Dordogne & Périgord

..Castles, Gastronomy and Prehistoric Sites

The medieval beauty and iconic food

Périgord is not as renowned as some French regions, yet it has much to offer travellers looking for both culture and luxury. Our bespoke Perigord and Dordogne holidays are quite tempting for those looking for a mix of culture, history, castles and rich gastronomy. This charming French region, rich with countryside and green spaces, also affords opportunities for great walks and bicycles rides as well as some easy kayak explorations.

Boasting the world-famous Lascaux Caves, Dordogne is one of the world’s most important spots for discovering prehistoric art and culture; it is also renowned for its flavourful and authentic local French cuisine: think goat’s cheese, duck and foie gras. It is the true touristic and cultural hub of the southwest.

From Sarlat, you can stroll along secondary roads lined with charming villages, prehistoric sites (including the impressive Grotte de Lascaux that no one should miss), and medieval fortresses.

Next, a complete tour of the region will have you wind through a hilly and undulating landscape: a perfect mirror of quintessential France, with its soft green meadows and vineyards hugging romantic chateaux, farms and bastides (fortified hilltop villages). To the East, ancient caves and rock shelters conceal Europe’s best treasure trove of prehistoric art.

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Tasting typical French cuisine & fine wines...

Périgord just as Dordogne is a real paradise for foodies. You can find a wide range of local specialities to taste all of which are certain to regale you: from the well-known duck or goose foie gras to black truffles omelette, confit d’oie and traditional walnut pie.

With extensive oak woodlands covering the region, Périgord truffles grow abundantly in the area and bring a unique flavour to any meal. Also make sure to try the chestnuts and walnuts, which have been awarded their own AOC label, and Périgord strawberries.

Vineyard wise, the region counts numerous high-quality wines, from solid and respected “appellations” such as Bergerac, Pécharmant and Montbazillac. Less well-known than its neighbours in nearby Bordeaux, these fine wines won’t be disappointing to taste and enjoy.

Read more: Truffle Season in France: Private Tours & Authentic Tastings
Read more: Private Dordogne Wine Tours: Luxury Meets Rustic Charm

Following the tracks of cavemen...

With the largest number of Prehistoric remains in Europe, Périgord is a region full of caves, shelters, cave paintings, engravings and sculptures. The incredible Palaeolithic-era caves at Lascaux will not fail to take your breath away– and will take you back to humanity’s origins, tens of thousands of years ago. Mostly depicting large animals that were native to the region during the Ice Age, the paintings are an experience every traveler to France should see at least once.

The region offers a plethora of magical sights teeming with history, notably the prehistoric caves in the Vézère valley, which prove that man has been present in the Dordogne for the past 450,000 years. Our distant ancestors indeed settled in the natural shelters the Dordogne and Vézère rivers hollowed in the limestone cliffs over the millennia.

They lived, worked, worshiped, painted, died and were buried in the many caves in the area. They left the marks of their extraordinary and surprising culture on the walls of their caves, so unsurprisingly, the beautiful and untamed Vézere Valley is listed a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the wonders of Lascaux, les Eyzies, and many more.

Exploring scenic rivers and nature...

Abounding in gorgeous rivers, any traveler looking for a water-centric adventure will not be disappointed by a trip to the Dordogne and Perigord. You can easily rent a canoe-kayak, take a barge downstream for a day of relaxed exploration, fish in the river or simply swim.

The Dordogne River that meanders through the region is the only river in France to be part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves, a prestigious recognition for an environment of exceptional quality. Overall, the region is recognized for its outstanding natural beauty and will be a dream for anybody seeking peace and inspiring scenery. From the Vézère and the l’Isle to the Dronne and the l’Auvézère, there are so many rivers to enjoy– so go find your favourite.

The Dordogne is one of France’s main region for canoeing and kayaking, offering umpteen first-class sights within a stone’s throw of the water. Set off in kayaks to discover in Périgord Noir, the stunning landscapes between Montignac-Lascaux and Les Eyzies de Tayac. Travel along the ancestral route down the river, between towering cliffs, castles, cave villages, and prehistoric sites in the heart of the valley that was so prominent in prehistoric times. An unforgettable experience to unwind and appreciate the wonderful surroundings at your own pace.

Wandering around open-air markets...

Saturday morning markets in the deliciously small and provincial old Roman town of Périgueux will make you realize how serious a business food is in this tiny capital. In Périgord, the cuisine is glorious: from seasonal local produce to duck, goose and and one of the most luxuriant foods known to mankind, black truffles, the is truly a gourmet’s paradise. For a food-centric traveler, what could be dreamier than having a local producer hand-pick the best foie gras, Bergerac wine or Cabécou goat’s cheese for you? There’s also the possibility of having a local expert take you on a bespoke food tour of the region: a surefire way to home in on the best products and meet local artisans.

Read On: How To Include Picturesque Markets in Our Private Tours

Inspecting the four Périgords...

Périgord is divided into four areas: black, white, green and purple. Each of them has historical and natural reasons behind its name.

In the south-east, there is Black Périgord. It is known for its stunning medieval castles and architecture with dark colors and is much loved by locals and tourists. The oak forests are so numerous they make the whole area seem mystical and obscure.

Green Périgord is situated in the northern area and is known for its countless rivers, lakes, ponds and forests. Because it is so humid- there greenery is everywhere, thus the name.

White Périgord, the central part, is known as the administrative and economical centre of the region. The buildings and the flooring is often of light tones, as well as the rocky cliffs with limestone that give it the overall impression of white.

Purple Périgord is situated in the south-west and is known for the famous Bergerac vineyard, the color in autumn of which gave the name to the area. It is also famous for the English and French fortresses that remind us of The Hundred Years’ War.

Now try and see in the gallery down below whether you can spot the difference!

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What do people say?

Marie, we are back to Monaco and I’m writing to you to say thank you for a great day we spend at Vougeot. All our friends are absolutely happy with the experience at this beautiful countryside of Bourgogne. The Citroen driving is definitely something, that we never tried before and it was so much fun! All our group and me personally would like to thank you Marie for a wonderful journey 😊 We plan to visit Bretagne in the end of May for my husband birthday, would you be interested to organize another trip for us? Hope you've got back home safely, maybe we could meet in Nice for a coffee sometimes 😉Best regards,

S. I. stroll in the Burgundy vineyards and decadent tasting

What a trip! The honeymoon was wonderful, and planned incredibly well, we can’t think of anything wrong.The detail on the itinerary was perfect and the guides were outstanding. Everyone was very knowledgeable and easy going. The special tours and lunches were just that, very special. Lots of memories to keep!Thank you again for helping me plan a successful honeymoon.I look forward to the next trip. We will contact you for any France trips in the future.Thanks!

Davis F. 3 weeks Honeymoon throughout France and Switzerland

I just wanted to drop a note to say thank you so much for our wonderful tour. We all enjoyed every minute of it. In fact we were struggling to pinpoint what was our favourite moment as it was all perfect.Christine was such a lovely and knowledgeable person with great humour, she kept us entertained and we now know a lot of French history. So fascinating 😊And Vincent was just wonderful, he attended to our needs perfectly and we enjoyed his company too.So definitely 14 very happy ladies who didn’t want to return home. (The weather was fabulous too!)Many thanks again!

R. L. 14 best friends on an exclusive private tour in Champagne