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Tour Summary
Tour Dates
You may begin this tour on any day except Sunday. See
Schedule for
blackout dates and additional tour scheduling details..
Location
The region of France known as Black Périgord,
black for the darkness created by its large tracks of thick forests.
Its long history is everywhere in evidence --
from its medieval villages with their looming castles, largely unchanged after
500 years, to the prehistoric cave dwellings with their 55,000 year old murals. The Dordogne River, long the embattled border between
France and England, continues to separate the castles of the once rival nations.
But you won't find hostilities now. Instead you'll enjoy tranquil cycling along
the quiet, scenic roads that connect the splendidly preserved 15th century
villages.
Overnight destinations include 5 nights in Sarlat and 3 nights in Montignac. The
train trip from Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport to Sarlat requires about 7
hours. Because of the time required to make the return trip to Paris' Charles de
Gaulle Airport from Montignac, plan to layover at least 1 night in Paris on the
back-end of your tour.
Tour Type
This is a
Hub & Spoke Tour available
with standard support.
Terrain
The terrain of this area consists primarily of rolling hills -- from gentle to wicked. The most popular day trip (the castle circuit) however,
requires no long climbs. If you're into serious cycling, this tour includes plenty of options to test your meddle!
Length
7 days / 8 nights. Ride as many days as you like. Day trips include options for adding
distance and challenge. Day trips can also be shortened.
Distance
Choose from 11 day-trips ranging from 16 -
41 miles (26 - 66 km) in length.
Highlights
*
Experience prehistory firsthand as you explore the Font de Gaume and Lascaux II
caves, offering the world's finest prehistoric cave paintings, and Les Eyzies
with its much-renowned museum, cave, and cliff-dwellings.
*
Explore the Troglodytic cliff dwellings at La-Roque-St-Christophe.
* Tour magnificent medieval castles
(English guided tours available) set along the scenic shores of the Dordogne
River.
*
Marvel at some of the world's most beautiful gardens (often located on the
grounds of the castles).
* Relax as you
lazily paddle your way down the Vézère River in a canoe.
* Enjoy free wine tasting opportunities
nearly everywhere along your route.
*
Sarlat, perhaps the most extraordinarily restored medieval village in Europe.
*
Delight over some of France's finest wines and tastiest cheeses and
fois gras!
PRINT ITINERARY
VIEW PHOTO ALBUM
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Day Trip Descriptions
Base 1: Sarlat
Sarlat
is practically a living museum of the 15th century,
Sarlat's Golden Age. In fact, its entire medieval center has been granted protected status to
preserve its historical grandeur. Sarlat's tiny medieval streets are lined with a vast array of wonderful restaurants offering cuisines from around the
world, laid back sidewalk cafés, lively bars and exciting galleries, boutiques and shops. Located in a valley amidst the splendor of the rolling hills
of the Périgord countryside, a more appealing or wonderful base location could be hardly imagined.
Spoke 1: Prehistoric Artists
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Route: |
Begins and ends in Sarlat.
Very hilly with climbing required throughout. |
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Distance: |
54 km / 33 miles |
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Description: |
This day trip takes you through the dense Périgord forests to some of the world's most notable sites for prehistoric
cave art. The route is absolutely gorgeous through wooded hills and pristine landscapes. Noteworthy sites along the route include the village of
Les
Eyzies, known as the capital of prehistory, with its Museum of Prehistory, the Grotte du Font du Gaume (cave paintings), and the
Abri de Cap Blanc, known for its
prehistoric sculptures. |
Spoke 2: The Heights of Black Périgord
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Route: |
Begins and ends in Sarlat.
Hilly with intermittent breaks in the form of fairly flat stretches. |
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Distance: |
68 km / 42 miles |
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Description: |
This day trip takes you through the dense Périgord forests to St. Cyprien, a beautiful village overlooking the Dordogne valley;
Belvès,
a medieval bastide commanding tremendous views and considered one of the most beautiful villages in France; and then on to the
left-bank Dordogne castles. Splendid scenery, quiet roads, and castles are the hallmarks of this day's ride. |
Spoke 3: Bucolic Beauty
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Route: |
Begins and ends in Sarlat.
The easiest of the longer rides, the terrain is flat or gently rolling for the most part, with an occasional climb to permit you to
enjoy panoramic views of your surroundings. |
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Distance: |
41 km / 25 miles |
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Description: |
This day trip features tiny, quiet country roads and the opportunity to visit aquatic
gardens and the Castle of Fénelon. Most of the ride is wooded, passing
through an occasional little village. Villages of note include Carsac, St. Julien, and Carlux. |
Spoke 4: Salignac
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Route: |
Begins and ends in Sarlat.
Challenging climbs at the beginning and end of the ride, but lots of gently rolling and flat terrain in between. |
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Distance: |
48.5 km / 30 miles |
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Description: |
This day trip takes you past numerous castles that dot the wooded landscape of this
sparsely populated part of Périgord. Villages include St. Crépin, Salignac, Borrèze, and St. Nathalène. |
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Option: |
Optional side trip to the Jardins d'Eyrignac,
France's most visited garden owing to its incredible beauty. |
Spoke 5: Dordogne Castle Circuit
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Route: |
Begins and ends in Sarlat.
