The Region

Located in Southwestern France, the Dordogne is a region of gentle beauty, renown for its fine cuisine, medieval villages, proud chateaux, and extraordinary examples of prehistoric cave art. Owing to the unique combination of abundant fish and game and of cliffs rising up from the valleys providing safe dwellings in myriad caves and grottos, more traces of man’s presence thousands of years ago have been found here than anywhere else in France.

Gaurenne is situated in the part of the Dordogne known as the Périgord Noir, which offers a lush landscape threaded with meandering rivers and dotted with charming villages. Dense forests alternate with rolling meadows and fields. Although there are towns and sites that attract visitors in summer months, this is a region that is primarily agricultural, with a quiet, unspoiled countryside where the traditional way of life is still very much in evidence.

Nonetheless, you will not lack for activities to fill your days. There are extensive hiking trails, canoe trips on the Dordogne or Vezere rivers, horseback riding, swimming, and tennis, all nearby. There are also numerous chateaux to visit (Beynac and Castelnaud are not to be missed) as well as unique sites like the ruined Chateau de Commarque and the Cabanes de Breuil (an unusual cluster of ancient, round, stone dwellings of unknown origin). The region’s wealth of prehistoric sites is close at hand. The Lascaux caves, Font-de-Gaume, the National Museum of Pre-history at Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, and the Abri de Cap Blanc, with its carved horses, provide a memorable experience. Local outdoor markets offer regional produce and products, with that of Sarlat being one of the most colorful in France. A listing of suggested outings, restaurants, and market days is provided to help visitors make full use of their stay.