Dordogne, Where the Largest Concentration of Prehistoric Art in the World Is Found
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IINN DOORDOGNERDOGNE SSeptembereptember 1122 ttoo 220,0, 22013013 Dear Alumni, Parents and Friends: Join us for this unique opportunity to experience the authentic character of the historic villages in France’s picturesque southwestern département of Dordogne, where the largest concentration of prehistoric art in the world is found. For one full week, immerse yourself in the rich local culture and rhythms of daily life in Dordogne, and explore the history of early humans who etched their stories into cave walls. We are delighted to invite you to spend seven nights in the heart of Dordogne, where all of France’s provincial charms have been distilled into one of Europe’s most beautiful and intact medieval villages, Sarlat-la-Canéda. Stroll through its traditional, twice-weekly market and marvel at the warm, medieval ambiance of the honey-colored stone buildings on the square. Our expert-guided excursions explore four UNESCO World Heritage sites: the dramatic cliffside village of Rocamadour, L’Abri du Cap-Blanc, Rouffi gnac Cave and Les-Eyzies-de-Tayac; and see the prehistoric troglodyte village of La Roque Saint-Christophe. Specially arranged and exclusive, enriching lectures and the VILLAGE FORUM™ provide personal perspectives on daily life in the villages of Dordogne. This unique sojourn features traditional provincial ambiance and modern accommodations and amenities in the family-owned PLAZA MADELEINE HÔTEL. This hôtel de charme is located in a 19th-century building in medieval Sarlat-la-Canéda and the staff is known for its warm hospitality. VILLAGE LIFE™ IN DORDOGNE is exceedingly popular and includes all accommodations, specially arranged excursions and a great opportunity to experience an itinerary not available anywhere else! I encourage you to reserve now while Early Booking Savings and space are available. À bientôt! Sincerely,Sincerely, Brooks Hull Vice President for Institutional Advancement Austin College Cover photo: Visit the storied Dordogne River Valley, Explore this medieval region of Dordogne, where street where brave knights once defended medieval villages. lamps are one of the few concessions to modernity. VVILLAGEI L L AG E LLIFEI F E ™ IINN DORDOGNE Experience fi rsthand the true character and traditions of Dordogne during this comprehensive travel program featuring the beautiful countryside and départements of Southwestern France, the medieval village of Sarlat-la-Canéda, the Périgord Noir and the world’s largest collection of magnifi cent prehistoric art. Enjoy an enriching travel experience like no other. All accommodations, specially designed Dordogne excursions and most meals are included, making it an excellent value. Coat of Arms Interact with local people; explore the history and culture, art, language, cuisine and the rhythm of daily life in Dordogne and unpack just once! This popular program is one of the VILLAGE LIFE™ series that immerses you in a comprehensive and intimate travel experience at just the right pace. The featured CULTURAL ENRICHMENTS are only available on this specially designed itinerary: ◆ Hear it from the Experts! Experienced, English-speaking local guides will accompany you throughout the program and discuss historical, cultural and contemporary Dordogne. A local expert will lecture on preserving the medieval architecture in Sarlat. ◆ Engage a local Dordognais (local resident) during the VILLAGE FORUMTM where he will share his candid perspectives on daily life in Dordogne. ◆ Experience a private performance of traditional 19th-century Périgord Noir folk music and dance. ◆ Visit Sarlat-la-Canéda’s marvelous, historic, twice-weekly, outdoor market that offers local goods and delicacies. ◆ Sample the traditional cuisine of France’s southwest during specially arranged meals. ◆ Explore Lascaux II and Cap-Blanc’s cave friezes and The National Museum of Prehistory, and see where prehistoric man lived along the cliff-lined Dordogne River during a private cruise in a 19th-century gabare (barge). ◆ Learn key phrases and pronunciation during the specially arranged introduction to la langue française (the French language) from local guides. ◆ Enjoy time on your own—Observe daily life in Place de la Liberté, the heart of medieval Sarlat lined with inviting cafés, and stroll down winding streets with charming, 14th-century houses. Sail the bucolic Dordogne River aboard a traditional wooden gabare, the typical mode of transportation of the Périgord region for more than 150 years. ITINERARY UNESCO Day World Heritage Site FRANCE ORDEAUX PRE-PROGRAM OPTION n B a e c RRouffiouffi ggnanac 1 Depart from the U.S. O 2 BORDEAUX , FRANCE/SARLAT-LA-CANÉDA c i LLaa RoqueRoque SSaint-aint-Christophe t Transfer to Sarlat-la-Canéda. n a EESS YYZIESZIES DDEE AYAC l L E - --TT LAZA MADELEINE HÔTEL. t Check into P A 3 SARLAT-LA-CANÉDA ST. EMMILIONILION D ◆ Walking tour of Sarlat. BOORDEAUXRDEAUX o rd CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: og ne R ◆ Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in the iver Sarlat market. 