Spending a week in September in Dorgogne with friends. We are staying in a home near Bergerac and have cars. Looking for suggestions for day trips, including wineries, caves, canoeing and local markets. Of course, cafes and restaurants. What did you love? What shouldn’t we miss? TIA.
Posted by
France Southwest
2321 posts
There are too many things to do and see in the Dordogne to make an exhaustive list.
The whole of the Dordogne has the largest number of villages classified "Most beautiful village of France" (almost 50)
In Bergerac you will be almost at the South West end of the Dordogne
For what is near Bergerac see the website:
https://www.pays-bergerac-tourisme.com/en/home
For the Dordogne region in general which is far from being only Sarlat-la-Canéda and its surroundings:
https://www.visit-dordogne-valley.co.uk/
Since you will have a car, which is essential to explore this part of France, don't forget the Lot which is in the eastern part, and the Lot et Garonne in the southern part:
https://www.tourisme-lot.com/en/
https://www.nouvelle-aquitaine-tourisme.com/en/lot-and-garonne-valleys
Regarding markets, days and times, see the list of all markets in the Dordogne here (in French, use an online translator)
Dordogne department:
https://www.jours-de-marche.fr/24-dordogne/
Lot department:
Posted by
Louisiana, USA
370 posts
When we were in the Dordogne last year we stayed in Sarlat. The market was fun, I recommend it. We also visited Beynac Castle which was wonderful, and also Lascaux IV and Font de Gaume where the cave paintings are originals, not copies. Both caves are wonderful. I was awestruck in Font de Gaume looking at art that had been created by ice age people so long ago.
Posted by
SoCal, USA
114 posts
We spent two weeks in the Dordogne this past April with our base in Saint-Cyprien. We loved every market we visited, even those we just stumbled across. If you have never visited Sarlat I would be inclined with putting it’s Saturday market on the must see list. They have a smaller one on Wednesdays but the larger Saturday one is quite an experience. Go early.
This is a list of our favorite villages on this past trip.
Collonges la Rouge ( had visited 10 years ago and this trip visited twice )
Domme
Issigeac
Belvès
Cadouin ( especially on marche de fleurs day )
Montignac
Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne
Saint Leon-sur-Vezere - here we discovered the recently restored Manoir de Salle, a restored medieval residence. We are not big on visiting castles/chateau but this one was appealing because of the incredible details. Inside a you can self- tour in under an hour. Google it and see if it appeals to you. Not much in the way of restaurants in this village so we drove on for lunch.
Beaumont du Perigord
Bergerac - in the old village
We were disappointed with how commercial La Roque- Gageac and Lascaux had become..