Self-catering French holiday Gites, holiday accommodation and holiday homes in the Dordogne in France

Click here for a selection of French self-catering holiday Gites, holiday homes and accommodation in the Dordogne in France.


The Dordogne, the most popular destination in France for holidays, more French Gites, holiday homes and holiday accommodation than any of department in France. Come and discover why the Dordogne is the most popular region in France, even with the French. The Dordogne is stunning. The Dordogne is breathtaking. The Dordogne is the most beautiful French department. Quaint little French owned Gites resting on the hillsides of the Dordogne Valley. Holiday homes dotted along the Dordogne and Dronne Rivers. Holiday accommodation of all descriptions nestling in the deep valleys and clinging to the sides of steep hill sides that make up the spectacular Dordogne. No wonder the Dordogne is the number on holiday destination for the French and so many lovers of France. If you are looking for holiday accommodation in France, the Dordogne is just five or six hours drive from the French ports of Cherbourg, Caen and Le Havre.

Rent a pretty Gite or holiday home, laze by a pool under the French sunshine, imbibe the local wines and sample the local French gourmet cuisine. The Dordogne is, after all the cradle of French cuisine. Visit the thousand Chateaux and return to your holiday accommodation at the end of the day and enjoy a simple meal of French bread and the many regional French cheeses. What else could you want from a holiday in France?.


The Dordogne

France covers 543,965 km² (210,026 miles²) and has 58,323,000 inhabitants as of 1st October 2004. Split into 22 regions and 102 departments, the department of the Dordogne is part of the Aquitaine region, is approximately the size of Wales and is department number 24. The Dordogne is located in the South West of France, The capital is Perigueux and Bergerac the second main town. The Dordogne has approximately 400,000 inhabitants which until recently was still in decline following the first world war when males moved to the cities to find work other than agriculture.

Self-catering French holiday Gites, holiday accommodation and holiday homes in the Dordogne in France.


Self-catering French holiday Gites, holiday accommodation and holiday homes in the Dordogne in France

Click here for a selection of French self-catering holiday Gites, holiday homes and accommodation in the Dordogne in France.


The history of the Dordogne

The department of the Dordogne is divided into the 4 Perigord areas, the origins of which go back to the 17th century that cut the department geographically into almost equal quarters.

  1. Perigord Noir (The Black Perigord) is a land named after the black oak trees and forests around Sarlat, a town developed around its' large benedictine abbey which dates from the 9th century.
  2. Perigord Blanc (The White Perigord) is the area between La Vesone and Perigueux named after its chalky lime stone soil and its white stone architecture.
  3. Perigord Vert (The Green Perigord) is named after the pine tree forests and rolling meadows and well known for its' agriculture which is centred around Nontron.
  4. Perigord Pourpre (The Purple Perigord), is the land of vineyards famous for its Bergerac wines and Cyrano de Bergerac.
The Dordogne or Perigord, as the inhabitants still refer to it, is known as the "Land of the origin of man". The extensive history can be traced back to approximately 400,000 years ago due to the discovery of the first traces of Homo Sapiens in 1868. Known as Cro Magnon man, cave wall paintings were discovered in the Vezere valley near Les Eyzies at La Micoque. Later in 1909 at Combe-Capelle, near to Saint-Avit-Seigneur the oldest signs of homo- sapiens in the whole of Europe were discovered. These caves are well worth visiting and no visit to the Dordogne should exclude a tour of the caves. There is a concentration of prehistoric sites near Les Eyzies, Le Moustier, La Madeleine, La Ferrassie and Montignac (Lascaux caves as well as troglodyte sites which were still in use at the beginning of the middle ages.

In 507, during the reign of Clovis, a treaty was signed between Chief Walla of the Germanic Wisigoths, and the Roman emperor Honorius in which Chief Walla was given the region of Aquitaine. Thus the French lost their rights to the region. During medieval times the French and the English jointly occupied the region. During the many wars that took place, commonly known as the hundred years war, numerous chateaux (castles), bastides (fortified towns and villages) and citadelles (the first small cities) were constructed. The English were finally defeated by the French at the battle of Castillon. Since then, the English with a little help from the Dutch have been buying it back.

Dordogne tourism

The Dordogne or Perigord is part of Aquitaine, a region with a deep rooted culture, traditions, long history, arts and crafts, gastronomic heritage and architecture on offer. Stunning scenery, few would argue that it is the most beautiful region of France. Magnificent sunsets and walks, horse-riding, cycling, canoeing, petanque (boules), tennis, wine tasting and gourmet capital. Swimming lakes and rivers are available throughout the department.

Numerous museums can be found in Perigueux, Bergerac, Hautefort and Sarlat, offering an amazing insight into the history of the Dordogne. In fact an insight into the very beginnings of man himself and with over a thousand chateaux, abbeys and monuments you will need to return to the Dordogne again and again to really appreciate its true heritage.

Self-catering French holiday Gites, holiday accommodation and holiday homes in the Dordogne in France

Click here for a selection of French self-catering holiday Gites, holiday homes and accommodation in the Dordogne in France.


Gastronomy

The Perigord and Aquitaine have long been known as the "kingdom of the mouth" (royaume de geule).
From the 15th century, les patés de Perigueux were already well known. Louis XV knighted Villereynier, the Perigourdian chef after he came into royal favour, subsequently becoming "Villereynier de La Gatine", patissier to the King.

Even during the French revolution, the great masters, Lafon and Courtois continued to produce their partridge patés to supply both France and England. Back then, Perigourdian patés were made of partridges that had been fed on chicken and duck livers and chopped truffles.

