We will show you the best views of the Vézère valley, a major tourist destination in Périgord, which will make you want to come back and see us even more.
At the top of the towers
In Lascaux – Dordogne, we have not one but two magnificent castles with totally different views.
Au Losse Castle, we discover a magnificent terrace which overlooks the Vézère river. Pay attention to the ground that leads you to this panoramic terrace: it's real pisa !
Further south, the Commarque Castle allows you to enjoy the preserved nature of Périgord Noir. We take the stairs that lead to the top of the dungeon and take advantage of the Beune valley which lies before us. Opposite, stands the Château de Laussel: a most romantic postcard setting. It is one of the 1001 castles of which Périgord can be proud.
You said castle, village, cave, cliff, canoe… Of course you only talk about the Dordogne since your stay last year! And yet, you missed so much!
We will amaze you in Lascaux – Dordogne
The Dordogne is not the highest altitude department in France, however we have beautiful hills. We discover it by borrowing our hiking trails !
And yes, the panoramic views are rarely at the bottom of the valley. So, take your shoes, your backpack and let's go! But where exactly are we going?
Let's go for a hike from Les Eyzies! We recommend the loop of Hell's Gorge: about 10 km, starting at the camper van area, along the river, a hill with a slight difference in altitude and returning on the greenway to reach the center of the village.
We don't forget to watch where we step! It’s beautiful but it’s a hike!
Et Limeuil, you know ? We will take you to Panoramic Gardens of Limeuil. Given the name, do we need to specify that the view is breathtaking? No, just a photo will suffice.
We promise you that the climb up the main street is just the sweet torture to access the captivating gardens. And then climbing is the lot of all the most picturesque villages of Périgord Noir: Beynac and Cazenac , Vitrac, Castelnaud, Belvès, Dumb… Shall we continue the list?
If you don't like suffering, no worries! We share 2 spots with you where parking lots have been set up to admire the view:
- The Côte de Jor: We dominate the commune of Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France. You can even watch paragliders take off if the conditions are good.
- L’Escaleyrou: Viewpoint marked out by the Dordogne departmental council offers a panorama of the landscaped bocage of the Vézère Valley.
Are you more of a spotlight or a confidential location?
Clearly, we have shared with you so far the highlights of tourism in Périgord Noir. What if we took you to our little secret corners?
Because yes, we are lucky to be able to enjoy extraordinary landscapes all year round. You just take your bike or vehicle, travel through a few villages and bam! A point of view. And click! A photo.
No, it's not to make you angry, it's just to share?
We are lucky to have 10 Most Beautiful Villages in France in Dordogne (Beynac, La Roque-Gageac, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Saint-Jean-de-Côle, Monpazier…) including 3 in the Vézère valley. However, many other villages are just as cute.
On the road toaudrix – the village which houses the Chasm of Proumeyssac but not only that – you just have to turn your head to admire/overlook Le Bugue.
Be careful, we're still on the road! We therefore continue to climb to the village square where the view of the Dordogne valley is breathtaking.
Another hilltop village? There is no shortage of this in Lascaux – Dordogne. We are getting closer to Périgueux and we stop at Rouffignac-Saint-Cernin-de-Reilhac to discover a martyred village but also a viewpoint behind the town hall.
In good weather, you can see as far as the Massif Central. Yes, yes, it's true ! (Besides, on sunny mornings on the road to Fleurac, you can regularly see these mountains.) Don't forget to go to the Cheylard esplanade before leaving from Rouffignac Saint – Cernin-de-Reilhac , the point of view on the Cheylard castle is also admirable. And the sunsets are worth the detour, especially in good company!
Do you remember the loop of Hell's Gorge in Les Eyzies mentioned above? If you want to be more peaceful, in the heart of the forest which gives its name to the Périgord Noir, it is better to go for a walk near Journiac ou Fleurac.
The Pechorel loop or that of the Drink take us through the woods and offer a small glimpse of the agricultural Dordogne.
