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Villa Périgord
Saint-Vincent-de-Cosse
A great base for river days, castles and Sarlat.
View propertyRiver, cliffs and castles
Dordogne Valley
The stretch of river most people picture - limestone cliffs, riverside villages and castles facing each other across the water.
Geographically most of this stretch sits within the wider Périgord Noir, but it works so differently as a holiday base that we treat it on its own.
The river shapes everything here. Days tend to follow it - a canoe in the morning, a village in the afternoon, a castle viewpoint at the end of the day. Distances between the main villages are short, which makes it an easy place to base yourself without a long daily drive.
The trade-off is popularity. In July and August the best-known villages are busy and roads along the river can be slow. Staying slightly back from the river often gives a quieter base while keeping everything within reach.
Towns and villages
Places to know in the Dordogne Valley
Village · Dordogne Valley
Beynac-et-Cazenac
A riverside village climbing steeply to a castle on the cliff above the Dordogne.
Bastide town · Dordogne Valley
Domme
A fortified bastide on a clifftop, with one of the widest views over the Dordogne Valley.
Village · Dordogne Valley
La Roque-Gageac
A village built in a narrow strip between the cliff and the river.
Château and museum · Dordogne Valley
Château de Castelnaud
A medieval fortress on the south bank of the Dordogne, home to a museum of medieval warfare.
Gardens and viewpoint · Dordogne Valley
Jardins de Marqueyssac
Hanging gardens of clipped box on a ridge high above the Dordogne, with paths out to a clifftop belvedere.
Château · Dordogne Valley
Château des Milandes
A Renaissance château that was home to Joséphine Baker, with gardens and a falconry display.
Places to stay
