Your perfect 5-days itinerary in the Dordogne
Following our 3 days itinerary in the Dordogne, here you will find our suggestions if you have a bit more time to spend in this lovely corner of France.
You won’t probably be able to see everything the region has to offer but you will get a real sense of it.
Your first day in the Dordogne should start with the exploration of the medieval city centre of Sarlat. Possibly, choose to do it on a Wednesday or Saturday that are market days, when the city livens up with the hustle and bustle of the farmers and the locals browsing the stalls for delicacies.
Start your visit from Place de la Liberté. Explore the little alleys. Enjoy the perfectly preserved Perigourdine architecture, the golden stones, the decorated portals, the beautiful towers and the Reinassance windows. Don't miss the many small niches with the Virgin Mary statues…
And after all that turn and turn around often with your nose up, get a rest, stop in a cafe' or a little restaurant, have lunch and take your time to feel the atmosphere, feel Sarlat!
Later in the afternoon, enter the Manoir de Gisson for an experience back in time.
Day Two
Start your day early with a visit to Les Eyzies, where you will find the two small (though original and extremely fascinating) painted caves of Font de Gaume and Combarelles and the Pôle International de la Préhistoire (be aware that the tickets for the caves cannot be booked in advance; you will need to be there at least half an hour before the opening and maybe even earlier in summer but the extra effort will be rewarded with beautiful prehistoric art).
After the visit to the caves, drive towards Tursac for a visit to the Maison Forte De Reignac.
Take again the road northward to reach St Leon-sur-Vezere for lunch and a relaxing canoe ride.
Day Three
From Sarlat, go south towards Montfort and its `cingle`, then following the river course, visit the medieval bastide of Domme (market on Thursday) and the elegant village of La Roque Gageac.
Next stop should be the Jardin de Marqueyssac a natural terrace offering an astonishing view over the Dordogne river.
If you haven’t had lunch yet, stop a few kilometers further in Beynac and once refuelled, have a stroll along this beautiful village. If you can make it to the top, take your time for a visit to the castle.
Day Four
Lascaux IV is probably the most popular attraction in the region; it is the exact replica of the original Lascaux site (that cannot be visited anymore in order to preserve it) and has been designed to evoke the sense of the prehistoric rock shelters for which the region is famous. A visit to the caves should normally take around 2/3 hours.
The cave is close to the village of Montignac where you can have lunch and, on your way back to Sarlat make a little detour through the villages of Saint Geniès and St Amand de Coly. If you like hiking, both villages offer a wide choice of short and longer circular walks to stretch your legs and enjoy a taste of the rich countryside of the region.
Day Five
Get in the car and drive to Bergerac (approximately one hour from Sarlat); on your way you can visit the ancient abbey and cloister of Cadouin.
Bergerac is a beautiful city with a lovely medieval center; there you will find plenty of cafes and restaurants, a nice river bank for a walk, a wine museum and Cyrano’s statue.
If you like sweet wine, on your way back you should stop at Monbazillac where, in the homonymous castle, you'll find the cooperative cave and you will be able to find out a bit more about the local dessert wine, taste some samples and maybe buy a couple of bottles...but, please remember that you will probably have to drive back to Sarlat...so drink moderately!
You won’t probably be able to see everything the region has to offer but you will get a real sense of it.
5 DAYS IN THE DORDOGNE
Day One
Your first day in the Dordogne should start with the exploration of the medieval city centre of Sarlat. Possibly, choose to do it on a Wednesday or Saturday that are market days, when the city livens up with the hustle and bustle of the farmers and the locals browsing the stalls for delicacies.
Start your visit from Place de la Liberté. Explore the little alleys. Enjoy the perfectly preserved Perigourdine architecture, the golden stones, the decorated portals, the beautiful towers and the Reinassance windows. Don't miss the many small niches with the Virgin Mary statues…
And after all that turn and turn around often with your nose up, get a rest, stop in a cafe' or a little restaurant, have lunch and take your time to feel the atmosphere, feel Sarlat!
Later in the afternoon, enter the Manoir de Gisson for an experience back in time.
 |
| Place du Marché aux Oies, Sarlat la Caneda |
Day Two
Start your day early with a visit to Les Eyzies, where you will find the two small (though original and extremely fascinating) painted caves of Font de Gaume and Combarelles and the Pôle International de la Préhistoire (be aware that the tickets for the caves cannot be booked in advance; you will need to be there at least half an hour before the opening and maybe even earlier in summer but the extra effort will be rewarded with beautiful prehistoric art).
After the visit to the caves, drive towards Tursac for a visit to the Maison Forte De Reignac.
Take again the road northward to reach St Leon-sur-Vezere for lunch and a relaxing canoe ride.
 |
| Maison Forte de Reignac |
Day Three
From Sarlat, go south towards Montfort and its `cingle`, then following the river course, visit the medieval bastide of Domme (market on Thursday) and the elegant village of La Roque Gageac.
Next stop should be the Jardin de Marqueyssac a natural terrace offering an astonishing view over the Dordogne river.
If you haven’t had lunch yet, stop a few kilometers further in Beynac and once refuelled, have a stroll along this beautiful village. If you can make it to the top, take your time for a visit to the castle.
 |
| Monfort cingle |
Day Four
Lascaux IV is probably the most popular attraction in the region; it is the exact replica of the original Lascaux site (that cannot be visited anymore in order to preserve it) and has been designed to evoke the sense of the prehistoric rock shelters for which the region is famous. A visit to the caves should normally take around 2/3 hours.
The cave is close to the village of Montignac where you can have lunch and, on your way back to Sarlat make a little detour through the villages of Saint Geniès and St Amand de Coly. If you like hiking, both villages offer a wide choice of short and longer circular walks to stretch your legs and enjoy a taste of the rich countryside of the region.
 |
| Saint Geniès |
Day Five
Get in the car and drive to Bergerac (approximately one hour from Sarlat); on your way you can visit the ancient abbey and cloister of Cadouin.
Bergerac is a beautiful city with a lovely medieval center; there you will find plenty of cafes and restaurants, a nice river bank for a walk, a wine museum and Cyrano’s statue.
If you like sweet wine, on your way back you should stop at Monbazillac where, in the homonymous castle, you'll find the cooperative cave and you will be able to find out a bit more about the local dessert wine, taste some samples and maybe buy a couple of bottles...but, please remember that you will probably have to drive back to Sarlat...so drink moderately!
 |
| Monbazillac castle |
For more info about the Dordogne region, check out our posts.
If you are planning a visit in the Dordogne Valley here are our suggestions for a 3 or 5 days itinerary
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