![dordogne region france map dordogne region france map](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/pmkAAOSw6VteGgUl/s-l1600.jpg)
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. 05-53-35-50-24).It can get confusing trying to keep the various régions of France straight, especially when some are known by more than one name. Note:Many hotels in the area have restaurants and offer half-board (that is, breakfast and dinner) this can be a good option in small villages where restaurants are few and far between.įor extra help in planning your trip, visit the Comité Départemental du Tourisme de la Dordogne (Dordogne Regional Tourist Office), 25 rue Wilson, Périgueux ( tel. Between mid-July and mid-August, the narrow road that follows the river can get jammed on the other hand, the period between October and April is so slow that most hotels and restaurants close. Centrally located, Sarlat-la-Canéda is a logical base for visiting the area, but it gets quite crowded in fact, you can make any of the villages your base, as the distances between sites are relatively short if you’ve got wheels.īe advised that during high season, this area is very popular with European tourists. Périgueux can be reached by train from Paris, Bordeaux, and Limoges. The low-cost airlines Ryanair, Flybe, Twinjet, and Transavia fly into Bergerac airport another handful of low-cost airlines fly to Brive-la-Gaillarde.
![dordogne region france map dordogne region france map](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/66/c9/b4/66c9b4d30adf96f972019e0edb09fcb2.jpg)
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Of the three, Périgueux is the most interesting. If you are coming from other parts of France, the principal gateways to the area are the pretty but sleepy towns of Bergerac, Brive-la-Gaillarde, and Périgueux.
![dordogne region france map dordogne region france map](https://www.ultimatefrance.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/dordogne-perigord-map.jpg)
Today, humans come here to visit the castles that loom over the cliffs, to paddle down the river in canoes, to enjoy the delightful villages carved into the limestone, and to admire the magnificent cave paintings in places like Lascaux and Font de Gaume.Ībout 2 hours east of Bordeaux by autoroute (express highway), the most delightful part of the valley starts somewhere around the tiny village of Saint Cyprien and ends near Souillac. Writer Henry Miller went so far as to say that the Dordogne “gives me hope for the future of the race, for the future of the earth itself.” From the time of the Cro-Magnons, humans have been setting up camp in this gorgeous valley, where the river loops around soft limestone cliffs, where troglodyte dwellings still exist, and prehistoric cave-paintings abound. It’s hard not to wax ecstatic about this beautiful region. Allow several days to explore, eat, and simply gaze. Villages, carved into the limestone cliffs, overlook the Dordogne River medieval fortresses peer down from craggy bluffs, and breathtaking cave paintings offer a glimpse of daily prehistoric life. Though the larger towns are inviting, the countryside is the main attraction here. In this region, we can find Cro-Magnon artwork drawn on the walls prehistoric caves, softly sigh at the beauty of the Dordogne Valley, explore the lofty heights of Rocamadour and, finally, visit Cahors, the ancient capital of Quercy, well known for its robust, deep purple wines made from the Malbec grape. Our first stop, Périgueux, was the capital of the old province of Périgord. Known for its food and landscapes, the Dordogne and Périgord are much loved travel destinations, especially for truffle lovers.