Our region

The former county of Périgord,  now roughly corresponding to the department of the Dordogne, is located in the heart of southwestern France between Bordeaux, Lot and Corrèze. It benefits from a particularly temperate climate which makes it a pleasant region to live in all seasons and a privileged holidays destination for couples, friends or families. National Geographic has made it one of its 28 favourite destinations around the world for 2019.

The great history book of this province transports you to all the eras of human civilization. Impregnated with culture and art of living, it is one of the richest departments in France, after Paris, for the number of historical monuments. Caves, shelters and chasms, thousand and one castles, Bastides and Cities of art and history, 10 of the most beautiful villages in France, Parks and gardens, preserved nature and waterways...

Beyond its exceptional historical and cultural heritage, Périgord is also a formidable market of flavours (wines, truffles, foie gras, nuts, strawberries...) and a region offering a wide variety of outdoor activities.

DORdogne PérigORd, c'est de l'OR! (Dordogne Périgord is GOLD!)

The list below is far from exhaustive, as our region is so rich... I recommend the following sites to continue your discovery and prepare your stay as well as possible.

Office de tourisme de Bergerac

Uk.france.fr

<–––––––>

Bergerac, city of art and history (about 5km)

Bergerac has been proudly displaying its "City and Country of Art and History" Label for several years. And for good reason... Charming, the old town centre is an opportunity to discover the Wine and Waterways Museum, the Protestant temple or the statue of Cyrano surrounded by very appetizing restaurants(see our recommandations).

We raise our noses to admire the half-timbered walls, the ogive windows, the worked doors....

<–––––––>

Issigeac, medieval bastide (about 20km)

In the heart of its old circular enclosure where the alleys roll up like a snail, we discover a village of character where the alleys resurrect the past. A village rich in history and architecture where artists and craftsmen have made their home. The Sunday morning market is a must for the pleasure of the eye and the palate!

<–––––––>

Monbazillac Castle (about 10km)

 It is classified as a historic monument. The castle has a unique architecture that skilfully combines parts borrowed from medieval architecture with others that bear witness to the influence of the Renaissance period. This emblematic castle of the Bergerac region has remained undisturbed since the end of the 16th century, when the quality of its wines was well known well beyond the borders of Aquitaine. Visit of the castle, the gardens with a splendid view of the valley,... and tasting of Monbazillac wines in the outbuildings.

<–––––––>

Château de Bridoire, the game castle (about 15 km)

A joy for the little ones... and the grown-ups!

Bridoire is a private Historical Monument (15th century) in the heart of the Monbazillac vineyard: 15 rooms furnished on 3 levels: remarkable arched kitchen with its brassware, dining room, pool table, large lounge, guard room, underground prison, king's room and chapel.

But also 100 old-fashioned games for all ages indoors or outdoors: armor fittings, scriptorium, crossbow shooting, reflex game etc....

Not to mention the 19th century stables with horses and ponies!

<–––––––>

Sarlat-la-canéda (about 65km)

 The historic capital of the Périgord Noir, is a major tourist site dating mainly from the medieval period. Its homogeneous city centre is composed of a network of narrow streets and picturesque alleys, shaded squares, bordered by private mansions with lauze roofs. The nerve centre of the city, Place de la Liberté, bordered by terraces, is the headquarters of the market, where the region's specialities are sold: foie gras, truffles, figs and nuts.

<–––––––>

 

Vézère Valley and the painted cave of Lascaux IV (about 60 km)

The Vézère valley is an exceptionally rich site: in a magnificent setting, which must be discovered from a canoe (we recommend a departure from Les Eyzies de Tayac), it hides in its limestone cliffs many caves and rock shelters, which, inhabited by mankind since time immemorial, have made of it the "valley of man", and of the Eyzies of Tayac, the world's capital of Prehistory.

To the north of the valley is the Lascaux IV cave, the sixtine chapel of cave art. The complete replica of the original cave, opened to the public in December 2017, is the result of three years of work. This new place welcomes and invites visitors to contemplate and feel the authentic emotion of the discovery of the cave, to learn and observe it, and to understand the environmental and cultural context in which it has been created.

<–––––––>

Proumeyssac Chasm (about 40 km)

The Proumeyssac abyss, composed of various galleries, is called the "crystal cathedral". There are stalactites, monoliths and stalagmites. A particular feature of this abyss is its petrifying fountain which, in one year, transforms simple artisanal pottery into shiny limestone objects, which can be purchased. Its other particularity is the presence of triangular crystals, concretions rare in France since only three caves in the hexagon are covered with them.

<–––––––>

The gardens of Marqueyssac (about 60km)

A listed site, the romantic and picturesque gardens of Marqueyssac offer around a castle covered with lauzes from the early 19th century, more than 15 acres of shaded walks, bordered by 150,000 hand-cut century-old box trees, and decorated with belvederes, rockeries, waterfalls and greenery theatres... Today, these are the most visited gardens in Périgord.

Nearby, do not miss to visit the emblematic fortresses of Castelnaud la Chapelle and Beynac, which face each other on either side of the Dordogne river