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Dordogne Holiday Cottages
These companies provide a wide collection of gites, villas and cottages in the Dordogne and surrounding region. Wi-fi and satellite television are offered for many of the holiday properties with a good number also including private swimming pools. Check the sites for news about availability as well as the latest reductions.
French Connections - Around
370 Dordogne cottages and holiday homes, ranging from two bedroom properties to luxurious riverside gites. Satellite television and wi-fi are offered for a range of cottages with booking prices starting at around £175.
Cottages 4 You - More than
230 Dordogne holiday cottages and other types of self catering properties including gites, villas and lodges. They provide a mixture of modern and traditional properties, many of which feature private swimming pools.
Holiday Lettings - Over 200 Dordogne self catering cottages from Holiday Lettings. They can be found in picturesque locations such as Montpon, Bergerac, Aubeterre and Sarlat with weekly bookings ranging between £250 and £1100.
Hoseasons - 80 Dordogne cottage properties and villas from Hoseasons, set in places like Aveyron, Auvergne and Eauze. Some are able to accommodate up to 14 people and most feature private swimming pools. Rates start at around £224 for week-long holiday breaks.
The Dordogne
For information about Dordogne holiday cottages see below. The Dordogne is a contrasting region of rolling green hills and meadows as well as deep gorges and dramatic river valleys. Stone villages and farms pepper the landscape while slow lazy rivers wind their way though the countryside. It is also a region with an eventful past and there are countless reminders of early history found throughout the area.
The North is devoted to agriculture and is used for cattle grazing while the south is notable for food and drink. The
Dordogne Valley is home to the Bergerac and Monbazillac vineyards and the region is also famous for its foie gras, mushrooms and strawberries.
The Perigord plain, upon which the Dordogne is situated, is varied in its composition. Rivers such as the Auvezere, Bandiat, Dronne and Dropt crisscross the countryside while further west the dense Double and Landais Forests dominate the landscape. It is a region steeped in history and offers some stunning reminders of the past,
The Caves of Lascaux for instance, contain impressive drawings of early habitation.
There are also countless picturesque villages around the Dordogne. The village of
Rocamadour, precariously set on the side of a mountain is one such, breathtaking example. The old town of Bergerac, is also worth a visit for its charming country market. See our guide below, for further information about Dordogne visitor attractions and activities.
Dordogne visitor attractions
Said to be the ‘heart of rural France’ the Dordogne will provide cottages tourists with an unforgettable holiday experience in one of the most beautiful areas in the country – a land of rich vineyards, medieval towns, charming villages, ancient chateaux and abbeys.
Outdoor activities
The Dordogne has always been a popular destination for those who want to enjoy outdoor adventures and activities in stunning locations. Cycling is one way to enjoy exploring the area. It is a major sport in France and hugely popular. Bike hire and equipment is readily available in all the major towns such as
Riberac, Perigeux and Bergerac. The abundance of rivers in this region provides plenty of opportunities for canoeing, rafting and kayaking and there are numerous operators hiring out equipment and offering lessons.
Try Explorando in Gloejac or Canoerie in le Bugue. The Dordogne also has some first class golf courses. There is an 18 hole course at
Siorac en Perogord and a 9 hole at Vitrac on the banks of the Dordogne River. There are also a variety of opportunities for walking, riding and trekking in this beautiful, rugged countryside.
Food and drink
The Dordogne is renowned for its excellent wine and locally produced food - foie gras, goose, duck and ceps to name but a few of its specialities. But there are also other options - Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian and a host of fast food outlets. For traditional French food, eat at
La Cocotte des Halles in Bergerac - a small but popular restaurant with daily specials such as duck confit and pommes salardaise - fried potatoes with parsley and garlic.
If you wish to eat at
Le Clos Saint-Front, reservations are required. Lamb and sole are specialities and its cuisine is innovative and sophisticated. For informal eating, you can sit on the pavement terrace at Le Regent, a popular brasserie in Sarlat and for a quintessentially French food,
Le Chevillard at Riberac is an auberge, renowned for its hearty buffets and reasonable prices.
History and Culture
This historic region possesses some of the earliest evidence of primitive art in Europe. From the coming of Christianity up until the 18th century, the area has been the scene of many hard-fought conflicts and today it is possible to view the castles and forts and the abbeys and churches which are redolent of its cultural heritage.
At Brantome is the Renaissance Chateau de Puyguilhem which is open daily from April to October and from November to March from Tuesday to Sunday. The
Eglise St Etienne at Perigueux dates back to the 12th century and the Cathedral St-Front was once visited by medieval pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostella in Spain. The abbey church of St Armand-de-Coly was built in the 13th century by Augustinian monks and is an example of fortress architecture constructed to protect the monastery.
