Page 166 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

164 BACK ROADS FRANCE

The Dordogne: Source to Sea

To many, the region around the Dordogne river offers an
ideal image of summers spent walking through lush green
hills, bathing in clear rivers, visiting châteaux and vineyards,
and eating confit de canard (preserved duck), foie gras and
truffles. However, the Dordogne is first and foremost a river.
For centuries it was the only means of communi cation
between mountains and sea, a busy waterway with trade in
wine and wood, salt and spices. Following the course of the
river brings the region’s history and geography to life. Along
the way visitors pass through some of France’s finest wine
regions, and can sample some of its best cuisine.

Périgueux St-Rabier
Larche
BOURG-SUR-
GIRONDE Mussidan DORDOGNE Montignac
Coutras Montpon Vézère
Ménestérol Vergt St-Geniès
St-André-
de-Cubzac St-Géry les Eyzies- Borrèze
de-Tayac
TRÉMOLAT
LIBOURNE ST-ÉMILION Le Fleix La Force BERGERAC Limeuil BEYNAC-ET- SARLAT
Tulières Calès Le CAZENAC
Buisson LA ROQUE-
St-Pey- Ste-Foy-la-
Dordogne Marnac
d’Armens Grande Lalinde GAGEAC
Gensac Bergerac-
GIRONDE Roumanière CADOUIN CASTLENAUD- DOMME
Margueron Bouniagues LA-CHAPELLE
Gourdon
Sauveterre- Dropt Duras Monpazier
de-Guyenne Monségur Eymet Cazals
Villeréal
LOT-ET-
La Réole
GARONNE Catus

ACTIVITIES
Take a cure at the thermal spa of Le Mont-Dore
Ride in a gabare, a traditional riverboat, from Argentat or
La Roque-Gageac
Admire the Romanesque carving of the Église Abbatiale
St-Pierre in Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne
Visit the châteaux of Beynac and Castelnaud
Canoe or swim in the gorges of the Dordogne river

Above Gothic cloisters of the monastery in Cadouin, see p173 Left Golden-
hued houses along the cliffside in La Roque-Gageac, see p172 Right Aerial
view of the château at Beynac-et-Cazenac by the Dordogne river, see p172