Visit the Dordogne

“I remember driving into Beynac and having our first view of the Chateau high up above the rocky cliffs on one side of the road and the magnificent Dordogne River flowing on the other side. We decided then and there that we needed more time in this spectacular part of France [...] we saw everything from rocky cliffs, meandering rivers, amazing gardens, castles and chateaus, waterfalls, caves, churches and villages dating back hundreds of years. We had BBQ’s by the river with many local people on warm summer evenings, ate the most divine local cuisine and drank (rather copious) amounts of local wine.”

“Sometime after the 15,000 – 17,000 year-old cave paintings, right before the black truffle walnuts, my feet quit hurting. I lift my eyes to see the beauty of the view before me; an ancient landscape of imposing castles, lush farmland and cliffside villages that make the Dordogne one of France’s most inspiring regions. In the distance, the Dordogne River curves gently around a bend beneath a mist-shrouded château, then out of sight.”

“As soon as we crossed into the department of Dordogne, the landscape took on stunning beauty even fond memory hadn’t done justice. Fields undulated in a green so intense it vibrated. Hilltops gave way on vistas of sunburst-yellow rapeseed blossoms stretching to the horizon. Every structure, from manor house to farm outbuilding, was made of native golden limestone blocks that seemed to glow in the sunshine. Castles, both ruined and restored, appeared around every curve.”