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About the Dordogne
 Dordogne Holiday Properties offers a quality selection of charming holiday homes in "the land of a thousand châteaux". For those who are not familiar with this magnificent region of France we can say that this is one of the few special places where you can really fulfill your dreams and enjoy the relaxing and memorable holiday you wish for.
 The Dordogne or the Périgord is made up of four regions, each with its own particular charm and varied landscapes. Each will tempt you with its unique character and culture, whether you delve into prehistory in the Périgord Noir, taste the wines of the Périgord Pourpre, gently float down the winding rivers of the Périgord Blanc or explore the lush green hills of the Périgord Vert. Once you visit this region you will be tempted to come back year after year.
 The Vézère valley is richly lined with prehistoric painted caves, trogloditic shelters under the cliffs and archeological sites dating as far back as 200,000 BC.
The Dordogne is known as the Cradle of Mankind. Its history begins in the Périgord Noir with some of the earliest remnants of prehistoric man and follows the historical path, via the Romans, up to Richard the Lion Heart and the 100 years war between the British and French.
 The Dordogne valley is famous for its many châteaux and gardens each one with its unique story and spectacular beauty!
 The countryside is spectacular, a paradise for bird watchers and artists, with a different view around every corner.
 There are several top golf courses.
 You may want to stroll through the forests, ride mountain bikes or horses on the numerous paths where you can witness nature in its prime.
 You may choose to float down the gently winding rivers in canoes... or you may simply sit back and relax in the sunshine!
 The Dordogne is a paradise for gourmets, renowned for its duck, goose, cheese, nuts, strawberries, melons, truffles and game.
 You can taste the famous local wines by visiting the vineyards of the Bergerac region, including Monbazillac, St Emilion and Pécharmant, or simply enjoy sampling them with local gourmet specialities at an amazing variety of wonderful restaurants.
 There are cafes and restaurants to suit all tastes and all pockets.
 Most towns hold a weekly farmers’ market and these are a joy to visit. You can stock up on fresh fruit, bread, pastries, jams, cheeses and pâtés or just enjoy the hustle and bustle.
 Enjoy the traditional festivals held in most towns and villages all through the summer months
 Bergerac is a busy, bustling town on the Dordogne river.
- Visit the Old Port area and take a boat trip.
- See the statue of Cyrano de Bergerac.
- Shop in the beautiful boutiques in the quaint squares and alleyways.
- Sit in a pavement café and enjoy a coffee.
 Périgueux is the cultural Capital of the region. A friendly and hospitable town it hosts a lively market and a feast of restaurants and cafés. It is also home to the largest church in the South West of France, also unique in France. Its Byzantine architecture overlooks the Medieval and renaissance parts of the town, lit up in the evening it is enchanting to any eye.
 Sarlat is probably one of the most beautiful medieval towns of France, by day or by night. You can be sure to find a wide selection of cafés with sunny terraces and restaurants offering the best in traditional cooking.
 Climate
The Dordogne is a country of many faces in its geographical features and climate. The temperate climate is evident throughout the Périgord in the gentle winters and moderate summer temperatures. The position of the valleys, the rolling hills, the profile and position of the forested hillsides, the clear felled land and the lakes all create a range of particular climatic zones. Summers are generally hot and dry.
 Geography
The Périgord encloses four large natural regions:
- In the centre, The Périgord Blanc is made up of limestone plateaux sectioned by rivers (Isle, Auvézère, Loue, Dronne), which open up the wide valleys. The valley of the River Isle forms the backbone of a slightly different region, South of Périgueux, where one may see the maritime pine trees begin to appear on the landscape.
- In the South East, The Périgord Noir and the Sarlat region is a region apart. Its rounded hills are styled with chestnut coppices and pine forests, its deep valleys (of the Dordogne and Vézère) with walnut orchards and fields of tobacco.
- The Périgord Vert and the Nontron region is thick with trees from pines to heather. Here the chestnut tree rules the land. This is a land of lakes and valleys - a land where the rich prairies converge with the gentle slopes.
- In the South West, The Périgord Pourpre has a valley which widens downstream from Bergerac. This is a land of orchards and vineyards.
The land of the Périgord began to form from the first era when the Massif Central emerged from the crust of the earth. One may find the crystalline rocks from the Massif Central in the North of the department on the border of the Limousine region. However, the formation of the Périgord happened mainly during the second tertiary era - an era when the sea covered the Aquitaine, driving the limestone deposits to the foot of the Massif Central. From the Jurassic limestone the Perigourdian plateaux were formed. Later on the Jurassic limestone created the white soil in the Périgord Blanc and the majority of the Périgord Noir. It was during the fourth era that the major rivers (the Dordogne, the Vézère, the Isle and the Dronne) appeared and carved the deep valleys of the region.
 History
The area was an ancient populated region, as evident in the innumerable prehistoric sites. During the Roman times the Périgord was the land of the Petrocorii Celts. In the 13th century it fell under the power of the duchy of Aquitaine with whom it came under English rule, following the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England (1152). In 1398 the king of France removed the duchy of the Périgord from his kingdom and it passed successively to the House of Orleans, the House of Penthièvre and then to the House of Albret, before being incorporated into the Royal kingdom of Henry IV of France(1670). In 1790 the Périgord was detached from the rule of Bordeaux to form the largest part of the department of the Dordogne.
 Interesting Facts
Second to Paris, the Dordogne has probably the richest heritage of historical monuments in France. The incredibly rich Perigourdine heritage creates a wonderful region with:-
Once seduced by this region you are sure to keep coming back again!
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