What to see and do in Périgord?

Périgord is an area of south-west France divided into 4 distinct parts: Green Périgord, Purple Périgord, White Périgord and Black Périgord. This unusual division is the result of historical, cultural, economic and tourist factors.

Whichever Périgord you choose to visit, you’ll find no shortage of sporting and cultural activities: prehistoric caves, castles, gastronomy, gardens, gabare trips along the Dordogne, vineyards, and not forgetting that the Périgord boasts many villages that have been awarded the “Most Beautiful Villages in France” label. Whether you’re on a family holiday, a weekend with friends or a romantic getaway, the Périgord has more than one trick up its sleeve to amaze and delight you.

What’s the most beautiful part of Périgord?

There are no fewer than 10 villages in Périgord classified as “the most beautiful villages in France”, including 9 in the Périgord Noir around Sarlat:

1. La Roque-Gageac

When you arrive in this village, the sheer cliffs above are truly impressive, and you’ll love the typical architecture, the brown tiles and sloping roofs. The village has lost none of its charm, and the panoramic views are quite simply exceptional.

Don’t hesitate to visit the 19th-century church with its Périgord slate roof, whose courtyard boasts a surprising exotic garden where palm trees stand alongside banana trees, bamboo and cactus. The Tarde manor house is a must-see when visiting the village. This is the former residence of the bishops of Sarlat, and its main building and circular tower are a sight to behold. Children will love solving Eliette’s riddles or going on a geocaching treasure hunt!

• Must-do activity: a gabarre trip on the Dordogne river, for an even better view of the village.
• Local produce: every Friday morning from May to September there is a farmers’ market at La Roque-Gageac.

2. Beynac-et-Cazenac

You’ll immediately fall under the spell of its stone lanes and blonde stone houses, a real leap back in time – welcome to the Middle Ages! From the port of Beynac, you can also take a trip on the Dordogne, where ships used to carry goods to Bordeaux. The local produce market is held in Beynac on Monday mornings. Terra Aventura takes you on a 7.7 km geocaching trail, with riddles to solve, caches to find in the countryside and characters to flush out.

Must-do activities :

• An early-morning or evening hot-air balloon flight to the Vallée des Châteaux,
• The 12th-century church of Notre Dame de l’Assomption,
• Château de Beynac, a feudal fortress that has stood proudly since 1115, with its Renaissance staircase, State Hall and 13th-century kitchen, a rare sight.

3. Castelnaud

This medieval village is built on terraces, giving rise to steep streets decorated with typical Périgord buildings. The church of Saint-Michel-Archange will not fail to surprise you with its atypical architecture, with its bell tower-wall featuring a rectangular gable and pierced by two semi-circular bays.

Must-see activities :

• Castelnaud castle and its museum of warfare in the Middle Ages,
• The Walnut Ecomuseum and its 7-hectare organic walnut grove,
• The Vielcroze truffle field.

4. Saint-Amand de Coly

The old hospital and the guards’ house are buildings that played an important part in the life of the village and are well worth a visit. Take the nature trail and discover plants and their uses through the ages, while a 7-stage fun trail leads you in the footsteps of a mysterious character covered in a hare’s skin.

Must-see activities :

• Saint-Amand-de-Coly Abbey, an impressive and imposing 12th-century fortified abbey church that bears witness to a past troubled by wars.

5. Belvès

A guided tour of the town of 7 bell towers is a must when you arrive in Belvès. This medieval town offers an unrivalled view, and Belvès means “beautiful view” in Occitan. Its architectural and historical heritage is well worth a visit. The troglodyte dwellings were inhabited between the 13th and 18th centuries.

Must-do activities:

• The Belvès spinning mill,
• The Organistrum Museum and hurdy-gurdies.

6. Domme

Pass through the gateway of the towers to discover the magnificent golden stone houses with their ancient doors, mullioned windows and pointed arches. The belvedere offers an exceptional panoramic view of the local heritage and the Dordogne gorges.

Must-do activities :

• The Domme cave and chasm, with its 450 metres of galleries and the ascent via a panoramic lift with views over the Dordogne valley.

7. Limeuil

The Middle Ages are still very much present in the architecture of Limeuil, with the town’s old walls preserving their three entrance gates and the typical houses emblazoned with coats of arms. Also worth seeing are the old stalls, latrines and andronnes (streets used to collect waste water). The port is a great place for swimming, canoeing and mountain biking.

Must-see activities :

• The Périgord Romanesque-style Chapelle-Saint-Martin,
• Les Jardins Panoramiques, a fun and interactive place (medieval garden, witches’ garden, water garden, insect garden…).

8. Monpazier

The bastide town of Monpazier is reputed to be a “model” bastide with a perfect orthogonal layout. It boasts no fewer than 32 historic monuments that have remained intact since the 13th century, with houses featuring arcades or “cornières” or “couverts” forming a covered gallery. The rampart with its 3 gates and the Gothic church are just some of the monuments to be discovered in this magnificent village. Artists, craftspeople and producers are all very present in the stalls.

The bastideum: old-fashioned games help you discover the Middle Ages and the history of the bastide towns, and an activity based on scents in the medieval garden is sure to interest curious visitors of all ages!

Where to go on holiday in Périgord?

Sarlat

This historic town has the highest density of listed historic monuments, and has often hosted film shoots thanks to its unspoilt medieval settings. Gastronomy, major events (Fest’oie, the Truffle Festival, the Ringueta, a festival of old games, the Christmas market…) are all on offer.

Lascaux – the Vézère Valley

• The world-famous Lascaux cave is a not-to-be-missed outing in the faithfully recreated Lascaux II facsimile.
• The troglodyte village of La Madeleine and its listed prehistoric site.
• The Rouffignac cave.
• The UNESCO-listed caves of Font de Gaume and Combarelles.
• The 16th-century Maison Forte de Reignac, a troglodyte castle-cliff.