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Tourist information for the Dordogne
This part of France, known to the British as the Dordogne, consists of parts
of the regions of Limousin, Aquitaine, and Midi-Pyrenees. It's a beautiful and
peaceful area of undulating farmland criss-crossed by wide, slow rivers
sometimes cutting through spectacular steep limestone valleys, riddled with
caves, many containing world-famous prehistoric paintings. The region is dotted
with small towns and villages, all typically French in character. Because this
area has been inhabited since prehistoric times there is a wealth of sites and
monuments to visit or you can just relax and spend the day swimming in the many
lakes and rivers, cycling through the quiet lanes or walking the marked
footpaths. The higher plateaux of the area with their distinctive scrubby
vegetation provide good walking and cycling. The whole region is dotted with
chateaux, many of which are open to visitors.
Map of the Dordogne
Activities in the Dordogne and Limousin:
Cycling, river and lake swimming, canoeing, walking, horse riding, wine tasting.
Special attractions in the Dordogne and Limousin:
Prehistoric cave paintings at Les Eyzies and other sites, Eglise monolith at
Aubeterre, prehistoric cliff-side dwellings at La Roque St. Christophe.
Towns and places of interest in the Dordogne:
Aubeterre. Gateway to the beautiful valley of the Dronne. Ancient
hillside town with its Eglise Monolith built into the rock.
Bergerac. Capital of the local wine growing region and, set on the banks
of the Dordogne, previously an important inland port. A good centre for
exploring the south-west of the region, especially the "bastides" at Monpazier
and Monflanquin.
Brantome. Visit its ancient abbey and Romanesque belfry set against a
wooded escarpement. Canoe, walk or cycle from here along the quiet banks of the
Dronne.
Brive-la-Gaillard. A centre for exploring the upper reaches of the
Dordogne and Vezere.
Cahors. Bustling, historic sun-filled town on the river Lot.
Domme. One of many fortified medieval villages on one of the most
spectacular stretches of the Dordogne.
Les Eyzies. Site of the most famous prehistoric cave paintings. Very busy
in the summer but there are many other smaller sites around which are less
crowded.
Limoges. Famous for its fine china, this town also has an attractive old
quarter and Gothic cathedral, but it is the surrounding fertile pastoral
landscape that is the main attraction.
Montignac. An attractive town and centre for exploring the Lascaux caves
and grottoes.
Perigeux. Capital of the area, notable mainly for its Cathedral and Roman
remains in the old town.
Rocamadour. Very touristy staging post on the Santiago di Compostella
trail, vertiginously built into the sheer rock.
Sarlat. Wander through the streets of the well-preserved medieval old
town then set out along the lush and verdant Vezere valley, with its renowned
cave paintings and grottoes around Les Eyzies-de-Tayac.
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