Mostly flat with a few gentle climbs.
Of course, if you elect to tour any of the castles you'll be passing on the circuit, a fairly steep, but short, climb up to the castle awaits you. |
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Distance: |
53 km / 33 miles |
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Description: |
This day trip takes you on a loop along both sides of the castle-studded Dordogne River. Along your way, you'll pass the following castles: Château la Malartrie,
Castelnaud,
Château des Milandes, Château
Feyrac, Château de Beynac, and
Château de Marqueyssac. Don't worry about touring all the castles you'll be passing. Some
are closed to the public altogether and thus can be only appreciated from the exterior; and others only open their extraordinary gardens to the public. However, the interiors
of at least three of the castles are open to the public (see Spokes 6 and 7). Along your route you'll also pass through the riverside village
of la Roque-Gageac which, due to its unique setting, enjoys a
subtropical microclimate. If you need to rest awhile, you can hire a boat in la Roque-Gageac for more relaxed touring along the river. |
Spoke 6: Right Bank Castles
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Route: |
Begins and ends in Sarlat. Mostly flat. |
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Distance: |
36 km / 22 miles |
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Description: |
This day trip is designed for those who wish to spend the day touring in depth the
sights on the right-bank of the Dordogne. These sights include the Château de Beynac,
(offering the best guided tour on the right bank), and the gardens of the
Château de Marqueyssac.
Finally, this route also includes the riverside village of la Roque-Gageac with its Troglodytic cliff
dwellings, magnificent views, unique microclimate and relaxing boat rides along the Dordogne. |
Spoke 7: Left Bank Castles
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Route: |
Begins and ends in
Sarlat. Mostly flat. |
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Distance: |
43 km / 26 miles |
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Description: |
This day trip is designed for those who wish to spend the day touring in depth the
sights on the left-bank of the Dordogne. These sights include the Castelnaud
castle, (offering the best guided tour on the left bank), and the Château des Milandes and its gardens.
Milandes was for decades the home of Josephine Baker, a Black American entertainer who captured the hearts of Europe in the 1920s. She purchased the castle as the home for her
"rainbow tribe," the many children of all races that she adopted.
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Spoke 8: Domme
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Route: |
Begins and ends in Sarlat. Mostly flat until the climb up to Domme, about 3 km of climbing. |
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Distance: |
25 km / 16 miles |
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Description: |
This day trip's destination is the bastide of
Domme, a magnificently preserved
fortified medieval village commanding an awesome view of the Dordogne Valley. One can easily spend a half-day exploring its sights and
attractions. |
Spoke 9: The Route to Montignac
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Route: |
Begins in Sarlat and ends in Montignac.
Lots of ups and downs with a couple of long, steady climbs. |
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Distance: |
31 km / 19 miles |
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Description: |
This day trip's destination is your second base location, Montignac. The route is wooded, hilly, and beautiful. You will savor the
solitude as you cycle silently though idyllic countryside. Take the time to stop and explore the lovely village of St. Genies, the only
sizeable village though which you will pass. |
Base 2: Montignac
Montignac is a lovely village straddling both banks of the Vézère River.
Its claim to fame is Lascaux, the cave discovered in 1940 that contains the world's
most notable prehistoric cave paintings. The original Lascaux however, was closed to the public in the 1960s due to damage from the breath of
human visitors. As a result, Lascaux II, a magnificently created replica of the cave's two most beautiful chambers was opened just beneath the original. Even
the replica is not to be missed. Beyond Lascaux, Montignac is an ideal place to relax and savor further the beauty that is Périgord.
Spoke 10: The Cradle of Mankind
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Route: |
Begins and ends in Montignac. The route is flat or gently rolling until you reach La Roque-Saint-Christophe,
after which you have a long climb if you choose to continue on to Les Eyzies. |
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Distance: |
32 km / 20 miles |
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Description: |
The Vézère Valley is so incredibly beautiful that it is easy to understand why people have been settling here for 55,000 or so years. Highlights
include the Chateau de Losse, the medieval village of
Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère
with its castle (and a great place for beginning a canoe ride) and
la Roque-Saint-Christophe's magnificent cliff dwellings in a particularly captivating setting.
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Option: |
Optional side trip to
Les
Eyzies, the capital of Prehistory, adds 28 km / 17 miles. |
Spoke 11: Terrasson Loop
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Route: |
Begins and ends in Montignac. Though there are a couple of long climbs on this loop, much of the ride is flat or gently rolling. |
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Distance: |
40 km / 25 miles |
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Description: |
This day trip takes you through the tiny historic villages of Saint-Amand-de-Coly and Coly before continuing on to the relative
metropolis of Terrasson, where you can easily spend an afternoon exploring, sightseeing and shopping. |
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