The Dordogne region is reputed to have 1001 castles and chateaux and probably an equal number of underground caves. The River Dordogne flows gently through the valley offering incredibly vistas at every slow, meandering turn. Trident Holiday Homes offers a good selection of holiday villas and holiday cottages in the Dordogne area. Located Between Sarlat and Les Eyzies in the valley of the River Beune, is the fascinating Château de Commarque which dates from the 12th century. Discover the knights’ towers and houses carved into the rock. There are some troglodyte caves in the rock below the castle. Overlooking the Auvézère Valley and over Hautefort village, is the impressive Chateau de Hautefort. Surrounded by impressive formal gardens, it contains an impressive collection of 17th century paintings and tapestries. Perched high on a rocky promontory 200 metres above the Dordogne River is the Chateau Beynac which is a heavily fortified château dating from the 12th century. Explore the dungeons and see the wonderful 15th century frescoes. Across the Dordogne River from Beynac is the splendid Caste Castelnaud which houses the ‘Museum of War and the Middle Ages’ where you can see copies of medieval war machines and a collection of arms and armaments. Leading up to the Castle at Beynac is the pretty village of Beynac which is comprised of narrow lanes with traditional houses made of white and yellow stone. There is a small archaeological park here where Neolithic buildings have been reconstructed. Another pretty and interesting town is Domme which retains part of its original fortified walls and the gateways into the town. The ramparts are extremely thick and three of the original doors with their round towers remain. In the 14th century, the towers of the Porte des Tours were converted into prisons to house the Knights Templar and you can still see the engraved crucifixes they carved whilst they were imprisoned. This region is also famed for its hundreds of caves. Many have incredible rock formations shaped by the effects of water trickling through them for thousands of years and some of the caves have prehistoric paintings. Others are dwelling caves carved into cliff sides. Some caves to visit could include:
A wonderful way to explore this region is to spend a day canoeing down the Dordogne River. Drift past small villages and enjoy the spectacular views from the river which you can’t get elsewhere. Stop and have a picnic on the river bank and soak up the ambience of this lovely area. Choose a holiday home in the Dordogne and discover it all for yourself.