Sights in Perigueux — 7 of Our Favourites

It also houses a medieval collection with some rare Romanesque sculptures, regional art and crafts from the last millennium and a fine arts painting collection. 

Founded in 1835, this was the first museum to be established in the Dordogne. Dedicated to the vestiges of human presence throughout the Perigord, and to their artistic creativity and craft work, this museum also features and displays exhibitions that represent the rest of France, Europe and indeed the Americas.

The museum has an excellent permanent exhibition allowing you to walk on raised walkways over the ruins. It also houses a collection of artefacts from Roman times. The long entrance offer a spectacular view down into the archaeological site, whilst the collections illustrate the prosperity of the ancient administrative centre, the city and its inhabitants, the great monuments, the architectural surroundings, the dead world, religion and trade.

The site has been home to a church since the 6th century but the existing building dates to the 12th century. It is a mix of Byzantine and Romanesque styles with slightly odd domed roofs featuring protruding pinnacles. It is located on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela and has World Heritage listing status.

The town, called Vesunna, is know referred to as La Cité. At its height, it was a huge city with an amphitheatre, aqueduct, baths and a tower without any doors or windows. This area is also home to the Cathédrale Saint-Etienne.

Originating from Roman rule in 51 BC, the area known as Vesunna began to develop with many luxurious Roman villas. However, during the third century the town, as with many others, was subject to a succession of barbarian invasions. The town eventually became known as La Cité des Pétrocores, then simply as La Cité. 

Saint Front arrived at some point in the forth century, bringing Christianity to the region and he was eventually buried on a neighbouring hilltop. The sight of his tomb became a pilgrimage sight and eventually a town sprung up around it. This was Le Puy St Front. The two towns began and continued a somewhat unsettled relationship, despite being joined under the act of union in 1240. In fact at the start of the Hundred Years' War La Cité sided with the English and Le Puy with France.

Eventually, several centuries later, after the Wars of Religion, La Cité fell into decline. In 1669 the transfer of cathedral status from Saint-Étienne-de-la-Cite to Saint-Front occurred, sealing the fate of La Cité once and for all. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the area began to expand into the modern city that we known today as Perigueux. The old city however has remain largely untouched, despite the industrialisation of the town at the time. 

Today only 25 metres remain and some of the outer wall has been breached, but it is still an impressive structure sitting in pretty, public gardens in the old part of Périgueux not far from the railway line. In 1833, the site was owned by the Earl Henry Wigrin de Taillefer, and transferred to the town of Périgueux on the event of his death. In 1846, the tower was classified as an historic monument.

The cathedral suffered extensive damage in 1577 when a fire destroyed half of the building. The bell tower was then restored in 1620. Square in structure, with a huge central dome, this Romanesque building was damaged again during the late 17th century and rebuilt in the original style, though with more decorative features than previously.

In 1669, the episcopal seat was transferred to the church of Saint-Front, which became the Cathédrale Saint-Front. The Saint-Étienne-de-la-Cité Cathedral then became a simple church.

The year 1907 saw the beginning of a major restoration campaign, led by the architect Henri Rapine. It is classified as an historical monument under the 1840 act.

Much of it was destroyed when a defensive wall was constructed around the city in the 3rd century. It is thought to have been the largest amphitheatre in Gaul, hosting up to 20,000 spectators. The area is now a wonderful green space in the city of Périgueux, surrounded by silver lime trees, holly, chestnut trees and spruces.

It offers visitors an attractive and calming natural environment and in summer children can also enjoy a playground with a carousel, as well as the paddling pool area and fountains...perfect for the hot summer days!