Séjour Sarlat

Three days in the Perigord Noir from Sarlat

Three days are enough to grasp the essentials of the Perigord Noir, provided you do not scatter your visits. This itinerary keeps the same base from start to finish and builds each day around a single area: the town, then the Dordogne valley, then the Vezere valley.

No timings are given on purpose: opening hours vary by season and by site. Check them on official websites when you book.

View over the Dordogne valley from the hilltop village of Domme

The itinerary, day by day

  1. Day 1

    Sarlat and its historic centre

    Give the first day to the town, car-free. A loop of the historic centre in the morning, taking in the place de la Liberte, the cathedral and the rue des Consuls. Lunch in town, then a townhouse visit in the afternoon and a ride up the panoramic lift for the rooftop view. Finish with the evening stroll, when the lighting entirely changes the mood of the lanes. If your stay starts on a Friday, shift by a day to catch the Saturday morning market.
    The old town
    Sarlat

    The old town

    Cobbled lanes, honey-coloured stone façades, Renaissance mansions: the historic centre is best explored on foot, wandering through its hidden passageways.

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    The Cathedral & the Lantern of the Dead
    Sarlat

    The Cathedral & the Lantern of the Dead

    Tucked down a side street, Saint-Sacerdos Cathedral and its striking cylindrical tower tell eight centuries of history.

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    Rue des Consuls
    Sarlat

    Rue des Consuls

    Sarlat's finest street, lined with Renaissance mansions such as the Hôtel Plamon, a testament to the town's merchant wealth.

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    Manoir de Gisson
    Sarlat

    Manoir de Gisson

    This 15th-century manor house, furnished in period style, is open to visitors and offers one of the finest views over Sarlat's rooftops from its tower.

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  2. Day 2

    The Dordogne valley, villages and castles

    Head south. The day unfolds along the river: a perched village first thing, a castle next, lunch by the water, then a second site in the afternoon. Beynac and Castelnaud face each other and tell the same story from opposite viewpoints; Domme and La Roque-Gageac offer the widest panoramas over the valley. If it is hot, swap the second visit for a canoe descent or the shadier hanging gardens of Marqueyssac.
    Beynac and Castelnaud castles
    Beynac / Castelnaud

    Beynac and Castelnaud castles

    Medieval fortresses that once faced off against each other during the Hundred Years' War, perched high above the valley.

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    La Roque-Gageac
    La Roque-Gageac

    La Roque-Gageac

    One of the most beautiful villages in France, clinging to the cliffside on the banks of the Dordogne. Explore on foot or aboard a traditional gabare boat.

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    Domme, the clifftop village
    Domme

    Domme, the clifftop village

    Listed among the most beautiful villages in France, Domme offers one of the finest panoramas over the valley.

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    Gardens of Marqueyssac
    Vézac

    Gardens of Marqueyssac

    Century-old boxwood trimmed along the clifftop and shaded paths, with one of the finest viewpoints over the valley.

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    Canoeing on the Dordogne
    Vallée de la Dordogne

    Canoeing on the Dordogne

    A canoe trip between cliffs, castles and villages, one of the most beautiful ways to discover the valley.

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  3. Day 3

    Prehistory in the Vezere valley

    Head north-west. Book the main cave visit in advance: groups are capped and slots go fast in season. Allow a full morning for the site, then round the day off with a valley village or a second cave in the afternoon. The day is busier than it looks: do not try to squeeze a castle in as well.
    Lascaux IV
    Montignac

    Lascaux IV

    A full-scale replica of the world's most famous prehistoric cave, with paintings 17,000 years old.

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    Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère
    Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère

    Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère

    A Romanesque hamlet on the riverbank, among the most beautiful villages in France, with its 12th-century church.

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    Rouffignac Cave
    Rouffignac

    Rouffignac Cave

    The "cave of the hundred mammoths," explored aboard a small electric train leading to its prehistoric artwork.

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    Grotte du Grand Roc
    Les Eyzies

    Grotte du Grand Roc

    An extraordinary network of crystalline formations (eccentrics, fistulous stalactites) in the cliffs of Les Eyzies.

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Adapting the itinerary

With children

Swap days 2 and 3 and bring an outdoor activity into the second day: canoeing, gardens, staged prehistoric sites. Children cope far better when monument visits are spaced out.

In winter

Several sites close or reduce their hours. Focus on Sarlat, the caves — which stay open — and the truffle season. Check each opening before travelling.

If you have an extra day

Add the quieter villages to the west, or a day with no plan at all: a village market, a footpath, a river swim depending on the season.

Frequently asked questions

Are three days enough for the Perigord Noir?

Yes for the essentials: Sarlat, the Dordogne valley and one major prehistoric site. Five days let you add the western villages and slow the pace.

Should you change accommodation during the three days?

No. The region is compact enough to stay in one place, and Sarlat is the most central point between the two valleys. Moving would cost more time than it saves.

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