Fête de la Musique
The Fête de la Musique is a celebration that takes place every summer solstice on 21 June in cities, towns and villages across France.

© PWilliamson

© PWilliamson

© PWilliamson

© PWilliamson

© PWilliamson
Small medieval market town in an agricultural region of the Lot
A base for exploring the region, Souillac has a medieval past and is filled with Romanesque-style sculptures.
The rich agricultural land surrounding the town is known for its walnuts, strawberries and rural living. As you enter the town it appears a fairly normal French town, not giving away any of its medieval charm and history until you enter the walled part and the narrow streets the lead from the Abbey Saint-Marie to the old Saint-Martin church and tourist office.
The old Halle (market hall) is in the heart of the town and was built between 1832 and 1836. It's now listed as a national historical monument.
The main areas of interest are in the old town, where you'll find the Sainte-Marie abbey and church dating to the 12th century. The narrow medieval streets offer plenty of shopping opportunities and cafés for a small snack or drink. Souillac is situated equidistant from Sarlat-la-Caneda and Rocamadour, making it a good base to explore some of the most popular and spectacular sights that the Dordogne has to offer.
Souillac en Jazz - this international festival began in 1976 and has grown over the years to become one of the most popular jazz festivals in the region. It takes place annually in July.
Being a traditional market town, there is of course a weekly market. It is held each Friday morning around the Place de la Halle.
The Fête de la Musique is a celebration that takes place every summer solstice on 21 June in cities, towns and villages across France.
Bastille Day is celebrated across the whole of France with a bang...well, several in fact, fireworks always feature heavily.
Exceptional locations around France, including Dordogne, will be open to visit on the Journées du Patrimoine - a European wide event inspired by by France’s Journées Portes Ouvertes which started in 1984.
The history of Souillac dates all the way back to 655 AD when a religious order was to up residency in the area, but it was quickly wiped out by Barbarian invaders.
Later, in the 10th century, Benedictine monks founded the monastic community of Sainte-Marie, not far from the religious site of Rocamadour and on the Way of Saint-James. The abbey was built in 12th century and added to the importance of the town.
Occupied by the English in the Hundred Years' War, and attacked by Protestants during the Wars of Religion, the town, the trade routes and the original Romanesque abbey were all but destroyed. After the peace was signed at the Treaties of Westphalia in 1648, Souillac underwent an era of prosperity.
Trade on the river Dordogne was particularly important during this time, with large warehouses springing up in the town to support this.
In 1812, Napoleon ordered the construction of a bridge in Souillac to let his armies cross the Dordogne on their way to Spain.
The main attraction in Souillac is without a doubt the Abbey Sainte-Marie that sits as an impressive structure in the heart of the town. This Byzantine and Romanesque style building in a large square, sitting adjacent to the narrow streets of the medieval old town.
A rather unusual offering in Souillac is the Musée d'Automate - a museum of automated toys and mechanical marionettes. The collection is the largest of its kind in Europe and will give you an insight into the history of the Christmas window displays you might see in the Galeries Lafayette or similarly large department stores in London and Paris.
Learn more about making liqueurs in this traditional distillery.
A unique collection of animated toys, statues and displays from the 19th century, that are still featured in society today in Christmas shop windows.
Built between 1075 and 1150, the Abbey Sainte-Marie ranks among the finest examples of Romanesque and Byzantine architectural styles in the south-west of France.
Standing near the Porte Barnicou (one of the five gates to the walled city), this 12th-century church was rebuilt in the late 15th-century and remodeled once again in the 17th-century.
Michelin star restaurant with 14 immaculate rooms in the Lacave region.
Restaurant within l'Hotel Beau Site located at the heart of the mediaeval village of Rocamadour.
Perched on a cliff, the Hôtel l'Esplanade has a great setting with good rooms and more importantly, a fantastic restaurant.
Large bright dining rooms and a flowery terrace set the scene for a delicious meal. In the winter your food can be enjoyed in front of the large open fire place and in the summer, out on the open terrace looking out over town and surrounding countryside.
