Aquitaine
Dordogne is a department of the Aquitaine region in southwest France within which we find the famous Perigord. Aquitaine also encompasses Bordeaux and the wine country east of Bordeaux.
Geography
The Perigord region corresponds to the region close by the capitale city Perigueux of the department Dordogne. The Perigord, rich and fertile country, is densely forested and crisscrossed by rivers flowing from the plateau of the Massif Central out to the Atlantic. Of these, the Dordogne has carved out through the center a beautiful winding valley of gentle greenery.
Many Stone Age relics and caves have been found here dating from around 20,000 years ago. In the village markets, the fruit and vegetables, nuts, and mushrooms of every description bear witness to the region's self-sufficiency in food.
History
A legend pretends that when God distributed his castles, he started by the Loire Valley. Going far away from there, his bag burst over the Dordogne river and the Perigord region will be eternally thankful for his clumsiness!
During the time of the Romans, the province of Aquitania extended almost as far north as the Loire river. Later on the title duke of Aquitaine was held by the counts of Poitiers form the 10th to the 12th century. The area became an English possession when Eleanor of Aquitaine, daughter of the last duke married the heir to the throne of England in 1152. It remained English until the 15th century when it was annexed by France at the end of the Hundred Year's War. The region of Aquitaine includes the departments of Pyrenees-Atlantiques, Landes, Gironde, Dordogne,and Lot-et-Garonne.
Food & Drink
A meal in Perigord in a "auberge de campagne" is worth the visit! The Perigord doesn't care too much about butter and prefers the goose fat which gives a such particular taste in cuisine.
Terrine de Foie gras Tourin (soup made of garlic, goose fat and vinegar)
Confit de canard Magret de canard
Gateau aux noix (walnut cake)
The red wines from Bergerac and the Monbazillac.
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