Country Walks, Feudal Castles, Lascaux Caves, and World-Famous Cuisine

Castles & Caves of Dordogne

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The Dordogne is ancient France, where Sir Lancelot was exiled from the court of King Arthur and where human pre-history is brought to life in the stunning cave galleries of Lascaux, the world’s treasury of paleolithic art. On our Dordogne hikes, all beautifully tailored to peel back the layers of history, every trail reveals a fantastic scene from traditional France: timeless villages of golden stone, hilltop castles shining like visions from a medieval tale, and towering oak forests where a knight on a white horse might not look out of place.

Below is an Itinerary-in-Brief. To view a complete Detailed Itinerary, Download Full Itinerary or Email our Area Specialist

Itinerary-in-Brief

Days 1-2
St. Amand de Coly / Lascaux II Caves

We meet in Brive and head along the beautiful Vézère River to our hotel in the charming village of Coly. From the sleepy village of St. Amand de Coly, tucked away in a little valley of the Vézère River, we hike across rolling, sun-dappled countryside past traditional farms, with their corn sheds and flocks of geese, and across the grounds of the 16th century Chateau La Grand Filolie, the most beautiful privately owned chateau in the region. We continue on foot to Lascaux II, a meticulous recreation of the original Lascaux Cave, a sacred prehistoric site whose discovery in 1940 stunned the world. The vast cave walls at Lascaux II, covered with polychrome renderings of 15,000-year-old galloping horses, reindeer, bison, and ibex, are incredibly detailed. Later we stroll in the beautiful town of Montignac, with its limestone buildings in typical Perigord-style architecture along the Vézère River. The Dordogne is as famed for its cuisine as its history, and we discover the regional culinary delights, including truffles, wild cèpes, and cabécou (creamy goat cheese), accompanied by the delicious wines of Bergerac and Cahors.

Days 3-4
Valley of the Vézère / Chateau de Commarque / Les Eyzies

The valley of the Vézère River offers perhaps the greatest concentration of hilltop chateaus in the world. We hike to the charming village of Saint-León sur Vézère, with its fine Romanesque church and Renaissance chateau. After a picnic lunch at Saint-León, we continue our hike to the troglodyte dwellings at the amazing Roque St. Christophe (St. Christopher’s Rock), a huge, multi-storied cave in a limestone cliff above the Vézère. A pilgrim trail brings us to the ruins of Chateau de Commarque, a 12th century fortress that fell to the English during the Hundred Years’ War. Our base is the impressive town of Les Eyzies, the capital of prehistory, where Cro-Magnon man was discovered.

Days 5-8
Domme / Castelnaud / Sarlat / Market Day

Hiking from the river’s edge to the hilltop bastide of Domme, we enter through its 14th century gatehouse, then hike to the massive red Chateau de Castelnaud. We also visit the magnificent prehistoric caves of Font-de-Gaume. Another hike brings us from impressive hilltop Chateau de Beyanac to the spectacular Jardins de Marqueysac, uniquely positioned on a huge limestone outcrop and offering the most amazing panoramas in the Dordogne. Our nights are in the bustling Renaissance town of Sarlat, an enchanting setting with some of the best preserved medieval buildings in all France. We are in Sarlat on a Saturday morning, when the famous open-air farmers’ market is held. It’s an unbelievable sight, with hundreds of vendors lining the cobbled streets and the fresh ingredients for the renowned cuisine of Dordogne, including the prized truffle, all on display. Depart via Brive on Day 8.

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Tour Costs $3595 (13-15 members) $3795 (10-12 members) $4095 (6-9 members) Single supplement: $595 *Prices are for 2008 dates only **Airfare is not included in Tour Cost unless indicated

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Departures & Leaders

Note: There may be up to 3 leaders on any
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