Dordogne on Foot - France Walking Tour

Day 1: Arrive Perigueux - Transfer to Les Eyzies
Our trip will begin with an afternoon transfer from the Perigueux train station to our hotel in the village of Les Eyzies, about a 45 minutes drive. Les Eyzies sits perched high above the confluence of the Vezere and Beune Rivers. Very near the village are two important caves. The first is the Grotte de Font-de-Gaume, discovered in 1901, but with evidence of its first visitors occurring over 25,000 years ago. The other is the Grotte des Comarelles. Also in the small village is the National Museum of Prehistory. We will spend three nights in Les Eyzies. Welcome dinner.

Day 2: Walking Tour of Les Eyzies - Grotte Font-de-Gaume
Today will be spent with a historian who specializes in prehistory. Beginning at the site where Cro-Magnon man was discovered, our day will be defined by a mix of short lectures, walks in the area, and visits to impressive caves, most notably the Grotte de Font-de-Gaume. A 130-yard passage back into the cave reveals multi-colored paintings of horse, bison, reindeer and mammoth. Dating back to the Magdalenian Period, 12,000 to 14,000 years ago, these are thought to be France’s finest group of polychrome paintings, second only to those of Lascaux.

For those who would prefer to spend the day walking, a circular route can be made from Les Eyzies following the GR36 north and east to the village of Tursac, with its unusual fortified church, and then on to the La Madeleine, a prehistoric site as well as the site of a troglodyte village during the Middle Ages. Returning to Les Eyzies on the west side of the river Vezere, this is an undulating walk through oak and chestnut woodlands and open fields, with expansive views of the cliff-lined Vezere River.

Day 3: Chateau de Commargue - Abri de Cap Blanc
Departing directly from our hotel, our walk today will take us through a rolling countryside of forests and open fields to the remarkable site of the medieval Chateau de Commargue and on to the Abri de Cap Blanc, a unique Prehistoric site of high relief carvings on the wall of a rock shelter depicts two bison and an amazing frieze of horses.

Day 4: Lacave to Rocamadour
Transfer to Lacave, where the l’Ouysse River departs from the Dordogne River. Before beginning our walk, we will visit the Grottes de Lacave. Discovered in 1902, this cave offers a glimpse into the spectacular natural worlds that can exist within the earth. From Lacave, an 11-km hike (about 6.5 miles) following the GR6 leads along the riverbanks of the L’Ouysse to the famous village of Rocamadour. Rounding the last bend in the trail, the cliffs of Rocamadour rise ahead. These 1,600-foot cliffs and the silhouette of the church are stunning. There is time to linger in the village before continuing on to our hotel, a short distance from town.

Day 5: Rest day 
Staying at the same hotel for two nights, we will have time to rest and explore Rocamadour and the surrounding countryside.

Built into the 492-foot rugged cliff face rising from the Alzou Canyon, Rocamadour, with its towering castle, possesses one of the most romantic and scenic settings of any French village. The final destination of one of the most famous pilgrimages in Christendom, Rocamadour was a thriving village until the 13th Century, after which it was heavily sacked. Though it has never regained its former splendor, it remains a fascinating destination for both religious pilgrims and travelers alike.

There are a number of short, circular walks that can be made right from our hotel through the surrounding countryside. A longer circular walk continues along the GR6 as it leaves Rocamadour and enters the Alzou gorge. As the gorge narrows, the route passes the ruins of five old mills before climbing to flat farmland and returning to the village.

Day 6: Beynac - Chateau Marqueyssac
From Rocamadour, we travel to the heart of Dordogne. Our morning will start with a view of intriguing Fortress of Beynac, occupying a spectacular perch 150 feet above the river Dordogne. Once occupied by William the Lion Heart, Beynac has seen many transformations and now offers another intriguing look back into distant centuries. From the fortress, we will follow the steep and narrow pathway of Caminal del Panieraire, the Basket Markers’ Path, down through rows of 15th- to 17th-century houses to the river’s edge.

Our walk continues along the river, eventually climbing up to the famous hanging gardens of the Chateau Marqueyssac. Classified a Historical Monument, this 15th-century Chateau and its 22-hectare garden are uniquely situated on a huge limestone outcrop above the Dordogne River. Called the Belvedere of the Dordogne, the panoramic view gives us a look back at our day’s hike. After time exploring the garden, we transfer to the historic village of Domme and our accommodations for the next two nights.

Day 7: Domme to Castelnaud
The Bastide of Domme, dating back to the 13th century, is well preserved. The town square and neat rows of stone houses combine to make this one of the most picturesque villages in the area. The view from the bastide is expansive and inspiring as you look north over the river valley. Our day will begin with a stroll through the village before heading off on our walk to the fortress Castelnaud.

Again, our walk will take us through walnut groves, cornfields, small hamlets and rich forests. We’ll have time to stop for lunch at a little riverside cafe, before our steep climb up to the chateaux. Its commanding position above the junctures of the Dordogne and Ceou valleys lends to the grandeur of this classic medieval fortress. Wandering through this site and visiting the Middle Ages Siege Warfare Museum brings one closer to imagining what life might have like centuries ago. Our day will end with a transfer back to our hotel in Domme and our Farewell Dinner.

Day 8: Sarlat-la-Canéda - Onward travel
In the morning, we visit the market in Sarlat-la-Canéda before transferring to the Sarlat train station in time for the early-afternoon train to Bordeaux with possible connections to Paris.