It’s high time to eat now! The pride of Périgord: gastronomy ! Yes, but with a view of the river please.
We enjoy a meal at La Belle Etoile, a restaurant with a raised terrace of Vitrac or at the Maleville restaurant, Beynac and Cazenac, to contemplate the Dordogne when you like company.
But if you like quiet, wild, perhaps calmer tourism, you can go to the banks of the Vézère, at Pieds dans l'eau in Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère for example. Head towards the Cingle de Trémolat to get to the Balcons de l'Espérance, after passing the village of Limeuil. Does the establishment also serve as a hotel for a night with a view?
Are you more of a morning or evening person?
We can't choose...
Enjoy the sunrise through a meditation on the Côte de Jor, near the Dhagpo Kagyu Ling Buddhist Center or admire the sunset over the reflections of the Vézère at Buggy, what time of day is the most wonderful in Dordogne? It’s up to you to decide!
The sun rises in the east as a reminder and sets in the west. We're not inventing anything but it gives an idea of the shore you should be on depending on your ability to get up in the morning or enjoy the mildness of our evenings.
In the early morning, we love the calm of the plain of Fleurac, alone on our bench behind the town hall, with the cows and meadows surrounding us. We're not a hermit, but sometimes it's good to relax and just enjoy the views that the Dordogne offers.
We also love La Madeleine at dusk: the light of the setting sun shining on the stone, a Périgord delight! These magical moments are the beginnings of a beautiful evening with the music of yesteryear that the site offers.
The afternoons aren't bad either!
A little tip in passing:
Caves and chasms are ideal when it's scorching outside.
In the Lot, they have the Chasm of Padirac and its boats. We have the Chasm of Proumeyssac and its basket! We take you to dive into the heart of our bowels, well… the bowels of the earth! You will see, this descent of more than 160 meters is impressive and the view of the concretions is just crazy. Subject to vertigo, refrain!
Are you ready to take risks?
YES ?
Go for a ride to the top of the Big Bird ! Quesako? It is an aerial course that rises to a height of 22 meters. View of the Vézère river overlooking the village of Bugue.
To admire the villages of Périgord, here are other tips. We promise you that if you fly over the Dordogne in a hot air balloon, it will remain engraved in your memory for life. And now, the dizziness is gone! We take off slowly with a hot air balloon. Evening or morning flight, we remain speechless at the views offered by this climb to the sky.
We can also stay on land and go in Countryside. We let you climb the 139 steps of the ladies' staircase. The view is already not bad halfway up the cliff but... climb a little more... Yes the small path on the left, then you pass through the rock and BAM! We arrive at THE point of view. Breathe and enjoy nature, you are in the Vézère valley, a certified setting Great Sites of France.
NO ?
We list “spots” for you in the four corners of the Dordogne with easy access:
- the weirdo of Trémolat
- the Domme esplanade
- the gardens of Eyrignac in Salignac
- the Thouin garden in Périgueux
- the quays of Bergerac
- the Bourdeilles esplanade
- Roque Saint-Christophe in Peyzac le Moustier
- the fort of Roque Gageac
- the gardens of Marqueyssac in Vézac
- the dungeon of Manoir de la Salle in Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère
- the castle of Monbazillac
- the castle of Biron
- Hautefort Castle
- We stop there, we could mention all the castles of Périgord, they all have incredible views!
Instead, come and visit us at the tourist office, you will give us your opinion as you go.
And when we asked the question to the team at the tourist office, this is what they answered:
- Route des Chènes in Farges, the view is splendid over the valley, especially when there are clouds or mist, we are above it, it's magical.
- The view of Panoramic Gardens of Limeuil
- The Cote de Jor
- place called La Loulie in the evening, in Mauzens and Miremont. On the road to Périgueux from Les Eyzies, the sun sets behind the Miremont fortress.
- Le sunrise in Fleurac (coming down from Rouffignac before the village)
