Villa Périgord

A week at Villa Périgord

Seven days in the Dordogne Valley, anchored by a charming farmhouse villa, one majestic river and some of the most beautiful villages in France.

1. Day 1

   Arrive and settle in · At the house

   Unpack, pour a chilled glass of Bergerac and let the quiet of the valley settle in. Supper on the terrace as the light fades sets the pace for the week, with nothing planned before a late breakfast.

2. Day 2

   Saint-Cyprien market · Market

   Saint-Cyprien's Sunday market is one of the finest in the Dordogne, a glorious crush of spit-roast chicken, farmhouse cheeses and ripe fruit filling the medieval lanes. Fill a basket for lunch at the villa, then give the afternoon to the pool.

3. Day 3

   Beynac and Marqueyssac · Day out

   Beynac's clifftop fortress, one of the most famous sights in France, towers 150 metres above the river. Climb through the village lanes in the morning, then walk the hanging gardens of Marqueyssac and their long views down the valley.

4. Day 4

   A day on the Dordogne · On the river

   Paddle the Dordogne by canoe beneath limestone cliffs and past La Roque-Gageac, its houses pressed against the rock. Stop for a picnic on a shingle bank and swim where the water runs clear. Operators and routes to be confirmed.

5. Day 5

   Sarlat · Market

   Sarlat is a golden-stone medieval town at its liveliest on Wednesday market morning, when the squares fill with walnuts, foie gras and strawberries in season. Stay for a long lunch and an evening wander through the lantern-lit lanes.

6. Day 6

   A slow day · At the house

   Pool, books and a walk from the door through the fields. Cook with what is left from the market. The day most itineraries forget and most holidays need.

7. Day 7

   Castelnaud and Domme · Day out

   The fortress of Castelnaud stares Beynac down across the river, its ramparts full of siege engines and armour. End the day high in the bastide of Domme, watching the evening light turn the valley gold.

   Staying for two weeks? Week two goes further afield.

   See week two

An illustrative plan. Opening times and bookings to be confirmed before you go.