Dordogne
It’s been said in travel guides, that some promotional literature on the Dordogne region is prone to exaggerating the ordinary, yet the French themselves still make bold claims about the area. They say that it has everything, and they could possibly be right.
The Dordogne region lies in Aquitaine, South West France, and its highlights include rivers, limestone cliffs, forests, over 50 prehistoric caves, 1000 plus Chateaux, and an eclectic range of churches. The region and its attractions are divided up into four main areas, labelled using colours, and the pre-revolution name for the Dordogne, Perigord.
History is prevalent in the Black Perigord area, with its main town Sarlat, famous for its number of listed buildings, which are more per square metre than anywhere else in Europe. Other attractions in Sarlat include a summer theatre festival, street artists in the Place du Peyrou, and the curious Lanterne des Morts building. One of the things you can experience wherever you are in Black Perigord is the local cuisine. It’s an important part of life here, with specialities including foie gras, truffles, cabecou goats cheese, and strawberries. With easy access to Bergerac airport, and a variety of outdoor/river based pursuits on offer, Black Perigord is one of the most popular parts of the Dordogne, and a good place to explore the rest of the region.
Green Perigord lies in the north of the Dordogne, and is characterised by its woodland and streams. Although it’s one of the lesser known parts of the Dordogne, it still has a fine collection of towns, villages, scenery, and attractions to tempt the visitor. There is the capital of Nontron, famous for Nontron Knives, which visitors can learn about at their workshop, and its 18th century chateau which is home to a Doll and Toy Museum. There are other chateaus at Hautefort, Thiviers, Puyguilhem, and Villars, which is also the site of some stunning caves. These caves contain a variety of stalactites and stalagmites, along with cave paintings that are over 17,000 years old. Crafts are also popular in this area, many of which use wood from the chestnut trees in the local forests.
Then there’s the Purple Perigord, which surrounds Bergerac and its airport. This area is named after the grapes that are grown in the many vineyards that produce some of France’s most famous wines. Bergerac produces red wines, while white wines can be found at Monbazillac. Bergerac’s Wine Museum and pavement cafes in the old town, are also popular. Other attractions in the Purple Perigord are the ‘Bastides’ or Medieval New Towns, many of which are still working market towns today. Favourites with visitors include Beaumont, with its large church, and Monpazier, which was founded by Edward I of England.
Finally, there’s the White Perigord, which like the other areas of the Dordogne is seeped in history, and has beautiful rivers flowing through it. The main attraction here is Perigueux, which is just over an hour from Bordeaux. The riverside heritage here is focussed on the banks of L’Isle, which is easy to explore by foot or bike. Other places worthy of exploration are the towns four museums. These are Vesunna, which features the Gallo-Roman history of the town, the Perigord Museum of Art and Archaeology, a military museum, and the Trompe de l’oeil Museum and Workshop. Summertime events here are also popular, especially the International Mime Festival in August, The New Orleans Music Festival, and Baroque Music Festival. Nearby towns and villages are worth a visit for those interested in outdoor pursuits. During the summer the River Dronne at Brantome offers river cruises, canoeing, water jousting tournaments, and horse drawn barge hire.
All in all, the Dordogne/Perigord area has much to offer those looking for an historic, cultural, active, or relaxing holiday. With an airport in the region, accommodation that is full of character, to suit all budgets, beautiful scenery, and fine cuisine, maybe it is the gem in Aquitaine’s crown?
