Destination guides

Dordogne Regional Travel Guide

The Dordogne is a region full of beautiful meandering rivers, charming ancient villages, châteaux and rich vineyards. With green hills topped with ‘bastide’ towns and paintings from prehistory, all set in some of France’s loveliest countryside. This is what gives the Dordogne a unique attraction.

There is so much to see, and the gentle rolling countryside is perfect for walking, cycling, birdwatching, fishing and watersports. Steeped in history this beautiful region has an unforgettable charm. It is the perfect place to relax and enjoy nature but it is also excellent for many activities including canoeing, which is an excellent way of exploring the river and gorges and many organized excursions are available in this area. Visits to the medieval town of Sarlat, or the castle at Beynac-et-Cazenac perched on a sheer cliff, are a must.

The region is rich in prehistory, with both Les Eyzies de Tayac and the National Museum of Prehistory being close by. The mild climate to the west is ideal for growing the famous cherries and plums which play a major part in the regions cuisine. The best-known specialities 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.

Campsites in Dordogne

> Les Peneyrals
> Les Grottes de Roffy
> Le Paradis
> Soleil Plage
> St. Avit Loisirs - View St Avit Loisirs luxury campsite video
> Le Port de Limeuil
> Le Moulin de Paulhiac

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