DORDOGNE-PERIGORD FAQ`S
Located in south-west France, just one hour's drive to the east of Bordeaux, Dordogne-Perigord is one of the largest and most picturesque "départements" in France.
Here you will discover unspoiled nature, grandiose landscapes, and numerous historic buildings.
Perigord refers to the Dordogne department, located in the new Aquitaine region. It is bordered by the ramparts of the Massif Central to the north, the Causses du Quercy to the east, the orchards of the Lot et Garonne to the south and the Gironde gravel to the west.
Dordogne is synonymous with Perigord, located in the new Aquitaine region. The Dordogne is bordered by the ramparts of the Massif Central to the north, the Causses du Quercy to the east, the orchards of the Lot et Garonne to the south and the gravel of the Gironde to the west.
In the Dorgone Valley you can visit castles from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, which once played a part in the Hundred Years' War, and the Wars of Religion that took place there. The Perigord boasts 45 castles that are now open to the public to visit. Also great to visit are beautiful medieval villages and Romanesque churches.
Flying: There are three airports suitable for flying to Dordogne: Bergerac, Brive, and Bordeaux-Merignac. The best known airport for Dordogne is Bergerac Dordogne Perigord Airport. Situated in the west of the Dordogne region, just over 62-miles from Bordeaux.
Brive Airport in the north east of the region is a newer and modern small airport, currently only serviced by just two airlines. It has less frequent flights but is well connected with Paris throughout the week and throughout the year. This airport offers good access to the east of Dordogne and the Vereze valley and the popular towns of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, Rocamadour, Martel and the infamous Lascaux caves in Montignac.
Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport is situated on the west side of Bordeaux city and therefore to the west of the Dordogne region. It allows good access to both the city of Bordeaux and the Gironde as well as the Dordogne region and is serviced by a number of the major airlines. This wide choice of airlines means that prices are often competitive.
Onward travel from any of these airports you can find transfers or shuttle services, as well as car rentals widely available.
By Train: The Dordogne is reasonably accessible by high-speed train. The main stations are Périgueux, Bergerac, Sarlat and Brive. These are all accessible from Bordeaux, Paris, Lyon and Toulouse. Once you reach the Dordogne, onward travel throughout the region can be difficult. The local train line that runs the length of the Dordogne does not stop at each town and you will find the trains infrequent.
Bordeaux to Périgueux by train takes around 1 hour 15 minutes. Toulouse to Périgueux is around 3 hours, and Lyon to Périgueux is a 5 hour journey. If you wish to travel from Paris to Périgueux then you must take the train to Angoulême and rent a car for the latter part of your journey.
Once in the Dordogne, the local TER trains run between Bordeaux, Libourne, St Emilion, Bergerac, Le Buisson and Sarlat.
Having a car offers flexibility during your trip. The landscapes are beautiful the roads are generally quiet making it enjoyable to drive. Car rental companies offer pick-ups direct from the region's major airports.
What is the difference between the Dordogne and Périgord?Today Périgord and the Dordogne department are synonymous and designate the same territory. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decided to create the departments in order to simplify France's administrative organization. The criteria used for the names of the departments being geographical or hydrographic, Périgord thus receives the name of its main river: the Dordogne.
What is Dordogne-Perigord famous for?
The Dordogne is renowned for its love of food and drink. The area boasts a long culinary heritage and a tremendous gastronomic heritage. The Dordogne is also known as Franc's duck and truffle capital.
Perigord is undoubtedly one of the French departments with the highest concentration of national treasures: Castles, Abbeys, "Bastides", Priories, Archeological and Troglodytes sites, Caves and Caverns, Gardens, and Museums.
France's south-western Perigord region comes in four colors: green, purple, black and white.
White Périgord : Around Périgueux and the Isle Valley. This is where the Roman ruins can be discovered.
Black Périgord : Sarlat; most of historical sites and castles, forests, the Vézère Valley and the Dordogne Valley. This is where the prehistoric Lascaux cave is located..
Green Périgord : From Nontron to Excideuil, Périgord Nature Reserve and Country Park, Limousin, Brantôme, Val de Dronn. This is a great area for its bike rail to contemplate the richness of the meadows.
Purple Périgord : Bergerac and its vineyards and orchards, south of Dordogne and its “pays des bastides”. This is a great area for wine-tasting.
The Périgord Black (Noir) is located in the south-east of the Dordogne Department: Sarlat is the capital, you will also find the following villages there: Montignac, Les Eyzies, Thenon, Terrasson, Belvès, Domme, Le Bugue, Saint Cyprien, Villefranche du Périgord, Hautefort. It refers to its wooded cover with dense foliage making the undergrowth dark. For convenience, black is also associated with truffles, but the presence of this precious fungus would not be at the origin of the appellation.
