The Village of Tremolat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La Dordogne

 

Like pictures from a book of fairy tales, the pretty Dordogne villages cling to their hillsides.

 

In this wooded landscape there's a surprise at every turn of the road - a glimpse of broad river, perhaps, or a higgledy-piggledy roofscape.

 

To the north is the regional capital Perigueux, a city with Roman origins, medieval and cathedral quarters. Here, the attractive towns of Brantome and Bourdeilles span the River Dronne and Hautefort, with its chateau, offers fine views over the picturesque Perigord countryside.

 

But it's the River Dordogne, to the south, which lends its name to this French department. Rising in the Massif Central to the east, its waters have swollen by middle age, enabling it to cut through the landscape, looping and twisting past rocky outcrops where bastide villages cluster for defence. Clinging to their cliffs, Domme, la Roque Gageac, Beynac-et-Cazenac and Castelnaud-la-Chapelle occupy idyllic settings. Down river,  the pretty market town of Bergerac is famous for its tobacco and sweet white wine.

 

The jewel in the crown is Sarlat, which lies at the heart of the Dordogne valley although not on the river itself. This well-preserved town, with its golden stone buildings, twisting lanes and great food market owes its prosperity down the years dates from its loyalty to the French Crown during the Hundred Years War.

 

The Dordogne's most precious treasure, however, lies hidden from view in caves along the Vezere valley, where prehistoric hunters practised their art. At Lascaux, bison, elk and horses gallop across the walls but, sadly, for their preservation are not on public view. Visitors are admitted to a faithful replica on the same hillside. At Les Eyzies, the original cave paintings and engravings can still be seen.

 

As well as sightseeing, this region has many activities to offer the outdoor enthusiast. There are trails for walking and cycling, but perhaps the best way to explore the Dordogne is by water and there are countless opportunities for hiring canoes at various locations along the river.