Dordogne on Foot – France Walking Tour

Day 1: Arrive Perigueux – Transfer to Domme
After our rendezvous at the Perigueux train station, we travel to the village of Domme in heart of the Dordogne. Perched on high promontory above the Dordogne River, Domme is a well-preserved medieval fortified village, known as a bastide, dating back to the 13th century. The town square and neat rows of stone houses combine to make this one of the most picturesque villages in the area. The view from the bastide is expansive and inspiring looking north over the river valley. You’ll have time to explore the village before gathering for our area orientation and welcome dinner.

Day 2: Domme to Castelnaud
Our day will begin with a stroll through the village before heading off on our walk to the Chateaux de Castelnaud. We’ll walk through walnut groves, cornfields, rich forests and small hamlet of Saint-Julien. A steep, but short climb will bring us to the foot of Castelnaud. We’ll have time to stop for lunch at a little cafe before exploring chateaux. Its commanding position above the junctures of the Dordogne and Ceou valleys lends to the grandeur of this classic medieval fortress. Wandering through this site and visiting the Middle Ages Siege Warfare Museum brings one closer to imagining what life might have like centuries ago. Our day will end with a transfer back to our hotel in Domme with time to relax before dinner.

Elevation gain: 830’, Elevation loss: 1,243’ Distance: about 9 miles, Time: 4 hours

Day 3: Beynac – Chateau Marqueyssac – Rocamadour
Our morning will start with a view of the intriguing Chateaux de Beynac occupying a spectacular perch 150 feet above the Dordogne River. Once occupied by William the Lion Heart, Beynac has seen many transformations and now offers another intriguing look back into distant centuries. From the chateaux, we will follow the steep and narrow cobbled way of Caminal del Panieraire, the Basket Makers’ Path, down through rows of 15th- to 17th-century houses to the river’s edge.

Our walk continues along the river eventually climbing up to the famous Marqueyssac Chateaux and Gardens. Classified an historical monument, this 15th-century Chateau and its 22-hectare garden are uniquely situated on a huge limestone outcrop above the Dordogne River. Called the Belvedere of the Dordogne, the panoramic view gives us a look back at our day’s hike. After lunch and time exploring the garden, we transfer to Rocamadour and our accommodation for the next two nights.

Elevation gain: 458’, Elevation loss: 400’ Distance: about 4.5 miles, Time: 2.5 hours

Day 4: La Cave – Rocamadour
A short morning transfer will bring us to Lacave, where the l’Ouysse River departs from the Dordogne River. From Lacave, an 11-km hike (about 6.5 miles) following the GR6 leads along the riverbanks of the L’Ouysse to the village of Rocamadour. Along the way we’ll visit the 14th-century fortified mill of Moulin à Eau de Cougnaguet. Rounding the last bend in the trail, the cliffs of Rocamadour rise ahead. These 1,600-foot cliffs and the silhouette of the church are stunning. There is time to linger in the village before continuing to our hotel, a short distance from town.

Built into the 492-foot rugged cliff-face rising from the Alzou Canyon, Rocamadour with its towering castle possesses one of the most romantic and scenic settings of any French village. The final destination of one of the most famous pilgrimages in Christendom, Rocamadour was a thriving village until the 13th century after which it was heavily sacked. Though it has never regained its former splendor, it remains a fascinating destination for both religious pilgrims and travelers alike.

Elevation gain: 676’, Elevation loss: 148’ Distance: about 10.5 miles, Time: 4½ hours.

Day 5: Chateau de Commarque – Abri de Cap Blanc
From Rocamadour will transfer to Les Eyzies. Departing from the village, our walk today will take us through a rolling countryside of forests and open fields to the remarkable site of the medieval Chateau de Commarque. Over the last 10 years, Commargue has been excavated and partially restored to reveal a small, fortified castle complex. There is evidence that this site has been inhabited since prehistoric times.

From Commarque, it’s a short walk, crossing the tiny Beune River valley to the Abri de Cap Blanc, a unique prehistoric site of high-relief carvings on the wall of a rock shelter depicting two bison and an amazing frieze of horses. Afternoon transfer back to our hotel in Les Eyzies.

Elevation gain: 1,500′, Elevation loss: 1,335’ Distance: about 8.5 miles, Time: 4 – 4½ hours.

Day 6: Walking Tour of Les Eyzies – Grotte Font-de-Gaume
Located at the confluence of the tiny Beune River and the larger, winding Vezere River, the village of Les Eyzies is central to the largest concentration of prehistoric sites in Europe. We will spend the next couple of days exploring the area and visiting some of its most significant sites.

Today will be spent with our local guide who specializes in prehistory. Beginning at the site where Cro-Magnon man was discovered, our day will be defined by a mix of short lectures, walks in the area, and visits to impressive caves, most notably the Grotte de Font-de-Gaume, one of the few “Paleolithic sanctuaries” still open to the public. A 130-yard passage back into the cave reveals multi-colored paintings of horse, bison, reindeer, and mammoth. Dating back to the Magdalenian Period, 12,000 to 14,000 years ago, these are thought to be France’s finest group of polychrome paintings, second only to those of Lascaux.

Elevation gain: 1,500′, Elevation loss: 1,335’ Distance: about 8.5 miles, Time: 4 – 4½ hours.

Day 7: Roque Saint-Christophe – Saint-Leon-sur-Vézére – Lascaux
After a short transfer, our walk will begin at the foot of the troglodyte fortress of Roque Saint-Christophe. Evidence of the site being occupied by humans dates back almost 55,000 years. Over time the site evolved into an important stronghold and fortress throughout the Middle Ages. From here we will continue through the countryside to riverside village of St-Leon-sur-Vézère, listed as one of the “Most Beautiful Villages of France.”

Capping off the week will be a visit to Lascaux and the International Center for Cave Art. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Lascaux caves contain some of the most stunning prehistoric cave paintings anywhere. It’s estimated the paintings were created 20,000 years ago. The cave was first discovered in 1940 by four teenagers. For preservation purposes, the actual cave has been closed to the public since 1963. We’ll visit an exact reproduction of the cave along with other informational exhibits that illuminate this amazing work of prehistoric art. After transferring back to our hotel, our day ends with our farewell dinner.

Elevation gain: 500’, Elevation loss: 500’, Distance: about 4 miles, Time: 2 hours.

Day 8: Sarlat-la-Canéda – Onward travel
In the morning, we visit the market in Sarlat-la-Canéda before transferring to the Sarlat train station in time for the early-afternoon train to Bordeaux with possible connections to Paris.

Note: There is an extensive system of trails in this area. The hikes outlined above are designed to incorporate some of the more historically interesting and important sites the area has to offer. And as always, this itinerary is subject to change.

Elevation gains and losses refer to the total number of feet ascended and descended in any given day. Time refers to the actual number of hours hiked, not including rests stops. Both are only our best estimates.