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West Dordogne

Discover the top destinations in west Dordogne

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The Perigord Pourpre is to the south west of the Dordogne and centres around the city of Bergerac, following the lower part of the Dordogne River, as it becomes wider and slower moving after passing the town of Lalinde.

a gabare and the old bridge in Bergerac

Bergerac, Perigord Pourpre

On the banks of the River Dordogne nearly 120km east of the city of Bordeaux

Location
Bergerac

The largest town in the area, Bergerac, still retains a quaint old feel, with a change in pace in the summer months.

a shot of roof tops in the village of cadouin, dordogne

Cadouin, Perigord Noir

Pretty medieval village featuring a 12th Century abbey in the east of the Dordogne

Location
Le Buisson de Cadouin

A small but beautiful medieval village built around the Cadoudin Abbey, constructed by the Cistercians in the 12th century. It's situated very close to the neighbouring larger town of Le Buisson de Cadouin

Couze-et-Saint-Front

Couze-et-Saint-Front, Perigord Pourpre

Sitting on the Dordogne and Couze rivers, east of Bergerac

Location
Couze-et-Saint-Front

Couze used to be a paper-making village and a number of its old mills are still in existence, using the power of the Couze river to turn the water wheel.

a row of shops & restaurants in Eymet

Eymet, Perigord Pourpre

Very popular Bastide town to the south of Bergerac in the Perigord

Location
Eymet

Very much a textbook bastide village, it's laid out in a grid fashion around a central square. Eymet, as it exists today, was founded by Alphonse de Poitiers in 1270. 

looking across the river and bridge at lalinde

Lalinde, Perigord Pourpre

The first English bastide town and an important historical military site

Location
Lalinde

Founded in 1261, Lalinde was the first English bastide. Situated on the banks of the Dorgdogne, the town is also crossed by the Canal de Lalinde, constructed to bypass the dangerous rapids of Grand Thoret.

looking over the bridge to le bugue

Le Bugue, Perigord Noir

Relaxed market town situated in the heart of one of the most visited areas in France

Location
Le Bugue

The relaxed town of Le Bugue sits on the river Vézère where it's joined by the Doux. A more tranquil base for exploring the region, it has some pretty, narrow streets and a bustling market twice a week.

Town of limeuil & two rivers

Limeuil, Perigord Pourpre

A pretty hill top village where the Dordogne river meets the Vézère river

Location
Limeuil

Limeuil is a picturesque old village which features on the list of 'Les Plus Beaux Villages de France'. It has a pretty park on the top of the hill and some ruins from its medieval past.

Medieval architecture in Ste-Foy-la-Grande

Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, Gironde

A medieval Bastide town on the eastern border of the Gironde and Dordogne

Location
Sainte-Foy-la-Grande

Sainte-Foy-la-Grande sits on the south bank of the Dordogne river. This attractive walled bastide town still has some of its medieval houses and is a good base for visiting the surrounding Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux wine region and nearby Château de Montaigne, home of Michel de Montaigne.

a pretty house & street in tremolat

Trémolat, Perigord Noir

Charming village set amongst the green fields and vineyards of Bergerac

Location
Tremolat

Trémolat was originally home to a 6th century hermit, Saint-Cybard, before monks built their monastery here in the 9th century.