The best of the Dordogne by bike

You arrive in Bergerac, a city of Art and History where the shadow of Cyrano, the famous hero of Edmond de Rostand's play, hangs in the air. Take time to stroll in the heart of the Renaissance city with its charming alleys and half-timbered houses. Don't miss a stop at the covered market of the city to taste some delicious local products: foie gras, ceps, walnuts, duck confit, truffles... Welcome to the Périgord!

You take a beautiful greenway along the Dordogne to leave Bergerac. From the charming town of Lalinde, small winding roads lead you to the top of the cingles of Limeuil and Tremolat from where you can admire the meandering river.

Then, your route continues to the medieval city of Limeuil, classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France and located at the confluence of the Dordogne and the Vézère. You now follow the Vézère valley, known as the "valley of Man" with its fifteen or so prehistoric sites. Your day ends in Le Bugue, a charming little town built like an amphitheater on the side of a hill.

You will reach Les Eyzies, a troglodytic village considered as "the world capital of prehistory", it is here that Cro-Magnon Man was discovered. You can take a short break to visit the beautiful National Museum of Prehistory housed in the old castle of Les Eyzies. You then continue your way along the Vézère river where you will cross many architectural treasures: the Maison Forte of Reignac, the Roque Saint-Christophe or the Château de Losse.

Then, you will cross the medieval village of Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère very typical of the Périgord Noir. You will finally arrive in Montignac, a charming medieval town which contains one of the most precious jewels of prehistory: the Lascaux cave.

From Montignac you cycle on small country roads to the village of Saint-Genies, one of the most beautiful villages of the Périgord Noir, then continue your way to Salignac and its castle. A few kilometers further on, you will pass by the Gardens of Eyrignac, a masterpiece of vegetation registered as a Historic Monument, where we recommend you stop for a visit.

You end your day with a beautiful descent to Sarlat, capital of the Périgord Noir. Labelled as a Town of Art and History, the medieval city holds a large number of classified historical monuments, a real open-air museum! Finally, don't miss the traditional market of Sarlat, one of the most famous in the region!

Today, discover the most prestigious castles of the Périgord by bike or by canoe!

A beautiful loop by bike leads you to the foot of the most beautiful castles of the region: the castle of Monfort perched on its rocky spur, the castle of Castelnaud and its museum of warfare in the Middle Ages and the fortified castle of Beynac, one of the best preserved in the Perigord. You will also cross the villages of Domme and La Roque-Gageac classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. On your way you will also have the possibility to visit the majestic Gardens of Marqueyssac overlooking the Dordogne valley.

For those who wish to admire the castles from a different angle, you can exchange your bike for a canoe! You pedal to Vitrac (12km) where you leave your bike and get into a canoe. You ride down the Dordogne river admiring its castles until Beynac where you leave the canoe (16km-3h). You will then be driven back to Vitrac in a mini-van where you will get your bike back to Sarlat (12km).

You leave Sarlat by small mountain roads to join for some time the banks of the Dordogne. You arrive at the foot of the beautiful village of Castelnaud-la-Chapelle. We advise you to make a short stop to visit the heights of the village on foot as well as its imposing castle which will offer you a spectacular view on the Dordogne and the neighboring castles.

You will then continue on your way and pass in front of the Château des Milandes, home of the famous showgirl, Josephine Baker. A surprising mix of Renaissance and Art-Deco styles, the castle pays a beautiful tribute to the extraordinary destiny of its owner. Finally, you will climb to Belvès, a medieval city with 7 bell towers nestled at the top of a hill.

You start your day by cycling to Cadouin and its Cistercian abbey classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then, you continue your way to the bastide of Beaumont-du-Périgord, don't miss to visit its impressive fortified church. On your way you will also come across the magnificent castle of Bannes perched proudly on its rocky spur.

A few kilometers further on, we recommend a small detour to visit the castle of Lanquais, nicknamed the "unfinished Louvre of the Périgord". You will then join the banks of the Dordogne to take the green way which will lead you quietly to Bergerac for your last evening.

After breakfast, enjoy a final stroll through the streets of Bergerac before heading home.