More nature, more culture, more history than anywhere else in the world.

 

 

The Périgord is in fact the very large department of the Dordogne. So vast that you get four for the price of one: The green Périgord, which is in the north, in the continuity of the Limousin. The White Périgord, where Périgueux is located. The Purple Perigord in the west, a land of vineyards (Bergerac). And finally the Black Perigord in the South and East, around Sarlat.

It is not offensive to the other three Périgords to say that it is in the Périgord Noir that the highest concentration of exceptional sites from prehistory to the 20th century. And if you intend to discover or rediscover this part of France, you'd better take a good look at where you're going to put your suitcases: you probably don't want to spend your day in a car because it takes more than 2 hours to cross the Périgord from one side to the other. To make matters worse, we are on the edge of the Lot, and therefore also close to Rocamadour, Padirac, Saint Cirq Lapopie. Briefly

From Cénac, 400,000 years are watching you

For the PérigordIt is not just prehistory and Lascaux, it is not just Roman villas with Vesunna and Montcaret, it is not just the Middle Ages and the Hundred Years War with its bastides and castles, it is not just the Renaissance with its castles and manor houses, it is a human presence over 400,000 years that you will discover. In a preserved, often spectacular and always harmonious nature. In short, I know of no other place in the world where you can travel so far back in time in such a small radius: 70 remarkable sites less than 70 km away ? including 9 "3 Michelin stars" (2021 edition), about fifteen 2 stars and fifteen 1 star. 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites, 7 of the most beautiful villages in France. What else ?

Life is better in Perigord

From green to red, the transition is easy:

The Périgord gastronomy is almost a pleonasm. Thanks to its emblematic products such as foie gras, strawberries, truffles, walnuts and ceps, but also to its 7 Michelin-starred restaurants or to the numerous restaurants and farm inns serving regional cuisine, not to mention its 10 "Bibs gourmands", you too can have magnificent meals when you return from the market.

But gastronomy is nothing without an art of living. And what other region can boast such a concentration of natural, historical and prehistoric sites, all under a mild and unpolluted sky, far from the crowds, with a cultural life that becomes denser in the summer (music, theatre and dance festivals, various exhibitions, etc.)?

Welcome to Paradise

 

"Just the sight of this dark and mysterious river from Domme, from this magnificent cliff on the edge of the village, is an unforgettable wonder. For me this river and this land belong to the poet Rainer Maria Rilke. This place is neither French, nor Austrian, nor even European: it is an enchanted country that belongs to the poets and to them alone. It is the closest thing to Paradise this side of Greece. Let us say that it is the Paradise of the French, if you like. In fact, it must have been a paradise for thousands of years.

Henry Miller, the Colossus of Maroussi.

• When to go?

All seasons have their charm. The first half of August is the busiest time of the year, like everywhere else. In January many things are closed. We have a predilection for May and June as well as September.

• How long to go?

Have you already travelled around the world 10 times? Are you afraid that staying longer than a few days will be boring? Even with jaded teenagers, one week seems like a minimum, two weeks is much more comfortable. Sometimes you don't even get to leave!

• How to get there?

The Périgord is accessible by car via the A20 or the A89.

By train, the nearest stations are Gourdon or Souillac on the Paris-Toulouse route or Sarlat from Bordeaux. In Souillac and Sarlat, you can rent a car for a few euros a day from Leclerc if you make arrangements in advance.

By plane, the nearest airports are Toulouse and Bordeaux, with Bergerac serving mainly England and Belgium.

• The temperatures

Sarlat is at about the same latitude as Bordeaux, with a less oceanic climate. Nights can be cool but temperatures can rise quickly in summer until late afternoon.

• Practicality

The Pass Périgord (www.pass24.fr) allows you to buy your tickets on the internet with a 20% discount on some of the sites we particularly recommend - Château de Castelnaud, Jardins de Marqueyssac, Maison forte de Reignac, Gabarres Norbert, Château de Hautefort...It is not nominative and if you buy for 60? of visits, for example, it allows you to see a site where the entrance fee is 10? for 6 people (or 3 sites for 2 people), and you will only pay 48?