in Sarlat. When we arrived there was a bottle of wine waiting, along with fresh strawberries and some local jams – a really nice touch. The facilities were exceptional -a full kitchen with the restaurant quality utensils, a selection of herbs spices so if you wished you could create a meal with the fabulous local ingredients. The host was discrete but if asked a fund of information on where to go, to eat etc. Couldn’t recommend highly enough.”
“A little piece of heaven in this restored historic building.
The hosts picked us up and dropped us off at the train station and gave us all sorts of recommendations to tour the area.”
“What a delightful discovery and on a day’s notice! It’s going to be difficult to keep this review short and concise when I really want to write a novel! While I had pretty much planned my 6 week visit to France quite precisely, 2 of my last stops were fairly last minute decisions. I contacted Les Suites on the last day of my stay in Carcassonne and was almost immediately, and enthusiastically told their largest suite was available and waiting for me! Even though my train arrived at 9 in the evening, the owner was cheerfully waiting for me at the station. I believe they do this for all their guests which is lucky because taxis are rare and the location, right in the heart of the town, rather difficult to get to without assistance. The Salamander Suite (one of 5 available) is huge, airy and light filled with unparalleled attention to detail. An entry hall, living room, full kitchen, compact bathroom with shower and a sumptuous bedchamber (the best word to describe this gorgeous space). A huge armoire and an ample bureau allow you to completely unpack. This is a vacation rental, not a B&B, but the owners have thoughtfully equipped the kitchen with every device conceivable to make meal preparation seamless, should you feel so inclined. And, your stay is begun with a bottle of wine, cheese, fruit, and a baguette. Juice and water in the fridge. No need to go restaurant hunting on your first evening, weather permitting, have a picnic on the fabulous balcony outside the bedroom! As for exploring the fascinating city of Sarlat, step outside the door and start walking! But, take your GPS! The owners have provided a booklet with helpful information on favorite restaurants and activities (as well as tons of historical information on the amazing building you’re staying in!) I could go on and on but will end by saying that my stay here was one of the highlights of my trip. Beyond all expectation. If I could give more stars, I would! You will LOVE this place and it’s wonderful owners!”
“Outstanding accommodations. We had the Salamander suite. It was very large with a well equipped kitchen, modern appliances (the stove was magnificent), beautiful antique dishes and stemware, a very large salon with high ceilings and a dining area to one side, a beautiful large bedroom with a lovely balcony with a table, chairs, plants and an umbrella. The balcony was perfect for breakfast, coffee and having an evening glass of wine or cocktail. The furnishings were all antique with two large walnut fireplaces, a beautiful antique armoire, an extremely comfortable bed and all the rooms had large windows allowing plenty of light in. There were also beautiful paintings on the wall. The location was perfect, about a minute walk into the beginning of the village, yet it was very quiet and away from the village sounds. Hosts Daniel and Francesco were very charming and couldn’t have been more thoughtful. They communicated well with us, helped us find free parking, helped carry our luggage to and from our car, and greeted us with fresh bread, a bottle of wine, jam, milk, orange juice, strawberries, and cheese. What treats! They compiled a book on the history of the suite, many suggestions for drives to the nearby beautiful villages in the Dordogne, and restaurant suggestions. They were exceptional hosts! I highly recommend staying in this beautiful place! Merci’ Daniel and Francesco for a wonderful stay in beautiful Sarlat! We hope to see you again!”
“Such friendly and helpful hosts, we loved the handmade booklet telling us all about the local area. The apartment is stunning and made a really special honeymoon location. The gorgeous balcony was the cherry on top!”
“In the heart of old Sarlat, Les Suites Sarladaises, an elegant, large apartment!
Very nice. The hosts were great and the location can’t be beat. Very pleasant place.”
“Dan and Francesco have done a top notch job of saving and renovating this 4 story gem of an historic stone building, truly in the heart of Sarlat and a block from the main plaza with its weekly farmers markets and bustle. Restaurants and shopping are easily found and all within the remaining walls of the old city. The pedestrian areas are fabulous and it is all within an easy walk. They have really done a great job restoring each flat to the original character, and the furnishings complete the feeling that you living in the days of old, with modern conveniences included. As owners, you could not ask for more. They took great care in making sure we arrived, got settled, and had all our needs met. Surely a place for anyone who would like to ditch their car and live with history all around!”
“Stepping out onto the balcony of La Salamandre Apartment, I saw the empty gaslit streets and walls of the stone houses below, winding their way down toward the great church. Its lit cupola and bell tower stand in my view above the tiled roofs, just as it has from this balcony for the last 500 years. I breathed in the fresh clean air of this most special place in the Dordogne, Sarlat-la-Canéda, certainly one of the most amazingly preserved Medieval towns in France and anywhere. We had a few friends in for dinner and I felt as if I was in my home kitchen. The fridge and pantry with stocked with all the basics to make it through the first few days. The dishes and glasses were antiques and enough vases and bowls to make the evening festive. Dan said if there was anything we could not find to give him a call. I didn’t have to. This place lent its magic and feel to an enjoyable evening.”
“Excellent location, apartment is very nicely decorated. Owners are extremely nice and helpful. Thank you.”
