Destination guides

Dordogne Town Guide

Listed below are some of the towns of the region and what you can expect to find:

Sarlat The regional capital has a wealth of tradition and history. A very popular market is held on Saturdays.

Souillac The main point of interest is the Byzantine style former abbey church. Market day is Friday.

Rocamadour Rather touristy but the jewel of the Dordogne, clinging dramatically to an almost vertical 150 metre cliff. The fascinating ecclesiastical city, dominated by the castle, gives those who climb up its steps (more than 140!!) an unforgettable panorama. However lifts are also available.

La Roque-Gageac Said to be the most beautiful village in France with

picturesque houses and alleys on the cliffs of the Dordogne. As the Dordogne is famous for its Châteaux here are some of the best to visit

Les Milandes - a beautiful white Renaissance dwelling with terraces and gardens looking down towards the Dordogne.

Beynac - it towers over the attractive riverside village, offering magnificent views of the Dordogne valley.

Castelnaud - once a ruin, but now largely restored, the castle is home to an excellent Museum of Medieval Warfare.

Veyrignac A 17th-century château restored since its burning during the Second World War.

Castelnau-Bretenoux - one of the region’s great castles and a fine example of medieval military architecture.

Montal - very much a country house château, among the finest of its type.

Biron - another of the great ‘châteaux forts’ of the region.

Typical dishes and best-known specialities for the region are of course ‘foie gras’, truffles and preserved meat (‘confit’). Potted meats are very much part of traditional Périgord cookery. For dessert you may wish to try ‘clafoutis’, a local flan decorated with plump black cherries or ‘Gâteau aux Noix’, a delicious walnut cake.

Whether you are a connoisseur or not, the full-bodied red wines of Cahors and Bergerac, the famous sweet white Monbazillac and the fine white Bergeracs are bound to find their way onto your table, and at very reasonable prices! To round off any meal, the region offers a large range of fruit liqueurs. The most interesting of these are ‘Crème de Noix’, ‘Eau de Noix’ or ‘Brou de Noix’, a delicious walnut liqueur.

 

 

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