The Local Area

                                                                                                                             

Montignac

The town is 2 kms from Le Four à Sel in the area known as Périgord Noir, named after the black forest, truffles and mushrooms of the region. The village nestles along the banks of the Vézère where you will discover beautiful stone and timbered houses, old wash places, the market (Wednesdays and Saturdays) and local arts and crafts. There are many cafes and restaurants where you will be able to sample Pergordine cuisine or a simple crêpe.

Lascaux II

Known as the “Sistine Chapel of Prehistory”, and located 4 kms from Le Four à Sel, Lascaux is the most famous Palaeolithic painted cave in the world dating back 17,000 years with more than 1500 pictures. The original cave is now closed to the public to prevent further deterioration.
Lascaux II has been created in exacting detail 200 metres from the original featuring two galleries, the Painted Gallery and the Great Hall of the Bulls. Open daily, the guided tour takes approximately 40 minutes.

Sarlat-la-Canéda

Sarlat-la-Canéda has a wealth of medieval, Renaissance and 17th century buildings. The evident prosperity of bygone days is a reflection of its status, granted in return for loyalty to the Crown during the Hundred Years war against the Plantagenets (British kings) until integration into France in 1607.

To the left of the modern main street are the narrow lanes, arches and ancient Périgord stone houses. Noteworthy is Maison de la Boetie, a half-Gothic, half-Renaissance house where Etienne de la Boetie, friend of Montaigne, resided. Every Saturday there is a market in place de la Liberte where you will find local specialities including foie gras, walnuts, cheese, black truffles and wild mushrooms.

Les Eyzies-de-Tayac

The Musee National de la Préhistoire is located here in a 16th century castle overlooking the village. There are four pre-historic sites clustered around this pretty riverside village. The Grotte de Font de Gaume, discovered in 1901, contains the finest ensemble of cave paintings still open to the public.

Périgueux

Known as Vesona in the 1st century, when the Romans made it the capital of their vast province of Aquitania, Périgueux is a Gallo-Roman city with an old quarter of paved Tourny alleys, courtyards and houses dating from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. The centre piece is the ‘Byzantine’ Saint-Front Cathedral, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Bergerac

Often associated with Cyrano, immortalised by poet Edmond Rostand, Bergerac was the hometown of Michel de Montaigne who worked tirelessly for religious tolerance in the area. Bordering the Dordogne, the old section preserves its heritage as a supplier of wine to England during the 14th century. Narrow cobbled alleys, half-timbered houses and quaint courtyards provide a backdrop for many fine cafes and restaurants. The surrounding wine growing area, covering 12,000 hectares, is famous for red wines and, of course, Monbazillac.

Vallée de la Vézère

Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, the Vallée de la Vézère has some of the most famous pre-historic sites of Cro Magnon man attesting to 400,000 years of human occupation.

 

Prehistoric sites:

  
  • La Roque St-Christophe
  • Grottes du Roc de Gazelle
  • La Grotte de Villars
  • Abri Préhistorique de Cap Blanc
  • Gouffre de Proumeyssac
  • Grotte de Rouffignac
   

Les Plus beaux villages de France:
  • La Roque Gageac
  • Les Eyzies-de-Tayac
  • Domme
  • Beynac
  • St Léon-sur-Vézère
  • Limeuil
   

Châteaux:

  
  • Château et Jardins de Losse
  • Château de Hautefort
  • Château de Fenelon
  • Château de Castelnaud
  • Château de Sauveboeuf
  • Château de Puymartin
   

Gardens:

  
  • Les Jardins du Manoir d’Eyrignac
  • Les Jardins de l’Imaginaire
  • Parc Panoramique de Limeuil
  • Les Jardins de la Licorne
   

Other:

  
  • Canoës Kanoak – Montignac (canoeing)
  • Gabarres de Beynac – Beynac (river cruises)
  • Tennis Municipal – Montignac (tennis)
  • Périgord Helicoptère – Montignac (helicopter flights)
  • Montgolfière – St Cyprien (hot air ballooning)

Restaurants:

Food in the Périgord is excellent. Restaurants range from the inexpensive with set price menus to Michelin starred restaurants for a fine dining experience. All of the local specialities, such as foie gras, confit d’oie and canard, mushrooms, walnuts and cheeses, can be found in abundance.

The hosts’ recommendations include:

Aux Berges de la Vézère – Montignac (reasonably priced, set menus or à la carte, extensive wine list, excellent!)
Lou Cantou – Montignac (à la carte, slightly more expensive but well worth it)
Le Triskell – Montignac (crêperie, very good prices, casual, quick)
Le Pilotis – Montignac (pizzeria, good prices, informal, welcoming, great for families)
Flannagans – Montignac (despite the name serves local cuisine, huge portions, good prices – and it does sell Guinness!)
Le Tourny – Sarlat (set menus or à la carte, specialises in local dishes, great staff!)