Few regions sum up the attractions of France better than the Dordogne, with its rich food, captivating history, château-studded countryside and picturesque villages. It’s also famous for having some of France’s finest prehistoric cave art, which fill the caverns and rock shelters of the Vézère Valley.

Today it’s known to the French as the Périgord, and is divided into four colour-coded areas: Périgord Pourpre (purple) for the winegrowing regions around Bergerac; Périgord Noir (black) for the dark oak forests around the Vézère Valley and Sarlat-la-Canéda; Périgord Blanc (white) after the limestone hills around the capital, Périgueux; and Périgord Vert (green) for the forested regions of the north.

Vézac is home to one of the world’s most magnificent landscapes, the famed overhanging Gardens of Marqueyssac. There is also Rocamadour, perched half-way up a vertical cliff, which is a spectacular setting with a world famous appeal.  The town of Domme is one of the best preserved medieval Bastide towns with wonderful views over the Dordogne River. Take a traditional flat-bottomed boat trip from La Roque Gageac and admire the Châteaux of de Castelnaud, the Château de Marqueyssac, the Château de Lacoste and the Château de la Malartrie from the unique vantage point of the river.