Travel Around The Clock

If you ran into this blog post, we assume you are probably already planning a visit to the Dordogne Valley.  Well done, excellent choice! This beautiful and welcoming department of the South-West of France offers plenty of culture, history, beautiful nature and amazing food, so no wonder why it is one of the top destinations in the country. We have prepared a little list for you that it's just meant to be a starting point, to give you an idea of the most interesting sites and things to do during your stay, and if you haven't booked your trip yet, we are pretty sure you'll be doing it straight away after reading this! Here is our top 10 list of things to do in the Dordogne Valley : 1. Savour the local produces: duck, walnuts and truffles Food lovers already know that the Dordogne Valley is a top gourmet destination . And not only for the voluptuous, fairly expensive and surely controversial (in its preparation) foie gras , but for any kind of duck dish, for the h...

The Dordogne, a hikers paradise The Dordogne is one of the top destinations for those that want to explore the rural side of France, and, besides the amazing castles , the medieval villages, the astonishing prehistoric art and the colorful farmers markets full of exquisite local products, this region offers lush landscapes made of green rolling hills, quiet valleys and beautiful forests. Walking along the paths in this generous countryside, other than being an excellent exercise, is a joy for the heart and the eyes!  And, if you like hiking, the region proposes approximately 780 kilometers of long hiking trails and 4000 kilometers of short ones that will offer you the chance to explore this beautiful scenarios scattered with golden stone hamlets that seem to be lost in time and space.  3 different variants of Way of Saint James cross the Dordogne Valley leading pilgrims and walkers to the vertiginous city of Rocamadour . But our favourite long walk in the region is...

With hundreds of medieval villages and 1,001 elegant castles , the Dordogne Valley is a must-see French department and the perfect destination for a romantic getaway in the French countryside. The Dordogne River The pretty honey-coloured stone buildings, the medieval or Renaissance windows and the typical lauze roofs that characterise the local architecture have earned some of these villages the label of Most Beautiful Villages in France. So, if you are planning a visit to this lovely region and are preparing a list of things not to miss, look no further, as we have selected the 10 most beautiful villages in the Dordogne, for you. The list includes some of the most popular ones that you will probably find in every major guide, and some little gems that are a little off the tourist path, but no less fascinating! SARLAT Sarlat, capital of the Perigord Noir , is one of the most attractive and renowned town in France. The charming city centre, dating back from Medieval and Renaissance time...

I fell in love with Sarlat the second I got my eyes on it, I’ve stood in awe at the beauty of the many castles of the Dordogne Valley more than once, and I’ve tasted the best French food at the local markets, but it’s the hidden gems of the Dordogne that genuinely took my heart and made me decide to move here. From scenic villages of medieval stone houses built against rocky walls to hidden churches lost in the lushest and most untouched countryside, going off the beaten path in the Dordogne truly pays off. This is what makes the Dordogne so interesting, so enchanting...so much a place to deeply fall in love with. And, since I moved here 6 years ago, I’ve had the time to discover plenty of hidden gems on the way, especially over our hikes through this astonishing countryside.  So I have created this list of my personal favourite places that often fall off the radar of the visitor.  Cheylard Chapel  in St Genies Cheylard chapel, Saint Geniès The Cheylard Chapel, on its...

The Chateau de Puyguilhem is located in the northern part of the Dordogne department, near the town of Villars (north-east of Brantome and west of Saint-Jean-de-Cole). The castle is set in an enchanting landscape, with an open valley in front and oak woods, typical of the Perigord region, in the back. Unfortunately, the lake that was once in the valley below the castle, no longer exists, but the view remains very picturesque. Chateau de Puyguilhem Chateau de Puyguilhem It was Pierre Mondot de la Marthonie , a wealthy magistrate from the region and first president of the Parliament of Paris, that acquired the stronghold of Puyguilhem, around 1510. The house was to be the family's second home, as well as a hunting lodge. Thus, he transformed it into a Renaissance residence by deploying a decor of great finesse on popular themes. Abandoned and looted in the 19th century, at the beginning of the 20th century the castle began to fall into ruins. It was then acquired by the State in 19...