Discovering Périgueux means falling under the spell of a city labeled Art and History. Near the Périgord Noir, the capital of the Dordogne has many cultural riches.
Dive into the heart of the Roman era
Périgueux, built on a domus, guard numerous remains from the Gallo-Roman era. THE Vésone district, where one of the city's 28 towers still stands and the remains of the stronghold where the Petrocores lived, can boast of having the Vesunna museum, designed by the world-renowned architect: Jean Nouvel. By pushing open the doors of the museum, you discover the layout of the city at the time thanks to a model before descending onto the footbridges which overlook the domus.
All around, the wooded park of Vésone allows for beautiful Sundays with the family at the foot of the Vésone tower.
Another museum in Périgueux has Gallo-Roman remains: the MAAP. The Museum of Art and Archeology of Périgord guides the visitor through the different periods of history that built the Dordogne: from Prehistory to the Middle Ages through Antiquity.
Périgueux, medieval town
Two very distinct neighborhoods appeal to visitors to Périgueux. The Vésone district, atypical in Dordogne, and the hypercenter of the city with its medieval streets, more traditional in Périgord. Of the guided tours are organized to discover the hidden interiors of the town's mansions.
The charm of the administrative capital resides in these squares nestled in the heart of the city where restaurants, shops and local life mingle with the history of the place. Périgueux has managed to preserve and protect its city center: many medieval houses are visible, particularly along the quays of the Isle. A journey Terra Adventure leads you to discover all these treasures.
Getting around Périgueux
The tourist areas are a few kilometers apart. It takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes walk from Vésone Park to Place de la Clautre.
A little tourist train allows you to visit these two parts of the city in 45 minutes and without fatigue. The city center is largely pedestrianized in the summer. To access Périgueux, bus serve the four corners of Périgord and the train station allows you to connect the Dordogne to Bordeaux, Agen or Limoges quite easily.
A stop for pilgrims
If Périgueux has preserved its medieval streets intact, but you will discover a particularity in the wisdom street : between the paving stones are words that leave one to meditate on. Limogeanne Street, the narrow artery and main street of the medieval district is littered with shells on the ground. It is the landmark that guides pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela.
Périgueux is a stop on the GR 654 which leaves Vézelay to reach the most famous city of Galicia where believers from all over the world find themselves after many kilometers traveled and a well-filled credential.
Saint-Front Cathedral
A true emblem of the city, the building the white stone, typical of this part of Périgord, has been classified as a World Heritage Site since 1998 as part of the paths to Santiago de Compostela. It is possible to visit its cloister and roofs only with professional guides (contact the tourist office) but the door of Saint-Front cathedral still remains open for a self-guided visit. Saint-Front Cathedral is famous for its domes restored by the architect Paul Abadie who reproduced the same technique at the Sacré Cœur in Paris. It also has two organs which offer magnificent concerts in summer.
A lively city all year round
In winter, the steps punctuate the weeks of the Petrocorians. Fat markets and truffle markets on Place Saint-Louis adjoin the traditional markets on Place de la Clautre, Place des Halles and Rue Taillefer on Saturdays.
In the summer period, these are the quays of the Isle which come alive with a special layout where concerts, pedal boats, salsa lessons and beach volleyball competitions follow one another as you wish.
And throughout the year, it is the bars, traders and cultural scenes like the Sans Réserve or the Odyssée theater which liven up the evenings of the Périgord residents.
Greater Périgueux
Sorges
A few kilometers from the administrative capital of the Dordogne, Sorges taunts its neighbor by clearly revealing its ambitions.
"The best truffles from Dordogne are from Sorges”. This is what we can read when we arrive in this village which lives around the black gold of Périgord. The truffle inn, the truffle ecomuseum, the interpretation trail and of course its specialized and recognized market prove this town right, which displays its pretensions.
Requires
A little further south of the conurbation of Périgueux, another village relishes the chance to have exceptional land for agriculture. Vergt and its surroundings specialize in the cultivation of the strawberry. Every year, the Vergt strawberry festival attracts thousands of visitors.
The Isle Valley
Périgueux is the epicenter of the Isle River. The port, the quays and the half-timbered houses such as the house of the consuls tell the story of the city's river past. Boats have not sailed on the Island for a long time, however you can appreciate the tranquility of the river during a canoe trip or by following it thanks to the developed greenway over nearly 100 kilometers.
