Holiday reviews

Dordogne in the Aquitaine region of France, is a popular and enduring area for tourism and hence there is plentiful accommodation available. Exploring along the Dordogne River and the surrounding area with the chateaux, forests and gardens, medieval towns and villages and the rivers and caves in the unspoilt countryside has a particular attraction for visitors to the area. Which has resulted in steady growth in visitor numbers for many years.

Main towns in Dordogne Region of France providing accommodation

• South Dordogne - Belves, Domme, Eymet, Villefranche-du-Perigord, Issigeac, Monbazillac, Monpazier and Saint Emilion. The most popular accommodation in South Dordogne are Gites in the unspoilt countryside, near famous rivers and caves, beautiful gardens. Many located in small unspoilt villages ( several villages in this region are renowned as “most beautiful villages in France”. In addition this region is popular as an ideal stopover on a road trip to Spain or the Pyrenees. Many hotels cater for this including La Charmille on the outskirts of Périgueux and L’Abbaye - St-Cyprien ( which also allows pets which is great for Brits making the move to Spain or Southern France
• North Dordogne - Brantome, Excideuil, Perigueux, Saint-Jean-de-Cole, Riberac, Terrasson and Thiviers. Some fantastic holiday rentals and gites in this area. For example - La Charrue, a former 18th century posthouse set in 6 acres of parkland housing 3 charming gites. For hotels check out Kyriad Hotel Perigueux Trelissac or the equally delightful Chateau Des Reynats Chancelade
• Central Dordogne - La Roque-Gageac, Les Eyzies de Tayac, Le Bugue, Beynac, Limeuil, Nontron, Montignac, Sarlat, Tremolat and Saint Leon sur Vézere.
• East and West Dordogne - Bergerac to the West and Rocamadour in eastern Dordogne. For Bergerac try the Maison De La Foret Hotel in the heart of the Dordogne forest and wine growing country. Just 10 minutes outside the city of Bergerac and a great staging post for the Dordogne region

Top attractions in the Dordogne region include:

• Prehistoric caves in the Vezere Valley
  Containing 147 prehistoric sites dating from the Palaeolithic era and 25 decorated caves. The most famous being the Lascaux Cave
• Lascaux caves
  A series of complex of caves most famous for the cave paintings. Located near the village of Montignac, these Upper Paleolithic cave paintings date back to between 15,000 and 13,000 BC. The lascaux caves were added to UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 1979. nearby hotels worth a mention are Chateau De Puy Robert, Relais Du Soleil Dor and La Roseraie Chateaux & Hotels De France.
• Marqueyssac gardens
  Marqueyssac is the most famous of the gardens in central Dordogne. Includes elaborate swirling designs and paths of clipped rosemary and santolina with fabulous views and an picnic area with swings and a rock climbing wall for older children. Located 9 km south-west of Sarlat near Vézac.
• Medieval Sarlat
  probably the most famous town in the Dordogne region and definitely one of the most well known in France. it’s proper name is Sarlat la Canéda - . Dating back from both medieval and renaissance times it is a real pleasure to visit giving a real authentic taste of medieval Europe. Accessible accomodation in this area includes: Le Renoir Hotel Sarlat - just 2 minutes away, or there the Bissonnier Hotel (right in the centre of the old historic town of Gourdon) and the Inter Hotel Le Quercy Souillac hotel - both hotels are just 20 minutes from Sarlat
• Chateau Castelnaud
  Possibly the most famous Dordogne Chateau. Tastefully organised museum that has many historic tales to tell. There are rooms displaying weaponry and artifacts from the Hundred Years’ War (France versus England) and other rooms have videos, interactive computers (in English), and castle models. All the rooms are designed to teach you about battles and daily castle life in an entertaining way. Nearby to the Marqueyssac gardens so can visit both from accommodation in this area, our choice would be Le Roc - Four individual gites with a shared pool in a beautiful setting. An ideal location from which to explore this little corner of the Dordone