History

The first records of settlement at "Le Mas de Montet" date back to Roman times – it is from this period that the name of the estate originates.  Local archaeological digs have uncovered many Roman artefacts, which can be found in the Gallo-Roman museum in the village.  The buildings remaining today show vestiges of the 15th and 16th centuries – careful restoration has been undertaken to preserve these important records.

The Château is shown clearly on the first Napoleonic land surveys, together with the water mill and moat that then existed, of which traces remain.  The current buildings were clearly crafted out of existing structures, explaining some of the interesting architectural compromises made to accommodate the relatively formal Renaissance style of the current Château.

In the 19th century Le Mas de Montet was the home of the Marquis de Nattes.  He undertook significant alterations to the property and planted the park with unusual and exotic trees. He became a national hero leading the Dordogne infantry against the Prussians in the Franco-Prussian war, and is commemorated at the war memorial in nearby Ribérac.

His wife, the Marquise de Nattes, earned a somewhat more dubious reputation, through her brutal treatment of her staff and her son.  At the same time, she was completely indulgent of her pet monkeys, which were allowed to run amok in the village; she apparently demonstrated similar benevolence towards her butler, who benefited significantly from her will.

Le Mas de Montet passed through the hands of several owners over the course of the next forty years.  Then, in the early 1960s, the property was bought by the Duvert / Rolland family, who farmed the estate and subsequently established a hôtel-restaurant. 

The Château closed in 1997 and was completely renovated to modern standards prior to re-opening in 2005.

Much of the estate was devastated by the storm of 1999. Whilst requiring a great deal of work over the coming years, this has also provided an exciting opportunity to create new gardens, recreate the kitchen gardens and orchard, renovate the park and rejuvenate the woodland. After more than 2000 years, Le Mas de Montet continues to evolve.

President Mitterrand pictured in the early nineties, outside the Salon d'Hiver

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