Best of Dordogne Walk

We’ll transfer you from the Brive-la-Gaillarde or Souillac train station to your first hotel in Montignac. Montignac is a lovely small town alongside the Vezere River. The river splits the town in two and on each side of its banks have sprung fountains, washing places, houses and half-timbered buildings. On looking up, you will see the castle, former haunt of the Counts of Perigord, perched on its rocky spur and overlooking the town nestling below. Our Trip Manager will go over your trip package with you, and then leave you to explore before your first dinner, included this evening.

Transfer to the small village of St Amand de Coly, with its lovely fortified Romanesque Abbey (surprisingly majestic for such a small community!), and tiny cobblestoned alleyways. After your explorations there, walk, climbing gradually through lush fields and forest, and golden-stone farmhouses, admiring the vistas. You’ll descend then, heading to the banks of the meandering Vezere River, and the small village of Aubas. Picnic there if you wish, overlooking the lazy flow of the river, or lunch at a great local restaurant, tucked behind the St Cyr and St Juliette Church. A final climb away from the river takes you through more forest with the full panoply of shades of green and dappled light, before descending back to Montignac, passing by the Lascaux IV site, for explorations there. We have purposely made this walk not too long to allow for enough time for this extraordinary prehistory centre.

This morning your transfer still follows the Vezere River, as it winds southwards through rich countryside that has welcomed man for milennia. Your route offers a plethora of reminders of this heritage, starting at the troglodyte site of La Roque St Christophe, you then follow the meanders of the Vezere, with majestic limestone spurs thrusting out over your head. After crossing the bridge into the village of Le Moustier, strike out through the forest and fields. You have the option for a small detour, continuing along the river, and bringing you to the site of La Madeleine – a prehistoric excavation of such importance that it donated its name to an entire prehistoric era – the Magdalenian – but also with an incredible troglodyte village you can visit. A climb away from the river before being rewarded at the end of the day with your descent into Les Eyzies. This little town sits on the confluence of Vezere and the Beune Rivers, and is home to the National Prehistory Museum, as well as a string of small boutiques, cafes and restaurants.

We transfer you down into a shaded clearing, where the Chateau de Commarque is nestled against the Dordogne River. The valley, along with a cliff on one side, protected the castle, and the area’s earliest inhabitants, from attack. After explorations continue on tiny forest roads to the Cabanes de Breuil. These traditional stone huts are remarkable and the site has one of the best collections of them. After a visit, a pretty walk through rolling coutryside, through rich forest and valleys takes you past the Chateau de Puy Martin, with its crenelated towers and of course its ghost, the White Lady, who wanders its hallways. The route ends in Sarlat. We invite you to discover this medieval town, with its narrow streets, restored Gothic and Renaissance town houses, the Saint Sacerdos Cathedral and its famous open-air market (Saturday mornings). This UNESCO Heritage site, the largest Medieval architectural grouping in Europe, is best explored by night, when the stone buildings with their “lauze” rooftops, and the cobblestoned streets and charming squares are lit up to eerie beauty – you’ll think you have been transported back in time!

Transfer this morning to the village Castlenaud, built terraced onto the side of a steep hill, dominating the confluence of the Céou and Dordogne Rivers. The Château with its magnificent panoramic view is a superb example of a medieval fortress and today houses a Medieval War Museum.  After explorations there, you may decide on the short detour into an active walnut mill – walnuts are one of the star products of the Périgord Noir region of France, and your visit can end with a taste of their fantastic oils or chocolate covered treats. After a short climb, descend to Les Milandes. The Château was most notably the home of the American singer, dancer, and show-woman Josephine Baker. Today a museum with beautiful gardens, it explores the life of the artist, Resistance activist, and also adoptive mother of 12 children from around the world. The walk continues on easygoing terrain from there, hugging the Dordogne River to the town of Saint Cyprien, with its beautiful and ancient abbey.

Today offers a sprinkling of France’s official “Prettiest Villages” for your explorations , amongst some truly spectacular scenery and sites. Your starting point depends on which hotel category you have chosen, but the route over the course of the day takes you through the Dordogne River Valley, dotted with castles from the Hundred Years War. You’ll take in the scents and scenery of the romantic and picturesque Marqueyssac Gardens. This astonishing spot offers over 6km of pathways lined with over 150,000 hand-pruned boxwoods, rockeries and stone cabins. Situated on a rocky spur, the panoramic viewpoint offers one of the most impressive views of the valley and it’s many châteaux. You may find lunch whilst you meander the tiny streets overlooking the river in La Roque Gageac, a beautiful village built flat against the cliff, (another of the “Prettiest Villages of France”). Another on that list is medieval Domme. This tiny village perched above the river, is an excellent example of the Bastide villages (fortified villages) of Medieval France. It was built in the 13th century by Philip the Bold; there are still examples of medieval graffiti by the templar knights, and a spectacular panorama to the valley below!

We transfer you this morning to the small town of Lacave, where you will start your beautiful final walk of the trip. You walk in the heart of the Causses de Quercy national park, with wild and contrasting scenery from the tamer lushness of the previous days. The solid limestone block of the causses (dry stony plateaux) is gashed by the majestic, green valleys of the Lot, Dordogne, Célé, and Vers rivers, as well as the impressive canyons of the Ouysse and the Alzou. You walk along the lush greenery of the Ouysse to start, before climbing away from the valley (your only real climb of the slightly longer walk today) and up to the limestone causses. Make your approach – after a fun detour to a goat cheese farm – to the vertiginous site of Rocamadour. As well as the old stone houses and towers which seem to tumble one upon the other, you’ll enjoy exploring the many historic and religious monuments of this extraordinary pilgrim destination, perched on the side of the cliff. (note the Deluxe itinerary does this walk backwards, ending at Chateau de la Treyne near Lacave)

After a final breakfast, we transfer you to Souillac train station for your further travels. Bon voyage!