The Dordogne is a beautiful part of France, with quaint villages, delicious food, vineyards, and many historical sites. We spent lots of time driving around and discovering the picturesque Dordogne villages and noting all the reasons why this area is worth adding to your France bucket list!
The Dordogne region, also known as the Perigord, is named after the Dordogne River, which flows through the area. It is known for its beautiful medieval towns and villages, scenic landscapes, and rich culinary traditions.
We visited for our babymoon when I was pregnant with our first little boy, and although this meant I couldn’t partake in the copious amounts of wine and cheese on offer, I did love visiting all the little villages that we stumbled across as we drove across the countryside. So I figured it was about time to share them!
The Dordogne is actually a really large area, which we definitely underestimated when planning our trip. I would recommend staying in a couple of different places so that you can make the most of it and see lots of these beautiful places. Each one is unique and has something different to offer!
Here are some of the best villages in the Dordogne to add to your itinerary!
Eymet
Eymet is a charming village in the Dordogne region known for its half-timbered houses, cobbled streets, and lively market on Thursdays. It has a rich history, dating back to the 13th century, and is surrounded by vineyards and farmland.
It was the closest bigger place to where we first stayed and we loved going there to try all the different places to eat around the main square.
Domme
Domme is a charming village located on a hilltop overlooking the Dordogne River. Its position is what makes it different to some of the other riverside villages.
It features a 13th-century fortress and a stunning view of the surrounding countryside. You can explore the narrow streets and alleys lined with stone houses and enjoy the local cuisine.
Brantome
This picturesque town in the Dordogne Valley is known as the “Venice of Perigord” due to its location on an island in the river.
It features a stunning abbey and several historic buildings, including a castle and a bell tower. The town is surrounded by beautiful natural scenery and is famous for outdoor activities like canoeing and hiking.
There are even glass blowing shows as well and lots of shops set within the caves to the side of the river.
Argentat-sur-Dordogne
A beautiful village located on the banks of the Dordogne River and is surrounded by hills covered in oak trees. It features several historic buildings, including a 12th-century church and a castle.
The town is surrounded by stunning natural scenery, including forests and mountains, which makes it worth driving to.
La Roque-Gageac
A stunning medieval village situated on in a unique location overlooking the Dordogne River. It is on a narrow stretch of land backed by a large cliff, so there is not a lot of room for the houses built there to expand any further! It’s this unique look to the village which makes it worth visiting.
The village features narrow streets and ancient stone buildings, including a castle and a church. Visitors can also take a boat tour on the river to admire the scenery.
Monpazier
Monpazier is a well-preserved medieval village founded in the 13th century. It features a beautiful central square surrounded by half-timbered houses, a church, and a castle.
The village is known for its traditional architecture and lively market days. It’s almost exactly as it would have been in medieval times, which makes it worth the visit.
Issigeac
Issigeac is a medieval village in the Bergerac region known for its half-timbered houses and winding streets. I loved these timber houses and it’s crazy to see how much some of them lean!
It features a 13th-century market hall and a Romanesque church. Visitors can explore the town’s many art galleries, craft shops, and restaurants. We also found a couple of amazing bakeries here. I mean, France is full of them, but these were particularly good.
Belves
This medieval village features traditional architecture, narrow streets, and a beautiful central square that is in the traditional bastide style. It is known for its markets held in a preserved 15th-century market hall, and traditional crafts.
Montignac
This village is known for its proximity to the world-famous Lascaux caves, which feature stunning prehistoric art of large animals. You can visit Lascaux II and The International Center for Cave Art, which have detailed replicas of the cave complex.
Sarlat-la-Canéda
This medieval town is considered one of the most beautiful villages in France, although it’s much larger than the others on the list.
Its charming cobblestone streets, traditional buildings, and lively markets attract visitors. It is also known for its gourmet food scene and proximity to several stunning natural sites.
Sarlat-la-Canéda makes a great base for exploring more of the Dordogne as it has lots of accommodation on offer and many more places to eat than the other villages.
Collonges-la-Rouge
This village is known for its distinctive red sandstone buildings that set it apart from the other villages on the list. It features several historical monuments, including a church and a castle. It is located in a scenic area of rolling hills and forests.
Beynac-et-Cazenac
This picturesque village is on a cliff above the Dordogne River and features narrow streets lined with traditional stone houses.
The village is dominated by a stunning medieval castle and offers breathtaking views of the river and surrounding landscape. Château de Beynac is definitely worth stopping at for the surrounding views.
Limeuil
This village is located at the confluence of the Dordogne and Vézère rivers and features stunning views of the surrounding landscape. It is known for its medieval architecture and charming streets.
It’s also unique in that it has a river beach that is easy to canoe/kayak off, so it’s a great place to get out on the river and see the Dordogne from a different perspective.
Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
This village is dominated by a stunning medieval castle that houses a museum of medieval warfare. It features narrow streets, traditional buildings, and beautiful views of the Dordogne River and the surrounding landscape.
Castelnaud-la-Chapelle was one of the favourites that we visited, and there are plenty to see!
Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin-de-Reilhac
This village is home to the Rouffignac Cave, which features over 250 engravings and prehistoric cave artworks. It also features traditional architecture, narrow streets, and beautiful views of the surrounding landscape, obviously!
Cadouin
This village is home to a beautiful Cistercian abbey dating back to the 12th century. It features narrow streets, traditional stone houses, and stunning views of the surrounding countryside, like all of these villages of course! But it is the abbey that makes this one unique.
It also features traditional architecture, narrow streets, and a beautiful church, plus a market where you can buy the famed black truffles from the area.
We loved our trip to the Dordogne and would highly recommend it as an area of France to explore. There are so many beautiful villages in the Dordogne, but each one has its own reason why you should add it to your list.
Having said that, you can’t go wrong just meandering through the countryside and exploring whatever you come across!
Sonja x
Read More: 24+ Best Things to Do in the Dordogne & Beautiful Points of Interest
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