Attractions

Lascaux is famous for its Palaeolithic cave paintings, found in a complex of caves in the Dordogne region of southwestern France. Up to 20,000 years old, the paintings consist primarily of large animals, once native to the region. Lascaux is located in the Vézère Valley where many other decorated caves have been found since the beginning of the 20th century (for example Les Combarelles and Font-de-Gaume, Bernifal). It was discovered on 12 September 1940 and given statutory historic monument protection in december of the same year. In 1979, there were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. 

Before you enter this 12th-century byzantine romanesque cathedral you have to approach it from Pont des Barris, and look across to see its crowd of domes and towers almost competing with each other.

It’s no shock that this magnificent church is a UNESCO site, and with its byzantine-style Greek cross plan and many cupolas it hardly looks like few other churches in France – except, of course, for the Sacré-Coeur in Paris, which borrowed several design cues.

Under each of these five domes is a set of chandeliers that were used in the marriage of Napoleon III and Eugénie de Montijo, and later brought here.

Périgord’s most popular gardens are in the grounds of the Château de Marqueyssac, high on a ridge above the Dordogne.

Back in the 1860s the estate’s owner planted boxwood trees in their thousands, and they were trimmed into the kind of outlandish forms that you see now. The hedges have rounded, organic  and irregular shapes, subverting the formalism of French parterres.

A maze-like circuit of paths through this magical garden lead to a belvedere 130 metres over the Dordogne, with one of the best views of the valley.

If you don’t mind heights, the Via Ferrata is an adventure course on iron rungs, beams and stairs in the cliff-face.

In the middle of the lush Dronne and its bucolic landscape, nestles the village of Brantôme, built around its Abbey, high monument of architectural heritage and French religious.

Enlaced by its stream, in the shadow of a cliff, the village is an island of stone in the heart of a green landscape surrounded by water.

On the serene Dordogne River, Bergerac is a medieval town of corbelled houses surrounded by green countryside with vineyards and farms. You’re in an eminent wine region here, and have days-worth of châteaux, cooperatives and museums to tour.

The river should be in your holiday plans, for canoe trips, peaceful walks and cruises in the old barges that once shipped wine along its course. Bergerac is a name that may ring a few bells: Cyrano de Bergerac, the 17th-century musketeer and writer, never actually visited the town, but Bergerac has still adopted him and has put up two statues in his honour.

Saint-Emilion is a charming medieval village located in the heart of the famous Bordeaux wine area. It is a very unique site were world-famous wineries, fine wine, beautiful architecture and great monuments are a perfect match.

Saint-Emilion owes its exceptional face to great so il diversity. The diversity of its wines is due to both a complex geology (sands, clay, limestone...) and a microclimate that is perfectly suitable for winemaking.

The monolithic church of Aubeterre is an old parish church dedicated to San Juan and located in Aubeterre-sur-Dronne, in the department of Charente and in the diocese of Anguleme.

Digged in the middle of a large cliff overlooking the village since the 8th century, it was considerably enlarged in the 12th century by a community of monks.