Dordogne and Lot Travel Guide

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Dordogne and Lot
Château de Beynac © Luc Viatour
The Dordogne and the neighbouring Lot Valley is one of the most beautiful regions in France, a magnetic holiday destination for food lovers and nature enthusiasts. The area has remained fairly untouched by 20th century development and tourism and the rural way of life continues very much as it has for centuries. Local farmers seem happy to live a fairly subsistence lifestyle, and village markets continue to flourish long after they have disappeared from the high streets of other European countries. This is due, no doubt, to the local taste for fresh ingredients and their disregard for what are regarded as draconian EU health and safety laws.

Dordogne is home to over 1,500 castles as well as 150 prehistoric sites, and thus has a huge draw for history enthusiasts. There is a popular museum of medieval warfare at the Chateau de Castelnaud in Castelnaud-La Chapelle, and the stone villages of Rocamadour, Domme and La Roque Gageac are akin to stepping into a time machine.

Although medieval villages and towns such as Conques, Cahors and Montauban are starting to be discovered by tourists looking for a more authentic France, they have managed to retain their old-world charm. Visitors don't come here for a busy nightlife, or indeed for the weather (which can be wet even in summer), but are drawn to the stunning countryside, pâté, truffles, succulent Limousin veal and fine wine.




Attractions

Pont Valentré, Cahors © Globe Media

Cahors

Situated 55 miles (89km) north of Toulouse in a loop of the Lot River, the ancient city of Cahors was inhabited long before the Romans arrived, and in medieval times was a thriving university town. Across the river is the town's signature piece,...  see full details



Conques © Globe Media

Conques

Conques occupies a spectacular position on the flanks of the steep, densely wooded gorge of the little River Dourdou, a tributary of the Lot, and is one of the great villages of southwest France. The site was chosen as a retreat by a...  see full details



Cro-Magnon Skeleton © 120

Les Eyzies

In 1868 prehistoric skeletons were discovered in the Vézère valley, and the area was found to be one of the richest in the world in terms of ancient sites and deposits. The small market town of Les Eyzies suddenly became the base for exploring...  see full details



Montauban arcade © Ceridwen

Montauban

Montauban lies on the banks of the River Tarn, 50 miles (80km) north of Toulouse and is one of the most ancient cities in southwest France. Its origins date from 1144 when the count of Toulouse decided to create a bastide here as...  see full details



Rocamadour © Globe Media

Rocamadour

Tiered precariously halfway up a cliffside above a small river, Rocamadour has one of the unique settings of any town in Europe. The town is famed for being the site where the body of St Amadour (who is believed to be Zacchaeus of...  see full details


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