4 W O N D E R F U L C O L O U R
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4 Wonderful Colours! Périgord Vert Périgord Blanc Périgord Périgord Pourpre Noir 4 Wonderful Colours! To book your holiday, please contact LOISIRS ACCUEIL DORDOGNE PÉRIGORD This reservation service is able to book accommodation (seasonal rental properties, B&Bs), hotel rooms, mobile-homes on campsites, or holiday village chalets throughout the département. Themed packages, such as cookery courses, tours by car, and hiking, cycling or canoeing trips can also be booked through this service. For online bookings, log onto: • www.dordogne-perigord-tourisme.fr • www.perigord-reservation.com For further information: E-mail: [email protected] KEY Castle Troglodyte village Abbey Museum Parks and gardens Prehistoric cave Beautiful garden For brochures and other documentation: Caves with stalagmites Tourist Office E-mail: [email protected] Prehistoric site, Lake shelter, cave 4 Wonderful Colours! CONTENTS A Tale of Four Colours . .2 - 3 - 4 - 5 An ever-changing landscape • From the Green Périgord to the White Périgord • Via the Purple Périgord and the Black Périgord Wonderful History . .6 - 7 An exceptional cultural heritage - 450,000 years of history • Prehistory • Castles, churches and abbeys Wonderful Places to Visit . .8 - 9 • Beautiful villages and Towns of Art and History Wonderful Nature . .10 - 11 • Rivers • Parc Naturel Régional Périgord-Limousin • Delightful gardens • Outdoor Pursuits - Hiking - Public leisure areas Wonderful Gastronomy . .12 - 13 A Paradise for the Senses • The black Périgord truffle and foie gras • Cep mushrooms, Périgord walnuts and chestnuts • Strawberries and Bergerac wines Products of the highest quality Wonderful People . .14 - 15 Local Skills and Traditions • Markets • Arts and Crafts Wonderful Places to Stay . .16 Accommodation PUBLISHER: Dordogne Tourist Board - 25, rue du Président Wilson - B.P. 2063 - 24002 PÉRIGUEUX Cedex DESIGN & LAYOUT: www.creationlambert.com - Route du Maine - 24150 Lalinde - +33 (0)5 53 61 02 60 PHOTOS: Amridesign - DT Dordogne - Dominique Repérant - Alain Dupuy - Philippe Jacques - Le Coz - Spadzone - OT Brantôme - OT Périgueux Alain Devize - Pub Image - Semitour - Roulland - Nidos - OT Bergerac - OT intercommunal du Périgord Noir - CIVRB - Laugery - Leroux - Auberge de la Truffe TRANSLATION: Telelingua - www.telelingua.co.uk 1 A TALE OF 4 COLOURS Green Périgord Extending across the most northerly swathe of the Dordogne département, the Green Périgord takes its name from its profuse vegetation and numerous streams and rivers (such as the Dronne, Isle, Auvézère and Bandiat), as well as its varied natural landscapes and rich historical heritage. These natural assets have led to the creation of the Parc Naturel Régional Périgord Limousin, which extends across two départements. One of the park’s main aims is to protect and conserve local resources and traditional skills. On the border with the Charente, natural features such as meadows, wooded hills, cultivated fields on chalky plateaux, and the lakes and trees of the Forêt de la Double combine to create the gentle and harmonious landscapes of the Val de Dronne. The attractive natural landscapes of the region are further embellished by its charming traditional houses, Romanesque art and fine architecture visible in towns such as Brantôme and St Jean de Côle. 2 A TALE OF 4 COLOURS White Périgord Situated in the heart of the département, the White Périgord takes its name from the whiteness of the region’s stone, which is so prized by sculptors. The area is crossed by the Isle and Auvézère rivers, which offer excellent fishing, and is also home to Périgueux, the old city of Vesunna with its Gallo-Roman remains. Périgueux, the capital of the département, is a “Town of Art and History”, with narrow streets bordered by townhouses in its protected historical districts and the Saint-Front cathedral, a stopping point along the Way of St James UNESCO World Heritage Site. This region is traditionally known for its homely cuisine, often flavoured with truffles, a local delicacy which is highlighted at the eco-museum in Sorges. Regional produce, such as strawberries and fatted ducks and geese, has pride of place in the lively markets which are held here throughout the year. A trip to the White Périgord would not be complete without a visit to its castles, delightful villages and museums dedicated to local crafts and traditions. 4 Wonderful Colours! 3 A TALE OF 4 COLOURS Purple Périgord Vineyards and bastide towns are the two jewels of the Purple Périgord, situated to the south-west of the département. Standing in the heart of these famous vineyards which cover an area of 12,000 hectares (the region has 13 appellation contrôlée vineyards, including Monbazillac, Pécharmant and Montravel) is the town of Bergerac, often mistakenly associated with Cyrano, the famous long-nosed character created by novelist Edmond Rostand. However, the town does boast the French author Michel de Montaigne as one of its native sons. The old town of Bergerac has retained much of its 14C, 15C and 16C architecture, including many half-timbered houses. The development of the town was closely linked to the wine industry and the proximity of the Dordogne river. As a result, Bergerac is the ideal base for exploring the region’s vineyards and old villages. The fortified towns known as bastides (Monpazier, Beaumont, Eymet, Lalinde, Molières etc) bear witness to the conflict between the French and English which took place in the Périgord from the 12C onwards. 