Sarlat, oak woods and prehistory
Périgord Noir
Named for its dark oak and chestnut woods. Home to Sarlat and the Vézère valley, with its concentration of prehistoric sites.
The south-east of the Dordogne department and the area most visitors spend time in. Sarlat is the main town and the Vézère valley is known for its prehistoric caves and shelters.
It suits people who want a mix of history, food and countryside, and who are happy to drive between sights.
Towns and villages
Places to know in the Périgord Noir
Medieval market town · Périgord Noir
Sarlat-la-Canéda
The medieval capital of the Périgord Noir, with honey-coloured stone lanes and one of the region's best-known markets.
Prehistory · Périgord Noir
Lascaux IV
The International Centre for Cave Art at Montignac, with a full-size replica of the Lascaux cave paintings.
Prehistory village · Périgord Noir
Les Eyzies
A village beneath limestone cliffs on the Vézère, home to the National Museum of Prehistory and many nearby sites.
Village · Périgord Noir
Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère
A quiet riverside village on a bend of the Vézère, with a Romanesque church and two châteaux.
Hilltop village · Périgord Noir
Belvès
A hilltop village of towers and medieval lanes, listed among the most beautiful villages of France.
Town · Périgord Noir
Montignac
Montignac-Lascaux is a riverside town in the Périgord Noir, best known for Lascaux and useful as a base for exploring the Vézère valley.
village · Périgord Noir
Limeuil
Limeuil is a steep riverside village at the meeting of the Dordogne and Vézère, with an upper medieval centre, panoramic gardens and useful access to both valleys.
Château · Périgord Noir
Château de Castelnaud
A medieval fortress above Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, with a museum of medieval warfare, full-size siege engines and wide views across the Dordogne valley.
Town · Périgord Noir
Saint-Cyprien
Saint-Cyprien is a working market town in the Périgord Noir, with a hillside old centre, a substantial abbey church and a Sunday market. It makes a practical base between the Dordogne valley castles and the prehistoric sites around Les Eyzies.
Village · Périgord Noir
Carlux
Carlux is a hillside village in the Périgord Noir, with a ruined castle above the Dordogne valley. It suits visitors who want a quieter base between Sarlat and Souillac, with river outings, gardens and historic towns within reach.
town · Périgord Noir
Le Bugue
Le Bugue is a working town on the Vézère with year-round markets, useful shops and family attractions. It makes a practical base for exploring the lower Vézère valley and the western Périgord Noir.
Castle · Périgord Noir
Château de Beynac
A medieval fortress above Beynac-et-Cazenac, with a massive stone keep, furnished rooms and wide views over the Dordogne valley.
Detailed guides to towns and places to stay in Périgord Noir are being researched and will be added once checked.