4 ROCAMADOUR /SOUILLAC ◆ Tour of Rocamadour. Sarlat-la-Canéda ◆ Visit to Souillac. Author Henry Miller called Sarlat “the Frenchman’s paradise.” Your charming 5 LES EYZIES-DE-TAYA C /CAP-BLANC village home for seven nights is the ◆ Visit to the Jardins d’Eyrignac. pre-French Revolutionary capital of CULTURAL ENRICHMENTS: ◆ View of Cap-Blanc’s cave friezes. Périgord Noir, a lushly forested corner ◆ Visit to National Museum of of the Aquitaine region, ideally located Prehistory in Les Eyzies. between the Dordogne and Vézère rivers. ◆ Sarlat VILLAGE FORUM™. It is a bon vivant’s dream, renowned for 6 LASCAUX II/ST-AMAND-DE-COLY truffl es, wild mushrooms, strawberries, ◆ Visit to St-Amand-de-Coly. walnuts and duck, and is close enough CULTURAL ENRICHMENTS: to Bordeaux to procure the fi nest wines ◆ View prehistoric cave art of Lascaux II. directly from vintners’ cellars. ◆ Lecture on the preservation of Sarlat has one of the greatest th 17 -century architecture in Sarlat. concentrations of medieval, Renaissance 7 ROUFFIGNAC /LA ROQUE SAINT-CHRISTOPHE and 17th-century façades in Europe. ◆ Tour of prehistoric Rouffi gnac cave. Step back in time as you meander through ◆ Excursion to a prehistoric narrow cobblestone streets illuminated troglodyte village. by gas lamps and lined with traditional CULTURAL ENRICHMENTS: ◆ Morning at leisure in Sarlat market. Renaissance-style stone houses crowned ◆ Evening folk music presentation. with pepperpot chimneys. The heart of Sarlat is the Place de la Liberté, where every 8 BEYNAC/DOMME ◆ Tour of the Château de Beynac. Wednesday and Saturday one of France’s ◆ Free time in Domme. most storied markets is held, a tradition CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: dating from the Middle Ages. ◆ Cruise in a typical gabare up the CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: During the bucolic Dordogne River. exclusive VILLAGE FORUM™, a Dordognais 9 SARLAT-LA-CANÉDA/BORDEAUX/ will discuss life in southwestern Return to the U.S. provincial France. Tour the pilgrimage site of Rocamadour, which has beckoned travelers to its lofty summit above a tributary of the Dordogne River for centuries. ST--AAMMANDAND-DDEE--CCOOLYLY LLascauxascaux IIII Rouffi gnac La Roque Saint-Chhristopheristophe LL’Abri’Abri dduu JJardinsardins CCap-Blancap-Blanc dd’Eyrignac’Eyrignac LES EYZIES-DE-TAYYACAC SAARLATRLAT-LLAA--CCAANNÉDDAA SOOUILLACUILLAC D o rd BEEYNACYNAC ROOCAMADOURCAMADOUR og ne R iver DOOMMEMME Porte des Tours is the best preserved and most imposing CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: Attend the of the three remaining original entrances to Domme. private, specially arranged presentation by a local expert on preserving medieval has been the residence of the same architecture in Sarlat. family for over 500 years and 22 generations. On this ancient estate, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: Enjoy a traditional, 19th-century, French folklore located outside of Sarlat, view what music and dance performance. many consider the fi nest jardins (gardens) in all of France. Originally Rocamadour/Souillac designed as an Italian garden in This fortifi ed 13th-century village and the 18th century, the grounds were UNESCO World Heritage site has one of converted to an English-style, sculpted, the most dramatic settings of any village coniferous garden in the 19th century in the world, built on the face of a sheer and have been immaculately maintained 400-foot cliff. During the Middle Ages, and enhanced through the years. pilgrims fl ocked here from across Europe to perform penance by ascending over Villages of the 200 steps of the Grand Stairway on their Périgord Noir knees to pay homage to the Virgin Mary St-Amand-de-Coly is one of the most and seek miracles from St. Amadour by unusual villages in Dordogne. Each of its visiting his crypt. Embedded in the cliff picturesque, cobblestone lanes leads to above the doorway to the Chapelle de the fortifi ed 13th-century Abbey Church, Notre Dame is a sword said to be that of built by Augustinian monks. The church’s the heroic knight Roland. ramparts and towers make it appear Visit quaint Souillac and its more like a fortress than a place 12th-century Church of Sainte-Marie. of worship. CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: Enjoy a lunch of local specialties in a village restaurant. Les Eyzies-de-Tayac Les Eyzies is France’s capital of prehistoric humanity, where unprecedented fossils of Cro-Magnon Man have been discovered. Approximately 35,000 years old, these fossils are some of the earliest known evidence of modern humans in Europe. The National Museum of Prehistory, housed in a 13th-century castle, gives context to the area’s cave paintings, fossils and early tools. CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: Guided tour of the National Museum of Prehistory. CULTURAL ENRICHMENT: Expert-led excursion to see Cap-Blanc’s prehistoric cave friezes. Jardins d’Eyrignac Designated a national monument by the Experience Sarlat-la-Canéda’s twice-weekly market, French government, Eyrignac Manor a medieval tradition in the heart of the village. PLAZA MADELEINE HÔTEL, SARLAT-LA-CANÉDA Enjoy the tranquil pace of VILLAGE LIFE™ during your stay in the family-owned PLAZA MADELEINE HÔTEL, located just beyond the ancient walls of Sarlat-la-Canéda’s medieval quarter, a mere fi ve-minute walk from the village center.