Dordogne

Nestled between the Pyrenees and the Loire Valley in the southwest of France, the Dordogne is renowned for its wine, food and history.

Things to see and do

The historical significance of the Dordogne region cannot be stated better than with the caves at Lascaux, near Montignac. Discovered in 1940, the cave walls were found to contain over 2,200 images dating back some 17,000 years ago. Due to the risk of mould and fungus on the paintings the original cave was closed to the public, however the main chamber was meticulously recreated

in order to showcase the wonder of the caves. Lascaux II was opened in 1983 and was an attempt to present an impression of the scale and composition of the original paintings without doing further damage. Lascaux II recreates the main chamber, the Great Hall of the Bulls, in minute detail and is part of a wider museum complex that tries to explain the images and why they have managed to be preserved for so long.

The capital of the Dordogne region is Perigueux, a picture perfect medieval town that has been fought over for centuries, most notably during the Hundred Years’ War, and can date itself back to neolithic times. Today, the town is something of a culinary centre, with a farmers market twice a week, a famous duck market from November to March, and in December, the mystical aroma of black truffles fills the air.

Read more in the July issue…