The Périgord Noir region offers stunning landscapes featuring cliffs, the Dordogne and Vézère rivers, and numerous woods with holm oak and chestnut trees. The capital, Sarlat, is a City of Art and History, considered one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Europe, boasting listed historical monuments and charming restaurants—an ode to the art of living.
Discovering our beautiful region
The region is also home to an impressive number of castles. It is said that the region has "a thousand and one castles." From the 12th-century fortified castle to the 19th-century building, including the 16th-century Renaissance castle. Among them, the Château de Beynac, which faces its Hundred Years' War rival across the Dordogne River, and the Château de Castelnaud, which houses a museum dedicated to the art of warfare in the Middle Ages. From the Château de Beynac, you can see Gabares (traditional boats) and canoe-kayaks sailing along the Dordogne.
The Vézère Valley reveals one of the largest concentrations of prehistoric sites in Europe: caves, troglodyte sites, and excavation sites, earning it the nickname of the Valley of Prehistory: 15 sites are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The most famous site, Lascaux, is decorated with cave paintings dating back to the prehistoric period. The troglodyte fort built into the cliff of La Roque-Gageac and the troglodyte village of La Madelaine in Tursac are curiosities that the region offers to discover.
The Périgord Noir is also home to a number of diverse and varied gardens: the gardens of the Eyrignac manor, the panoramic gardens of Limeuil, the gardens of Marqueyssac, and the water gardens of Carsac, created on an ancient Gallo-Roman site. Cruising the Dordogne and Vézère rivers is an excellent way to explore the region. You can embark either in a canoe or kayak for the more energetic, or in a Gabare for a more leisurely and cultural trip.
It's also impossible to ignore the Périgord gastronomic specialties. The region's black diamond, the truffle, is best enjoyed in a salad, preferably with Sarladaise potatoes. Duck breasts and confit, foie gras... and finally, Cabécou, a small disc of fresh goat cheese, accompanied by a glass of Bergerac wine. The region also produces delicious strawberries and boasts a rich array of porcini mushrooms, chestnut trees, and walnuts for even more pleasure on the palate.
Another characteristic of this region is the abundance of must-see villages. No fewer than 9 of the most beautiful villages in France crisscross the roads of the Périgord Noir, including: Domme. A fortified town perched on a cliff, the village overlooks the entire Dordogne Valley from a height of 150 meters. Several surprising sites add to Domme's charm, including a spectacular 500-meter-long cave located under the market hall near the church and opening onto a terrace overlooking the panorama of the Dordogne Valley. By following the ramparts, you can take the limestone path from the belvedere. You will arrive at the public garden where it is possible to picnic; the view is remarkable.