Or, if you had been on our recent France Today Travels Périgord Discovery Tour, you would have been one of very few lucky people permitted to see the original polychromic cave art in the spectacular Font-de-Gaume. The jewel in the crown is at Montignac, where the world-famous Lascaux cave paintings were discovered and where today you can visit the excellent new Lascaux 4 centre. Soaring over the Vézère valley with its dramatic cliffs and ancient cave dwellings aboard my own chopper, I am reminded why it is called the “valley of prehistory” – there are no fewer than 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to visit. A trip with Héliclub du Périgord or Montgolfiers du Périgord is a memorable way to reveal the grandeur of the landscape and to peek at some of the lovingly maintained private manoirs and châteaux hidden away in the forests. Photo credit: Chanet/ CRTAįor a bird’s-eye view of the “valley of a thousand châteaux” you need to take to the air, by balloon or helicopter. Lascaux IV, or the Centre International de l’Art Pariétal. Hood down for maximum fresh air (no air con here), you get used to the roaring of the little engine, the surprisingly comfy ride and the yacht-like heeling over on bends, and soon enough there’s a big smile on your face as the signposts guide you towards what is one of France’s most visited historical sites, Rocamadour. Starting upstream near the city of Brive-la-Gaillarde (handy to fly into from Paris or London), I have a few miles of rolling roads through the upland plateaux of the Causses, with their distinctive stone walls and stone shepherd huts, to get used to the sensation of driving the iconic 2CV. 24), that is only one part of the story of a river whose source is high up in the volcanic hills of the Auvergne and which weaves its way along the limestone canyons of Corrèze and the Lot, before meandering through the Dordogne Valley, where it enters the famous wine-growing estuary near Bordeaux. Photo credit: FotoliaĪlthough there is a département called Dordogne, (No. The Dordogne Valley is ideal for nature lovers with an endless choice of hiking, biking and riding tracks in unspoilt countryside.The village of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne. But even non-pilgrims can enjoy the town’s beauty, history, andthis being Francefamous Rocamadour cheese. The Dordogne Valley proudly owns a stunning cultural heritage and some of the prettiest sites in France, including the mighty fortress of Castelnau-Bretenoux and the Renaissance castle ofĪlso not to be missed are the impressive Tours de Merle, some medieval towers that look like a set from Game of Thrones. Perhaps the most famous of all of the top places to visit in the Dordogne Valley, Rocamadour is a cliffside town that has attracted religious pilgrims to its sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary for centuries. Another must-see is The Gouffre de Padirac, the biggest chasm inĮurope and a fascinating boat journey into a magical underground world, 103 metres under the surface. The caves of Lascaux contain some of the most terrific examples of Paleolithic art in Europe. With its limestone plateaus, the region is also home to an infinite number of cliff dwellings and adorned with extraordinary stalactites, stalagmites and prehistoricĭrawings. Holds the renowned statue of the Black Virgin, worshiped here for over a millenium. Contrary to the flag of Basque, Corsica or Breton. On the flag of the Dordogne are 3 lions in profile gilded with their claws apart, tongues out and a blue crown. It corresponds to the coat of arms of the Counts of Périgord. The basilica Saint-Sauveur and the crypt Saint-Amadour are both listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites and the chapel of Miracles The flag of the Dordogne was chosen at the time of the French Revolution when the department was created on 4 March 1790. Great pilgrimage site since the Middle Ages. Spectacularly clinging to the cliff, Rocamadour is situated on the Way of Saint James and has been a With its cobbled streets, manors, artisan shops, cafés and restaurants, it seems to glow in the evening sun.Īt the heart of the Dordogne Valley stands the sacred city of Rocamadour. The Dordogne Valley boasts no less than 5 of the « Most Beautiful Villages in France », including Collonges-la-Rouge, a fairy-tale like villageīuilt entirely in red sandstone. From cave paintings to Roman occupation, or from the Hundred Years War to the Renaissance, all have shaped the landscape you see The Dordogne Valley retains many traces of its historic past. Of Biosphere Reserves, a prestigious recognition for an environment of exceptional quality. It is the only river in France to be part of the UNESCO World Network Of the Dordogne river provide lots of fun activities including swimming and canoeing. With its fascinating cultural heritage and beautifully preserved natural environment, the Dordogne Valley has it all.
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