A base for exploring the region, Souillac has a medieval past and is filled with Romanesque-style sculptures.
Souillac, Lot
Small medieval market town in an agricultural region of the Lot
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.
Events in Souillac
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.
Events in Souillac
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Beaujolais Nouveau 
Beaujolais Nouveau
The new Beaujolais has arrived!
The third Thursday in November is when this year's Beaujolais hits the shelves and is cause for celebration across France.
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Fête de la Musique
Music festival celebrated across France on the summer solstice
The Fête de la Musique is a celebration that takes place every summer solstice on 21 June in cities, towns and villages across France.
History & Culture in Souillac
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.
Sights & Attractions in Souillac
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.
Sights in Souillac
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Musee de l'Automate (Museum of Clockwork figures) Museum, Souillac
Museum with an impressive collection of automated toys & figures
A unique collection of animated toys, statues and displays from the 19th century, that are still featured in society today in Christmas shop windows.
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Musee de la Vieille Prune (Distillerie Louis Roque) Brandy Museum, Souillac
A distillery that houses a good display of brandy making products
Learn more about making liqueurs in this traditional distillery.
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Abbey Sainte-Marie, Souillac 
Abbey Sainte-Marie, Souillac
Benedictine abbey originating in the 10th-century
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.
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Saint-Martin Church, Souillac 
Saint-Martin Church, Souillac
Remains of 12th century church, converted into an exhibition hall
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.
Dining in Souillac
Restaurants in Souillac
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Le Pont de l'Ouysse Restaurant, Lacave
Restaurant of Le Pont de l'Ouysse Hotel
Michelin star restaurant with 14 immaculate rooms in the Lacave region.
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Jehan de Valon Restaurant, Rocamadour
Elegant restaurant with panoramic views
Restaurant within l'Hotel Beau Site located at the heart of the mediaeval village of Rocamadour.
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L'Esplanade Restaurant, Domme
Great truffle specialities
Perched on a cliff, the Hôtel l'Esplanade has a great setting with good rooms and more importantly, a fantastic restaurant.
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Saint Jacques de Compostelle Restaurant, Collonges-la-Rouge
Dining bliss at the centre of town
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.
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Manoir d'Hautegente Restaurant, Saint-Amand-de-Coly
Traditional gastronomy meets modern flair in beautiful location
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.
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Chateau de la Fleunie Restaurant, Condat-sur-Vezere
Gastronomic haven in Castle retreat
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.
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Things to do in Souillac
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.
Things To Do in Souillac
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Centre Equestre de Souillac Horse Riding, Souillac
Horse riding centre just outside of Souillac
Open Monday to Saturday all year round this horse riding centre welcomes you for lessons as well as trekking.
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Watersports in Souillac
Watersports in Souillac
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Carennac Aventure Watersports, Carennac
Canoeing, kayaking and hiking along the Dordogne river
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.
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Canoes Loisirs Watersports, Vitrac
Kayak & canoe rental on the Dordogne river south of Sarlat
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.
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Perigord Adventure & Loisirs Canoe, Beynac-et-Cazenac
Canoe hire on the Dordogne river through the beautiful Perigord
Enjoy a relaxing day close to nature as you canoe along the river and explore the waterways of this UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve.
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Canoe Dordogne
Enjoy a gentle kayak down the river Dordogne from La Roque Gageac
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.
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Canoe Vacances, La Roque-Gageac
Canoe holidays on the river Dordogne
Enjoy a single or multi-day trip down the river Dordogne to town such as Beynac, Castelnaud, Montfort and Fayac.
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AVCK (Animation Vezere Canoe Kayak), Les Eyzies-de-Tayac
Explore the Vézère valley from the peace & tranquillity of the river
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.
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Holiday Rentals in Souillac
Holiday Rentals in Souillac
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Maison La Seguinie Villa, Martel
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.
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Lou Calvel Villa, Cazals
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.
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La Croix Villa, Prats-du-Périgord
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.
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La Cloche Villa, Prats-du-périgor
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.
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La Maison Fleurie Villa, Frayssinet-le-Gelat
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.
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Le Mas Villa
Renovated 16th century farmhouse in Dordogne.
Hotels in Souillac
Hotels in Souillac
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La Terrasse Hotel, Meyronne
Former summer residence of the bishops of Tulle
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.
How to get to Souillac
Located en route to the Upper Dordogne Valley and Périgord Noir, Souillac is crossed by the Dordogne and Borrèze rivers.
Property For Sale in Souillac
Property for Sale in Souillac
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Chateau For Sale, Sarlat-la-Caneda - Ref.13318
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.
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Chateau Domme, Domme - Ref.MP112594 
Chateau Domme, Domme - Ref.MP112594
The chateau is located in a calm area close to the shops, 45 minutes from Brive airport and 75 minutes for Bergerac airport.
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Character Property, Montignac - Ref.MP112569 
Character Property, Montignac - Ref.MP112569
This property is located close to the village shops, about 10 minutes from Montignac town and 40 minutes from Brive airport.
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Les Eyzies Property For Sale - REF 3380612, Les Eyzies-de-Tayac
The property,dating from the 17th century, lies in a quiet, open valley, fed by a small stream.
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Character Property, Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin - Ref.MP112684 
Character Property, Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin - Ref.MP112684
Located about 50 minutes away from Bergerac airport, this house has a living space of 265m2 and a garden of 6398m2 of land.
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Paunat House, Tremolat - Ref.2014
Perigord authentic house with about 160m2 living space surrounded by a lovely garden and orchard of 1600m2.
