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Page Updated November 6, 2007

The Perigord

We are located where the Dordogne River flows through a land with castles and bastide villages, where foie gras and truffles are part of a special way of life. Perigord is a region of France which is a must to visit.

The Dordogne is a department of south-west France, covering an area of 9,060 sq km (3,500 sq mi). The department is largely made up of limestone plateaux crossed by the Dordogne and six other rivers including the Vezere. The Dordogne has a temperate climate, with summers being hot and dry. Picturesque river valleys support a rich variety of local agricultural produce in particular Périgord truffles, Foie-gras and Walnuts. Locally, the Dordogne is known as the Périgord. This is split further into four areas.

The "Périgord Pourpre" (Purple Périgord) is named after the grapes and is located in the south west of the Department, its capital being Bergerac (the home of Cyrano). This is the wine region, with full bodied reds and sweet white Monbazillacs.The airport at Bergerac is now a destination well-served by lo-cost carriers from most regions in the UK.

The "Périgord Verte" (Green Périgord) covers the most northern third of the Dordogne, with its main town of Nontron, and offers a greenery of verdant growth and valleys in a region crossed by a myriad of rivers and streams.

The "Périgord Blanc" (White Périgord) situated around the Department's capital of Périgueux covers the middle section running from west to east. It sits on a limestone plateaux from which it gets its name, and is typified by wide valleys and rolling meadows.

The "Périgord Noir" (Black Périgord) is to the sout east surrounding it's capital of Sarlat, overlooks the valleys of the Vézère and the Dordogne. It gets its name from the dark forests.

There is an abundance of historic castles, chateaux, churches, Bastides and cave fortresses within Perigord, far too many to see and appreciate in one visit. Périgord has preserved its history as well as moving with the times, the old quarters of Périgueux or Bergerac, restored and developed into pedestrian areas, have regained their former charm. A number of smaller towns, such as Brantome, Issigeac and Eymet have with-stood the changes of modern times and are an oasis of fantastic architecture, character and french charm.