The restaurant of this excellent 4-star hotel is one of the best in the region. The manor building is set in beautiful grounds, and chef, Ludovic Lavaud, harmoniously matches local products and traditional cuisine with a touch of oriental perfume. The cave is exceptional too.
Set inside a 106-hectare estate Castle, the restaurant setting alone is worth a visit, but with beautiful stone walls, painted wooden beams and decorated in traditional fashion, it is very much worth taking a step inside.
Sitting near the banks of the Dordogne you can't help but be drawn to this beautiful river, for walking, cycling, canoeing and even some horse riding.
Open Monday to Saturday all year round this horse riding centre welcomes you for lessons as well as trekking.
Situated at the foot of Carennac village this watersports centre offers more than just fun on the water! They offer three main activities; canoeing or kayaking, group canoeing with up to six people in the same boat, and adventure trekking with overnight camping out in the wild.
Offering various routes along the Dordogne river to enjoy the sights of the Perigord Noir region. Discover hidden treasures during a relaxing journey down the river.
Enjoy a relaxing day close to nature as you canoe along the river and explore the waterways of this UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
Hire a canoe or kayak from this company and you can enjoy a gentle river cruise and the chance to explore the wonderful Dordogne river and its banks.
Enjoy a single or multi-day trip down the river Dordogne to town such as Beynac, Castelnaud, Montfort and Fayac.
This area provides water-sports for all ages. Renowned for its architectural heritage and sites of natural beauty, you will find that paddling is a great way to relax and have fun whilst enjoying the scenery.
A recently built house owned by an architect and an interior designer who have created a beautifully finished property that evokes the local style yet is thoroughly modern, exuding flair and taste.
A recently built house owned by an architect and an interior designer who have created a beautifully finished property that evokes the local style yet is thoroughly modern, exuding flair and taste.
A haven of tranquillity, Lou Calvel sits within private woodland in the picturesque Lot region of South West France where the densely forested landscape teems with a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Hedgerows of bluebells, posies and colourful orchids provide both walkers and keen photographers with much to admire while local market stalls always offer a wealth of freshly harvested, seasonal produce including asparagus, herbs and a wide variety of wild mushrooms.
This recently renovated semi-detached stone village house is a delightful addition to our collection of properties in the picturesque Dordogne region. Situated along one of the narrow lanes in the village of Prats-du-Périgord, La Croix is a restoration that blends the traditional with the contemporary to great effect.
Surrounded by a patchwork of fields and forests in the picturesque Perigord Noir area, the charming village of Prats-du-Perigord, with its honey coloured stone buildings topped with pitched roofs of deep red tiles, is most typical of the region.
The undulating countryside north of the River Lot is dotted with chestnut woods and stone villages. In a tiny hamlet, close to the border with the Dordogne (3km), sits La Maison Fleurie, a picturesque stone cottage, adorned with pots of colourful flowers.
Renovated 16th century farmhouse in Dordogne.
From the early 11th century, this castle was coveted by several turbulent lords. It then became the summer residence of the bishops of Tulle, and successively had to endure the wars of religion followed by those of the French Revolution.
Located en route to the Upper Dordogne Valley and Périgord Noir, Souillac is crossed by the Dordogne and Borrèze rivers.
In a typical environment of the Dordogne, superb set of properties with a mansion with a living room of 68m2 and 6 rooms and a listed 3 bedrooms cottages and private pool, a second holiday 3 bedrooms, large heated pool, in a lovely over 1.8 hectares garden.
The chateau is located in a calm area close to the shops, 45 minutes from Brive airport and 75 minutes for Bergerac airport.
This property is located close to the village shops, about 10 minutes from Montignac town and 40 minutes from Brive airport.
The property,dating from the 17th century, lies in a quiet, open valley, fed by a small stream.
Located about 50 minutes away from Bergerac airport, this house has a living space of 265m2 and a garden of 6398m2 of land.
Perigord authentic house with about 160m2 living space surrounded by a lovely garden and orchard of 1600m2.