Itinerary:

Limeuil - this old fortress village was for many centuries a port and safe haven for heavy barges. Limeuil's role as medieval arsenal and watchtower was established due to its strategic location at the confluence of the Dordogne and Vézère rivers.

Trémolat - with its 12th century Romanesque church, lunch in a café or restaurant.

Lalinde - one of the earliest bastides founded by the English in the 13th century. These fortified towns were designed for the defence and colonisation of the Perigord, as well as economic units.

distance: 40km. Overnight in Lalinde.

Itinerary:
West of Lalinde, through the undulating vineyards of the Bergerac wine region, to the Château de Monbazillac. This noble castle stands as a fine symbol for the famed vineyards that bear its name. The castle visit features a wine museum in the cellars and wine tasting, of course.
After lunch in Monbazillac, there are many other vineyards producing red, white, rosé, and sweet wines on your route that can be visited for additional tastings.

distance: 50km. Overnight in Lalinde.

Itinerary:
Molières - the unfinished English bastide. St Avit Sénieur - with its massive fortified church. Monpazier - founded in 1285 by Edward I, King of England and Duke of Aquitaine, Monpazier is the finest example and best preserved bastide in the region. Cadouin - this charming village in a remote valley of the Bessede forest grew around a 12th century Cistercian abbey.

distance: 45km. Overnight in Cadouin or Montferrand.

Itinerary:
Option 1: Via Caesar's Camp, (50 B.C.) to Belvès - with spectacular views from the hilltop medieval village. St Laurent la Vallée to Siorac. distance: 50km.

Option 2: Via Urval - with its medieval village bread oven, to Siorac, for an afternoon canoe trip.

distance: 20 km. Overnight in Siorac or Coux et Bigaroque.

DAY 5: Siorac/Coux et Bigaroque to La Roque Gageac.

Itinerary:
Château des Milandes - this 15th century Renaissance castle was eventually purchased by Josephine Baker, where she sought to create a "World Village", adopting children of different race, religion, and nationality. Chateau de Castelnaud - 13th century medieval castle with museum featuring war in the middle ages. Domme - Hilltop bastide situated high on a rocky crag overlooking the Dordogne Valley.

Distance: 40 km. Overnight in La Roque Gageac.

Day 6: La Roque Gageac to Marquay/Tamniès.

Itinerary:
Chateau de Beynac - A formidable stronghold, with its 13th century keep, was one of the 4 baronies of the Périgord in the middle ages, and home to Richard the Lionheart. Meyrals - lunch in this artist's village (visits are welcome). Château de Commarque - "The forgotten fortress", inhabited since prehistoric times, and recently renovated and opened to the public.

distance: 45 km. Overnight in Marquay or Tamniès.

Itinerary:
La Roque St Christophe - this vast troglodytic site has been inhabited since the upper Paleolithic Age (40,000 years ago). La Madeleine - this important site gave its name to the Magdalenian Period (18,000 - 8,000 years ago). Rouffignac - its remarkable grotte features galleries adorned with engravings and paintings of horses, ibex, rhinoceroses, bison, and a great number of mammoths, including the "Patriarch".

distance: 50 km. Overnight Les Eyzies.

For longer or shorter tours, please contact us by email for suggestions.

2 nights in Les Eyzies, loop ride to prehistory and trogloditic sites.
Les Eyzies to Lalinde, via Limeuil and Trémolat.

2 nights in Lalinde, with loop ride through the Bergerac vineyards.
Lalinde to Siorac, via St Avit Sénieur, Monpazier, and Cadouin.

2 nights in Siorac or Belvès, with loop ride to Château des Milandes, Château de Castelnaud, La Roque Gageac, and Domme.

3 days based in the Vézère Valley (Les Eyzies), with loop rides to prehistory sites, riverside villages, troglodytic sites, and medieval market towns.

3 days based in the Dordogne Valley (Siorac or Belvès), with loop rides to bastides, medieval and renaissance castles, and excellent views.

We post these tours as starting and finishing in Les Eyzies, which has regular train connections from the stations of Paris Austerlitz (via Limoges) or Paris Montparnasse (via Bordeaux). Tours can also start from Lalinde, which also has a train connection to Bordeaux, and is 20 km from Bergerac airport.

For more information or to reserve, contact:

Amy and Robert Owensmith
Coux et Bigaroque 24220
Tel/Fax: +33 (0) 553.30.35.17
mobile: 33 (0) 632.35.56.50
e-mail: owensmith@gmail.com