Sojourn in the Dordogne

Your Travel Itinerary

Days 1 & 2 — Depart from the U.S., Sarlat-la-Canéda, France
Depart from the U.S. for France. Upon arrival the next day, transfer through the Périgord Noir to Sarlat and the hotel Plaza Madeleine. Settle into your intimate 19th-century townhouse hotel, offering gracious French ambiance. (D)

Day 3 — Sarlat-la-Canéda
A rich merchant town, Sarlat was rebuilt in the late 15th century and today is an open-air museum of medieval, Renaissance, and 17th-century architecture. Take a walking tour of historic Sarlat this morning, then enjoy time at leisure to stroll through the medieval town center and the market. This afternoon, attend a presentation on architectural preservation, followed by a private reception and dinner at the hotel. (B,L,R)

Day 4 — Rocamadour and Souillac
Today features a full-day excursion to the fortress town of Rocamadour. Visit the renowned Notre Dame Chapel, one of the most dramatic pilgrimage sites in Europe, with its extraordinary 13th-century chapel complex perched on a cliff. Have lunch in Rocamadour, then continue to Souillac and the 12th-century church of Ste. Marie for an afternoon visit. (B,L,D)

Day 5 — Les Eyzies de Tayac and Cap Blanc
Les Eyzies de Tayac is France’s capital of prehistoric society, where fossils of Cro-Magnon Man were discovered. At 35,000 years old, the fossils are the earliest evidence of homo sapiens in existence. View cave paintings, fossils, and early tools, which are given context at the National Museum of Prehistory, housed in a 13th-century castle. Later, visit Cap Blanc, where treasures such as life-size relief sculptures of horses, bison, and reindeer can be seen at this designed Historical Monument and World Heritage site. (B,D)

Day 6 — Eyrignac, Lascaux, and Rouffignac
Stop at the gardens of Eyrignac Manoir, which are among the most famous and beautiful in France. Originally designed in the 18th century, they were later transformed into the English-style gardens of today. The magical landscape surrounding Sarlat was not lost on Aquitaine’s prehistoric ancestors. In approximately 15,000 B.C., unknown painters created the breathtaking cave paintings of Lascaux. Because of their fragility, Lascaux II was created. This exact replica of the cave and its paintings was reproduced using the same materials as the original. View images of exquisite beauty and skill, including long-extinct bulls, wild stallions, and ancient antelopes. In the Rouffignac Cave, dubbed the "Cave of a Hundred Mammoths," take an electric train through miles of caverns and see drawings of extinct beasts that populate the walls. (B,L)

Day 7 — Tursac and St. Amand de Coly
Enjoy a morning at leisure to explore Sarlat's traditional weekly outdoor market, one of France’s most lively, which dates back to the Middle Ages. In the afternoon, travel to Tursac to discover the Troglodyte village of La Madeleine, perched in the cliffs high about the Vérzère River. Families occupied this prehistoric village of cave dwellings for over 15,000 years. Continue to St. Amand de Coly, one of the oldest villages in the Périgord Noir, where all lanes lead to the Abbey Church. Built in the 12th and 13th centuries by Augustinian monks, the abbey looks more like a fortress than a place of worship, with its ramparts and arched tower with arrow-slits. This evening, enjoy traditional songs and folkdances from southwest France performed by a troupe of troubadors dressed in regional costume. (B,D)

Day 8 — Beynac Castle and Domme
Overlooking the Dordogne Valley from a 300-foot sheer cliff, the Beynac et Cazenac fortress is a fine medieval prize, once the proud possession of Richard the Lionheart. Explore its elaborate series of parapet walks, watch towers, and passageways and walk inside to see the superb 17th-century staircase and delicate 15th-century frescoes of the Last Supper and the Pietà. Depart the castle and board a gabare, a riverboat, for a cruise past Castelnaud. Spend the afternoon touring Domme. This true medieval bastide, or fortified town, is entered through a gate flanked by stout limestone towers. Graffiti, etched by the Knights Templar in the 14th century, still fleck the inner walls. Join fellow travelers this evening at your hotel for a farewell celebration. (B,L,D)

Day 9 — Bordeaux and the U.S.
Transfer from Bordeaux for individual flights to the U.S. (B)

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