Across the river Dordogne two medieval fortresses glare at each other, rising above two minuscule villages. One of them, Château Beynac, was a bastion of the French throughout the Hundred Years' War. The other, Château de Castelnaud, was the stronghold of the English. Both châteaux can be visited today, visible legacies of the strife-torn history of the Périgord, where the past is ever present. The present département of the Dordogne was created out of the former Périgord during the administrative changes wrought by the French Revolution. Its inhabitants still doggedly use the old name for their region, as indeed do most of the many foreign visitors and residents. Only the British, who settled here in substantial numbers, refer to it consistently as the Dordogne.

Four colours - green, white, purple and black - officially designate the four regions of the Périgord, effectively symbolizing the diversity of the third largest département of France. Green evokes the verdant woods and fields of the northern crescent, white the limestone valleys of the centre, purple the full-bodied wine produced in the area around Bergerac, and black the renowned truffles of the southeast, the 'black diamonds' of classic French cuisine. Traditional ways have not died out here.

As you can well imagine there are numerous places of interest to visit and explore in this beautiful area. The Dordogne valley is much loved by British and Dutch holiday makers. The sparkling river is good for fishing, swimming and canoeing, and if you haven't brought your own bike to explore the back country, you can rent one at Sarlat. Explore the narrow streets of medieval Sarlat (15 kms) and soak up the atmosphere on the busy market day where you’ll be tempted by the variety of fresh produce. This makes for a special day out.

In the thirteenth century rival English and French monarchs commissioned their seneschals to build a series of spectacularly fortified new foundations to defend their claims to this part of France. Known as bastides, many have survived intact and today number among the finest villages of France. Domme (10 kms) is a captivating bastide town standing on a towering hill overlooking the peaceful Dordogne river.

Visit picturesque Rocamadour, perched on a cliff face high on the Causse, delve into prehistoric times in the famous Lascaux caves or take a boat trip underground in the Gouffre de Padirac, all within easy reach.
A magnificent leisure lake with sandy beach is within 3 minutes drive by car and provides safe bathing for all the family.

This is also ideal countryside for cycling, walking and taking leisurely picnics along the banks of the river, which lends its name to this special corner of France. Bikes are available for hire in Grolejac.

The Périgord offers a holiday experience to enjoy and remember!