Self-drive Holidays in the Dordogne for the Independent Motorist.

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.

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.