The Périgord Noir is made up of the Vézère valley and the Dordogne valley.
The Dordogne, Vézère and Céou rivers irrigate this region.
The Périgord (Vert) Green corresponds to the northern part of the Dordogne, it is a very hilly part covered with meadows and to a lesser extent with oak forest. Nontron, Brantôme, Ribérac, Lanouaille, Thiviers and Saint Pardoux la rivière are municipalities in the Périgord vert. It is currently a tourist appellation that includes the Nontron region and the Dronne valley. The Côle, the Auvézère, the Dronne and the Belle flow in this part of the Dordogne.
What is the Périgord White?The Périgord White (Blanc) corresponds to the centre of the Dordogne department, its name comes from the white colour of the limestone rocks of the landscape. Périgueux is the capital of the Périgord Blanc, you will also find the villages of Vergt, Mussidan, Neuvic, Saint Astier, Montpon ménestérol and Sorges. To white is referred to the stones of monuments and dwellings, the white stones that appear in cultures and limestone quarries (Saint Astier).
What is the Purple Perigord?The purple Perigord located in the southwestern part of the department takes its name from the purple colour of the autumn foliage of the vines and the colour of the wine. It is a recent appellation that has complemented the Department's other three colours. Bergerac is the capital of the region. It is also the Country of the Bastides: Beaumont du Périgord, Issigeac, Monpazier, Lalinde and Eymet
What is the origin of the name Dordogne?The Dordogne is a 300-mile long river that originates in the Puy de Dome. Two small streams, the Dore and the Dogne, join to form the Dordogne. However the meaning of the word Dordogne does not come from this union. Its name comes from "Durãnius" which means torrent or stream (in the same way as the Durance) and which evolved into Dordonia (9th Century) and then into Dordogne.
What are the food and local products like in the area?
Dordogne’s gastronomic scene tends to be dominated by duck. You’ll find one or several duck dishes on almost every menu in the region. From slow-cooked duck confit, sautéed breast and smooth foie gras all feature heavily in the region’s cuisine.
Walnuts are also popular in the Dordogne and are used not just in their raw form, but to make oil, wine (vin de noix), cheese and bread. Truffles and cèpes, so prized by gourmands, are also mainstays on Dordogne’s culinary scene. Every budget is catered to, with inexpensive truck-stop restaurants and farmers’ markets offering bargain dining deals, while fine-dining establishments plate up extravagant, once-in-a-lifetime Michelin-star meals.
You'll be spoiled by amazing wine choices in the region. The Bergerac area is the Dordogne’s main wine-producing region and includes everything from dry whites (Bergerac and Montravel) and full-bodied reds (Pe´charment) to dessert wines (Saussignac and Monbazillac).
Each village have markets with specialties such as geese and duck products, black truffles or ceps (depending on teh season) and also the International Book Fair Gourmand which take place every two years in Periguex. There are many good restaurants, and you should take the time to stop and taste the local cuisine.
The Dordogne can be visited year-round. The majority of travelers come in July and August when the weather is at its best, typically around 95 degrees F. This is also the liveliest time to visit, when many fairs, celebrations, or even one of the seasonal evening markets take place. However, because this is the high season, you'll be joining the crowds, which means roads, restaurants, and popular attractions will be busier. Late spring and early fall are quieter alternatives, thought the weather at these times may be much cooler.
From December to March many of the top attractions and restaurants will be closed for the cold season, though some chateaux do remain open. This is also black truffle seasson.
We recommend going during the should months: May to June or September to October. Though the villages don’t get as busy as other places in Europe, they can get crowded in summer. The off-season allows you to avoid crowds and have a more intimate and authentic experience.
In order to see everything you'll want in these villages at their fullets, we recommend that a minimum of five days is needed (but preferably more).
What is the language spoken in Dordogne-Perigord?French is the official language spoken in Dordogne-Perigord. As a hugely popular international tourist destination you may find that many restaurants, bars and hotels English is spoken also. However, if you decide to travel into the surrounding, more rural villages, or happen upon a restaurant off the beaten track then it's a good idea to brush up on your French. It's best to learn a few phrases and pick up a good English-French guidebook or app on your phone to help you get around. And familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, thank you, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
What is the currency in France? Can I pay/tip in US dollars?In France, the currency is the euro, and travelers can exchange their dollars for euros at the airport exchange booths or kiosks throughout the region. Since the euro to U.S. dollar exchange rate fluctuates, be sure to check what the current exchange rate is before you go. When it comes to tipping, visitors should note that service charges are usually included on restaurant bills, though it is common to round out the bill with a small tip. Tipping hotel staff a euro or two for their services is also customary.
What should I do if I need medical assistance?In an emergency dial 112 is the general emergency services number or 114 for hearing assistance.