Awash with history, studded with fortresses and castles dating back to the days of the Roman Empire, the Dordogne - also known as Perigord - is a medieval British territory that witnessed Richard the Lion Heart, the Knights Templar and Michel de Montaigne to name just a few. Dordogne has been home to man for tens of thousands years. The first European cavemen chose to settle down in the Dordogne's spacious caves next to its rivers abundant with fish and woods plentiful with game. For decades now, the Dordogne and its historical predecessor, province of Perigord, remain one of the most popular holiday destinations.
Make Your Holiday Unforgettable: Visiting Dordogne Castles and Chateaux
Hundreds of medieval castles and cute French chateaux - mansion houses - are now used as museum sites and holiday homes. The most famous one is undoubtedly Domme: a medieval town now preserved as a museum, with its famous tower that served as a prison for the last Templars' leaders who covered its walls with coded graffiti, possibly concealing the secrets of their order.
The Museum of Medieval Warfare in Castelnaud is packed with swords, crossbows, suits of armor, missile weapons and artillery pieces dating back to the days when the whole South West of France used to be English. In a way, it still is: there are over 40,000 British expats in the area.
Walking and Canoeing: Active Vacations in Perigord
The Perigord, the historical heart of the Dordogne, is a perfect place for an active vacation of hiking, walking, mountain biking, or canoeing. The picturesque Vezere river with its wooded banks studded with prehistoric caves (local people still live in many of them!) promises unforgettable canoe or kayak trips. Wooded trails and local hills offer numerous opportunities for a sports-minded tourist.
Some local travel agencies provide additional guided tours to explore nearby villages and towns, check out a few caveman sites or pop into a small artisanal workshop or brewery.
Exploring Crafts and Local Foods of the Dordogne
Many small local producers organize guided tours of their factories and workshops. There, tourists can try their hand at pottery and prehistoric crafts or taste cheeses, wines and the local specialty, foie gras -- pate made of fattened goose or duck liver. The Dordogne is famous for its specialty poultry breeding.
Local restaurants tend to cater to Dordogne's working people's taste, serving various duck-based dishes and walnut salads. And for dessert, the irresistible local specialty: walnut cake. It's worth coming back on holiday to the Dordogne simply to taste it again! An insider tip: when almost finished with your soup, pour a little wine into your soup plate, mix well and drink it from the plate, then wipe it dry with a piece of pain de campaigne - village bread. When in the Dordogne, do as the locals do!
Amusement Parks in the Dordogne
On a holiday with children, amusement parks are a good attraction. Whether it's a roller-coaster trip or a donkey ride, a voyage in a hot air balloon or a visit to the Ecology Workshop in Castelnaud, kids are guaranteed to have fun while on vacation in the Perigord. From the Aquarium in Le Bugue to the Monkey Forest in Rocamadour, numerous tourist attractions target children as well as the inner kids inside their parents.
Dordogne's Music Festivals and Cultural Life
Every summer in the Dordogne boasts a busy schedule of various music, folk and theatre festivals held in virtually every town and even village. Medieval reconstruction shows, performances by esteemed musicians and theater groups, and various happenings seem to take place at every corner, every day of the week.
Additional Reading and Links:
For advice on where to stay in the Dordogne and how to book a hotel in the Dordogne, read this article: Dordogne Hotels: How to Book Online a Hotel Room in the Dordogne
For tips on cheap holiday rentals and gites, read this article: Cheap Holiday Rentals and Vacation Homes in the Dordogne
And for those travelers who plan looking for Dordogne property -- whether as a holiday home or a potential source of income -- read Dordogne Property for Sale in France: from Gites to Chateaux
For more information on tourist attractions in the Dordogne and more ideas about what to plan for your Perigord vacation, visit this site
Irene Woodhead - Irene Woodhead is a bilingual English/Russian freelance writer and translator. After years of working as a professional opera/jazz singer, ...
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