All of the restaurants and attractions are open in the summer, and the weather is usually warm and pleasant. The most popular time to visit the Dordogne is during the summer months of July and August. It’s helpful to have a car to explore the small towns in the Dordogne, although there are local tours available from the central towns of Sarlat or Périgueux. I usually use Auto Europe to find a good price. International travelers may take the train to, or fly into Bordeaux and rent a car there. Travelers from the UK often fly directly into these two locations. The Dordogne Valley is served by two international airports, the Brive Airport or Bergerac Airport. View of the Dordogne Valley from Castelnaud It includes suggestions on things to do in the Dordogne, where to eat and a handy Dordogne map.ĭordogne Map How to get to the Dordogne Valley To help you plan your visit, (also known as the Dordogne Périgord region), this list will give you the best options on the most beautiful towns in Dordogne to visit plus where to stay in the Dordogne. What’s more, the food is sensational, based on locally grown ingredients and specialties like duck, walnuts and truffles. Indeed, the Dordogne is home to 22 of “ The Most Beautiful Villages in France“.Ĭenturies ago, the Dordogne Valley was an important battle area during the Hundred Years War and because of this, the area is dotted with hilltop castles and pretty medieval towns. Based on my visit, these might just be the cutest towns in France you don’t want to miss. This area in France is a popular holiday destination for visitors from the UK, but is lesser known to tourists from North America. You'll also hear the term referred to in reference to food, and the cuisine of Périgord, characterized by truffles, foie gras, and other goose and duck products, is world renowned.Small, charming villages are a specialty of France, but, I’m convinced that you’ll find the prettiest villages in the Dordogne, an idyllic region in the southwest corner of the country. Périgueux, the administrative center of the Dordogne département, is in the Périgord Blanc. Périgord BlancĪnd the central Périgord Blanc, or White Périgord, is named for the abundance of white limestone in the area. The Périgord Vert, or Green Périgord, is the northwestern part of Périgord, known for its lush green fields and valleys and beautiful gardens. The Périgord Pourpre ( Purple Périgord), so named because of the abundant wine from the area, is centered on Bergerac-et-Cazenac. The Périgord Noir ( Black Périgord) is where most places of touristic interest are, including Sarlat-la-Canéda, the prehistoric caves of Lascaux, the medieval town of Domme, and other towns on the Dordogne and Vézère Rivers. Périgord/the Dordogne is/are also part of the région of France known as Nouvelle-Aquitaine, which also includes Bordeaux.Īnd to make things more complicated, the Périgord has been further divided into four "colorful" regions: Although the département has been known as the Dordogne for years, many people still use the term Périgord. What we commonly refer to as the Dordogne region is also referred to as Périgord, the historic name of the area-dating back centuries. It can get confusing trying to keep the various régions of France straight, especially when some are known by more than one name.
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