SELF-GUIDED WALKING HOLIDAY
A 7-night self-guided walk through the Périgord Noir, from Sarlat and the castles of the Dordogne Valley to Les Eyzies and Montignac, with the opportunity to visit Lascaux.
FRA-DCC1 ~ Dordogne - Castles and Caves
From £1,360 Per Person
Ask us for a personalised estimate for your dates and requirements. We’ll check the itinerary and come back to you, usually within one working day. You only decide whether to book once you’ve seen the details and price.
Ask us for a personalised estimate for your dates and requirements. We’ll check the itinerary and come back to you, usually within one working day. You only decide whether to book once you’ve seen the details and price.
Ask us for a personalised estimate for your dates and requirements. We’ll check the itinerary and come back to you, usually within one working day. You only decide whether to book once you’ve seen the details and price.
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South-eastern France
South-east France
Set high above the Dordogne River, Château de Beynac has watched over the valley for centuries. Its position on the limestone cliffs made it an important defensive stronghold, while today the castle and village below form one of the most recognisable sights along this part of the Dordogne.
Near Montignac, Lascaux is known for its prehistoric cave paintings. The original cave is protected, but Lascaux II and Lascaux IV allow you to see detailed reproductions and learn more about the art and the people who created it. Admission is not included and should be booked in advance.
Starting in Sarlat-la-Canéda, the route passes through chestnut woodland and limestone hills to the medieval castles and riverside villages of the Dordogne Valley, before continuing into the much older prehistoric landscape of the Vézère Valley.
Along the Dordogne River you pass Beynac, La Roque-Gageac and Domme, with Château de Castelnaud and Château des Milandes close to the route. Further north, the walking reaches Les Eyzies, La Roque Saint-Christophe and Montignac, with the opportunity to visit Lascaux.
With two-night stays in Sarlat, Domme and Montignac, you have time to explore without packing up every morning. The holiday is graded Moderate overall, with a choice of shorter and longer routes on several days.
Begin in Sarlat-la-Canéda before heading into the wooded valleys and limestone hills around Château de Commarque, where medieval ruins stand close to prehistoric shelters.
The route then reaches the Dordogne Valley, passing through Beynac, La Roque-Gageac and Domme. Several of the region’s castles are close at hand, including Château des Milandes and Château de Castelnaud.
Leaving the Dordogne River behind, you enter the Vézère Valley and walk through woodland towards Les Eyzies, known for its concentration of prehistoric sites. From here, the route continues past the cliff dwellings of La Roque Saint-Christophe before finishing in Montignac.
There, you have the opportunity to visit Lascaux II or Lascaux IV and end the holiday among some of the Dordogne’s earliest traces of human life.
The limestone valleys of the Dordogne have sheltered people for tens of thousands of years. Natural rock overhangs became places to live, while the caves of the Vézère Valley preserve some of the earliest known cave art.
Centuries later, castles and fortified settlements appeared above the same river valleys. Places such as Commarque, Beynac and Castelnaud used the high ground for defence, while villages developed along the waterways below.
That overlap is what gives this walk its character. At Commarque, medieval remains and prehistoric shelters occupy the same landscape. Around Les Eyzies and La Roque Saint-Christophe, cliffs tell a much older story. By the time you reach Montignac, the walk has taken you through thousands of years of settlement without leaving the Dordogne valleys.