I’m visiting in mid September and am wondering if I could get to/from these destinations (from the Bordeaux train station) using public transportation … without too much exertion.
I have a BnB booked in Sarlat-la-Canéda and have a carry-on and 10 pound tote..
Your advice much appreciated, merci beaucoup!
We stayed in Beynac-et-Cazenac and went to Pech Merle. We had a car and it was a drive that seemed to be in a remote area. I’d suggest emailing them and your Bnb and ask about public transportation. It is worth a trip if you can get there and the Dordogne region is beautiful. Lascaux I don’t have any experience going to.
My aunt stays in Sarlat-le-Caneda half the year most recent years. She and her son have been to Lascaux (actually, Lascaux 2, the reproduction) several times. Each time they have either had their own car, or their AirBNB host has driven them. From what they report, things in that area are pretty remote and a car is necessary.
Full disclosure, my aunt did not say there is “no public transportation,” but she talked a lot about how difficult it is to get around without a car.
I would DEFINITELY check in with my AirBNB host on this one.
That said, from my aunt’s pictures, OMG it is gorgeous there and you are in for a treat!
Edit: you are leaving from Bordeaux train station? Then… maybe. But again, per my aunt the haul from Bordeaux to Sarlat is pretty intense.
If someone here doesn’t know for certain what to do, I advise contacting your host.
Happy travels!
Volva's aunt is right, the only way to visit the Dordogne and the Lot is to have a car.
The vast majority of places in the Dordogne valley or Lot valley are not accessible by public transport. They are located in small villages not served by trains.
The bus lines are mainly intended for school transport and their schedules during school holidays or on weekends are very limited
So, unfortunately wherever you are leaving from, it is not possible to go to Pech Merle by public transport.
From Sarlat train station it is possible to go to Lascaux 4 by bus with line 336.
See the timetable here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tGJHhgSpViEU734tbt4r23EhCLaI_0ag/view?usp=sharing
Clarification about the timetable
Columns with a (1): Only from Monday to Friday during school periods.
Columns with a (2): Only Monday to Friday during school holidays
Four right columns:
S = Saturday
D = Sunday
JF = public holidays
Here is the map of bus and train lines in Dordogne:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yz2ho1kuDFz7APOK6NOXTIlgL8pO_deM/view?usp=sharing
Here is another map.
I made this map with the vast majority of things to see and do in the region. I have represented by a gray square (which may seem very small) the area that I call "The area for beginners and poorly informed tourists": :)). Sarlat is included in this square.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1OdPOg8AgsNn0Jlv1cNHkujaWv9p_Jpc&usp=sharing
Also note that if Sarlat is more or less typical, it is above all a very touristy place.
In Sarlat you will be more in a kind of theme park with its hotels, restaurants, bars, entertainment, than in the reality of the Dordogne.
Explore it by car and you will see.
The Dordogne is our favorite regions but we no longer visit because we can no longer drive (well he can't and I won't)
The Lascaux recreations are fairly remote from Montignac. Peche Merle is quite rural -- I don't see how you get there without a car. You might see if there are local tours or tour guides who do this from towns like Sarlat.
Thanks so much everyone for this great information!!
Based on your sage advice, I’ve decided to be kind to myself and rent a car :o)
Isabel,
Smart decision. There is SO much to see and do in this beautiful area, that you don't want to limit yourself. How long do you have? With a car you can visit 2 or 3 sights a day, depending on which ones they are and their distance from each other (e.g. a village market in the morning, Beynac Castle in the afternoon, dinner in Domme with its lovely view in the evening). Lascaux II wasn't difficult to get tickets for when we were there in mid June last year, but I reserved for the English language tour ahead of time. I recommend doing a search on this site for the Dordogne to get some helpful and intriguing ideas.
Have a great stay there! It is a very special part of France!
By the way, we rented our car at the Bordeaux train station and returned it there 10 days later. It was about a 3 hour drive (once we got out of Bordeaux) to our gite near La Roque Gageac. Likewise, the return is 3-4 hours depending on how many streets are being worked on near the station in Bordeaux (hah!).
We drove around the Dordogne area a few years ago (late September) and intend to do that again next summer. We visited castles, caves, and smaller villages. Driving in rural France isn't much different than driving in the rural parts of the United States. All of the roads were paved two lane roads. Our base was a B and B in Sarlat. We walked into town every evening for dinner.
Several of the previous posters have referred to Lasaux II - you probably want to visit Lascaux IV which is the newer recreation. An English tour is nice but not necessary - there is plenty of English signage.
Hello Cynthia from Gig Harbor, this is Matt from Olympia. We (S.O. and I) are driving around the Dordogne this September.
Isabel,
Oops, I misspoke. Yes, Lascaux IV is what I meant. By the way, when finding lodging, the parking situation in Sarlat is difficult. And getting into and out of town to visit other sights is a bit of a problem. There are many towns close to each other and to sights to see that you don't need to stay in Sarlat, beautiful city that it is! I hope your BnB is a bit on the outskirts of Sarlat.
How long do you have there? We spent 10 days there with our kids and grandkids (our ages were 9 to 80) in 2023 and it was a super vacation with a big variety of activities that everyone enjoyed. Just about the best vacation ever! You will love it!
In the Dordogne when staying for a week or more we always got a rental in a village and so parking was not a problem -- we stayed for a week in Limeuil and a week in Cadoin and both were lovely and a good base for then driving to other villages, gardens, chateaux, boat launches in the area. When stopping for only a day or two in transit we chose hotels with good parking access like chateau lodging with grounds.