4 A TALE OF 4 COLOURS Black Périgord In the south-east of the département, the Black Périgord is recognised worldwide for the wealth of prehistoric remains in the Vézère and Dordogne valleys and has been designated as an International Centre for Prehistory. The Vézère valley is home to some of the richest prehistoric sites in Europe, including Palaeolithic sites, caves and natural rock shelters. Fifteen of these decorated sites are classified as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Dordogne river meanders between impressive limestone cliffs and holm oak forests. This valley has a concentration of the most beautiful buildings of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, including castles perched on rocky promontories, the villages of Domme, Beynac and La Roque-Gageac and, of course, Sarlat, officially classified as a “Ville d’Art et d’Histoire” (“Town of Art and History”). With its lauze stone roofs, Sarlat has retained much of its extraordinary architecture, characterised by medieval houses and Renaissance mansions. Most of its monuments are listed or protected historic monuments. 4 Wonderful Colours! 5 AN EXCEPTIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE – 450,000 YEARS OF HISTORY Prehistory The Vézère valley, which takes its name from the river running through it, is also known as the Valley of Mankind. The valley is one of France’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, thanks to the many prehistoric sites found here. Homo sapiens settled in the limestone cliffs here, and it was also in this valley, particularly around Lascaux, that prehistoric art first developed. In Montignac, the original Lascaux cave (dubbed the “Sistine Chapel of Prehistory”) is no longer open to the public but a facsimile shows faithful reproductions of many of its most beautiful frescoes. The two galleries reproduced illustrate parietal art from Cro- Magnon through to Magdalenian man. There is a concentration of major sites in and around Les Eyzies de Tayac, which together form a coherent group of prehistoric remains: these include paintings in the Font de Gaume and Bara-Bahau caves; the engravings at Les Combarelles; the Abri du Poisson; Bernifal; the Abri Pataud; Laugerie Haute; and Laugerie Basse. At the heart of this open-air “museum” in the Vézère valley, the National Museum of Prehistory reflects the continuing developments in archaeological research. Re-opened in 2004, the museum now houses the largest Palaeolithic collection in France, with exhibits such as worked stone and bone, decorative art, burial items and fauna; it is also home to the world’s leading collection of engraved and sculpted stone from the Palaeolithic period. Interactive displays and audiovisual sequences help to provide an informative and educational introduction to the prehistoric period. Caves and crystallised chasms The Black Périgord is also known for its many underground caves which are open to the public, such as the Gouffre de Proumeyssac in Audrix, the Grottes de la Halle in Domme, the Grand Roc in Les Eyzies de Tayac, the Grotte de Maxange in Le Buisson de Cadouin, and the Grotte de Tourtoirac near Hautefort. 6 AN EXCEPTIONAL CULTURAL HERITAGE – 450,000 YEARS OF HISTORY 1,001 castles Among the thousand or more castles located in the Périgord, many are open to the public, allowing visitors to enjoy this magnificent aspect of the region’s heritage. Castles include the Château de Jumilhac (13C-18C), perhaps the most romantic residence in the Périgord Limousin area; the Château de Puyguilhem (16C), with its Loire valley-style architecture; and the majestic and imposing Hautefort castle, just a stone’s throw from the Auvézère valley. Also worth a visit are the Château de Losse, its silhouette reflected in the Vézère river; the Château de Castelnaud on the southern bank of the Dordogne, standing opposite Marqueyssac and its gardens; and Beynac, a formidable fortress dating from the Middle Ages. The Purple Périgord also has its fair share of castles, including those of Lanquais, Monbazillac and Biron. Churches and abbeys Located along the UNESCO World Heritage route to Santiago de Compostela, the Abbaye de Cadouin is the most important example of monastic architecture in the Périgord. Its cloister is a masterpiece of the Flamboyant Gothic style of architecture, dating from the 15C and 16C. The Cathédrale Saint-Front in Périgueux also stands along the same pilgrim’s route. The Abbaye de Chancelade, near Périgueux, is another architectural gem worthy of particular note. On the border of the Dordogne and the Charente, the Romanesque churches around Ribérac, mostly built during the 12C, are a charming feature of the small villages of the Dronne valley.