Situated in the southwest of France, between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees mountains, the Dordogne region, otherwise known as the Perigord, remains eternally popular with foreign visitors. Holidays in the Dordogne are popular for a number of reasons including its lush green landscapes, beautiful river valleys, grand tradition of wine making and some of the oldest examples of human existence on the planet. Many people return year after year, choosing to stay in either a traditional French gite or farm cottage in its verdant valleys, or opting to rent a villa close to the regional capital of Bergerac, and the vineyards it is famous for.
The Dordogne, takes its local name of Perigord from the Gauls, who once settled in and developed the area, but the prehistoric caves at Lascaux and Grand Roc bear testament to much earlier inhabitants, and contain paintings considered by many to be the best in the world. A region of medieval villages and pristine countryside, including the oak and pine forests surrounding Sarlat, which give the area the name “Black Perigord”, the Dordogne has a wealth of historical attractions spanning millennia.
The region is often seen as comprising three distinctly individual areas. The lower Dordogne valley, from Bergerac to Salat including the River Vezere, the north around Brantome including the Drone Valley and the ancient city of Perigeaux, and finally, the east, upstream of the River Dordogne towards the stone villages of Rocamadour and Souillac, including the caves at Gouffre de Padirac.
Many visitors who rent Dordogne accommodation, make hiking a big part of their holiday, and the region has a great selection of paths and trails for walkers of all abilities. The reward is to get off the beaten track and explore areas normally hidden from the public, including the grand chateau of Tremolat, with its fabulous gardens, and the village of Limueil home to an ancient church. Also becoming popular with the adventurous is staying at one of the country house hotels in and around Les Eyzies, and making a tour of the nearby River Vezere and Gorge d’Enfer, discovering its prehistorical sites including the Caves of Grand Roc and L’abri du Poisson.
Don’t confine a visit to the Dordogne to the river and valley giving the area its name. Make time to explore to the north and south, where timeless chateaux, fortresses and hill towns rise up around the valleys, containing ancient churches, bastides, thriving markets and some fantastic vineyards. The Dordogne is also considered one of France’s gastronomic highlights and staying in a farmhouse rental in villages such as Rocamadour, Domme or Monpazier, means you’ll be able to stock up on a great selection of cured meats, cheeses, truffles and the region’s world famous pates at the excellent market in Sarlat-le Caneda.
The Dordogne is a region rich in cultural heritage and abundant in natural treasures. Its medieval and prehistoric attractions are liberally sprinkled across its fertile and picturesque landscape, meaning nature lovers cannot help but be charmed by its chateaus and museums, while aficionados revel in the picturesque settings of its most beautiful buildings.