Do not visit the Dordogne without tasting the local foies gras best eaten with a glass of Monbazillac, salads or omelettes flavoured with the local truffles and my favourite, Cepes, the local mushroom.

Wine

The Dordogne around Bergerac produces Red, White and Rosé wines. In my opinion, the Rosé is one of the finest in France. Amongst the regions white wines is the Monbazillac, too sweet for my taste buds unless I am washing down the local foies gras. The two compliment each other perfectly. Golden, smooth and perfumed, this wine can also be served as an aperitif or with desserts. Monbazillac owes its particular bouquet to its' fermentation process which reduces the acidity of the grape. This procedure dates back to the Renaissance.

Monbazillac acquires its flavour after 2 or 3 years and can be conserved for up to 30 years which is unusual for a white wine. The dry white wines of Bergerac, where a large part of its' stock is the Sauvignon grape and Montravel, are spirited and fruity wines which compliment fish and fruits de mer (Shell fish usualy brought in fresh from the Atlantic coast). The mellow, white Bergerac wines, Cotes de Bergerac, Cotes de Montravel, Rosette and Saussignac are good aperitif wines and can go well with white meat.

The red wines of Bergerac and Cotes de Bergerac are fruity and full bodied and can be consumed as young wines whilst Pecharmant, an excellent red wine is heavy and full bodied and comes into its' own well aged.

I do recommend you try a Buzet which is produced a little further south of the Bergerac region.

So do come and visit the Dordogne and rent a gite or other form of self catering holiday accommodation.

Self-catering French holiday Gites, holiday accommodation and holiday homes in the Dordogne in France

Click here for a selection of French self-catering holiday Gites, holiday homes and accommodation in the Dordogne in France.


Renting Gites in the Dordogne
Gites to let near Sarlat in the Perigord Noir - Gite to let near Ste Foy-la-Grande in the Perigord Poupre - Holidays near Souillac in the Perigord Noir

Rent direct from owners and save money.
Gites to let near Terrasson in the East Dordogne - Gite to let near Thenon in the Perigord Noir - Holidays near Thiviers in the Perigord Vert -

Historical towns in the Dordogne include: Bergerac - Brantome - Castillon - Domme - Hautefeort - Lascaux - Le Bugue - Montignac - Montpon - Mussidan - Nontron - Perigueux - Riberac - Sarlat - Ste Foy-la-Grande - Terrasson - Thenon - Thiviers

Gites to rent in the Dordogne
Gites to rent near Montignac in the Perigord Noir - Gite to rent near Montpon in Perigord Blanc - Holiday near Mussidan in the Perigord Noir

Gites to rent near Nontron in the Perigord Vert - Gite to rent near Perigueux the Capital of the Dordogne - Holidays near Riberac in the Perigord Blanc

Search for self-catering gite holidays in the Dordogne.
Gites to rent near Bergerac in south-east Dordogne - Gite to rent near Brantome in north-west Dordogne - Holiday near Castillon in southwest Dordogne

Gites to rent near Domme in south-east Dordogne - Gite to rent near Lascaux in the Perigord Noir - Holiday near Le Bugue in the Perigord Noir

24772
24772 - French country cottage with large above ground pool,Savignac
French country cottage with large above ground pool,Savignac

French country cottage with large above ground pool.Dordogne Cottage with Private Pool near .... more


24751
24751 - France Dordogne near Thiviers Cottage with pool sleeps 5 La Jalaise
France Dordogne near Thiviers Cottage with pool sleeps 5 La Jalaise

France Dordogne near Thiviers Cottage with pool sleeps 5 La Jalaise. Stone Farm .... more


24438
24438 - Self-catering house to rent in the Dordogne near Montpon Marcillac
Self-catering house to rent in the Dordogne near Montpon Marcillac

Self-catering house to rent near Montpon in the Dordogne in France. Self catering .... more


24695
24695 - France - Dordogne- self catering farmhouse near Verteillac La Blanchie
France - Dordogne- self catering farmhouse near Verteillac La Blanchie

France - Dordogne- self catering farmhouse near Verteillac La Blanchie. This beautiful stone .... more


24692
24692 - France - Dordogne- farmhouse near Riberac La Marteille
France - Dordogne- farmhouse near Riberac La Marteille

France - Dordogne- farmhouse near Riberac La Marteille. La Marteille is a fantastic .... more


24769
24769 - Dordogne self catering holiday home. Le Plantou
Dordogne self catering holiday home. Le Plantou

Dordogne farmhouse. A pretty self catering farmhouse situated in the Dordogne region of .... more


24765
24765 - Dordogne holiday home near to Brantome 12 rue Pascalle
Dordogne holiday home near to Brantome 12 rue Pascalle

Dordogne holiday home close to Brantome and Perigueux. Delightful two bedroom bungalow in .... more


24767
24767 - France Dordogne farmhouse sleeps 6 near Thiviers Barn Close
France Dordogne farmhouse sleeps 6 near Thiviers Barn Close

France Dordogne farmhouse sleeps 6 near Thiviers Barn Close.This is a delightful barn .... more


24210
24210 - Farmhouse Dordogne near Verteillac with tennis court sleeps 6
Farmhouse Dordogne near Verteillac with tennis court sleeps 6

Farmhouse sleeps 6 Dordogne near Verteillac with tennis court .L'Etang D'issac is a .... more


24740
24740 - Self catering village house in the Dordogne near Mareuil Le Bourg
Self catering village house in the Dordogne near Mareuil Le Bourg

Le Bourg Gout Rossignol is set in the Northern part of the Dordogne .... more


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