© Le Madrigal Hotel, Sarlat-la-Caneda
Authentic charm in medieval Sarlat
With high pale stone walls, crimson red shutters and floral hanging baskets, this hotel really looks the part. Just a short distance from the Perigords capital of Sarlat and with picture perfect villages of La Roque Gaec, Les Eyzies and Domme all in touching distance, it stands as a great starting place to explore.
9 spacious, charming rooms which have been decorated in a "pastoral eclectic style" fill the property. Each has been soundproofed, air-conditioned and is well equipped with all the modern comforts.
On site, there is a fully equipped gym to keep up your fitness and help burn off all the gastronomic delights that you are unlikely to be able to resist.
A drink can also be enjoyed in the hotels bar after a day checking out the regional offerings.
The glass lift with panoramic views, housed within the old Church Sainte-Marie’s bell tower offers a unique experience. Once at the top, the lift, whose walls are made entirely of glass, allows you a 360° view of Sarlat.
With mullioned windows, dark grey stone slate roof (lauze) and the well-known honey-coloured stone of the facade, this is one of the most remarkable buildings in Sarlat.
The glass lift with panoramic views, housed within the old Church Sainte-Marie’s bell tower offers a unique experience. Once at the top, the lift, whose walls are made entirely of glass, allows you a 360° view of Sarlat.
Taking some three and a half centuries to build, this small cathedral is the centre piece and heart of the community in Sarlat-la-Caneda.
The Lanternes des Morts (Lanterns of the dead) are small towers mainly found in the central and western parts of France. Thought to indicate the position of a cemetary.
The 16th-century water mill in Sainte-Nathalène on the edge of the small Enéa river still manufactures walnut, hazelnut and almond oils in the traditional way.
Situated between Sarlat and Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil this thirteenth-century castle was renovated as recently as 1890.
Standing out as one of the most charming towns in the region, this medieval dwelling remains much as it was when it was built in the 14th century.
It's hard to imagine a nicer village than La Roque-Gageac, with its huge limestone cliffs that tower behind the Renaissance-style houses built in creamy stone with burnt red roofs.
The village of Beynac-et-Cazenac is thought to date back to the 12th century when its imposing cliff top château was constructed.
This bastide town, sitting high above the Dordogne river, has an impressive number of its 13th century fortifications still intact, including three of its original gates.
The town and the surrounding prehistoric sites have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Nearly 150 sites have already been discovered and contain significant finds dating back as far as the Middle Stone Age - about 300,000 to 40,000 years ago.
The pretty old town of Montignac serves as a good base for visiting the nearby prehistoric caves.
