Location
The Perigord is a land of chateaux, bastides, prehistoric sites, medieval fortresses, villages and its markets. The scenery is magical, and just driving around on the country lanes, through the forest and over the hills and along the rivers is pure pleasure.
There are numerous "plus beaux villages de France," including Beynac. La Roque-Gageac, St-Léon-sur-Vézère, Domme, and Belvès. The markets are some of the finest in France, with many desginated as "marchés de France." The town of Sarlat, the market hub of the region, has been restored to its 17th-18th-century magnificence with such perfection that it is lit at night by gas lamps and is the set for myriad French movies.
The Dordogne is rich in layer upon layer of history, too. There are more than 150 prehistoric sites along the Vézère river alone. The best known prehistoric site is, of course, Lascaux II. Others include Font-de-Gaume and Combarelles in Les Eyzies (chromatic paintings); Rouffignac and Bara-Bahau (engravings); and numerous smaller sites with sculpture, dwellings, shelters, and other prehistoric goodies. The Village Troglodytique de la Madeleine and the nearby Roque St-Christophe are sites where man has lived in successive periods of history for as many as 50,000 years or more.
Of course, one of the big draws of the region is food. The Périgord has been called the gastronomic capital of France with good reason. Here, foie gras and truffles (les diamants noirs du Périgord) are everyday fare, and every town has shops filled to overflowing with these local treasures. Other local specialties are confit of duck and goose, stuffed goose neck, walnut cakes, chocolate-dusted walnuts, and walnut wine and liqueur. Local wines include Monbazillac, Bergerac, and Pécharmant.
 |