Page 167 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - France

DRIVE 15: The Dordogne: Source to Sea 165
Puy de Dôme
1,464 m
PUY-DE-
DÔME
St-Sauves-
Les
Gannes Avèze d'Auvergne
La LE MONT-DORE
Ussel Tauves Bourboule
Meymac
PUY DE SANCY
Lestards Trémouille-St-Loup Super-Besse
Vézère CHÂTEAU DE VAL Le Péage Picherande 0 kilometres 20
Egletons
BORT-LES-ORGUES
Champagnac 0 miles 20
Seilhac CORRÈZE Condat Mo n ts du C éz al li er
Saignes
Pont de
St-Merd- St-Projet
de-Lapleau
Tulle
SPONTOUR-SUR-DORDOGNE MAURIAC Cheylade PLAN YOUR DRIVE
BASSIGNAC-LE-HAUT
BARRAGE
Brive-la- Barrage du Darazac D’AIGLE Start/finish: Puy de Sancy to
Gaillarde Chastang
Bourg-sur-Gironde.
Saint Martin
ARGENTAT Valmeroux Number of days: 6–7, allowing half a
Meyssac Dordogne Maronne CANT AL day to climb Puy de Sancy.
Cressensac Mercoeur Montvert
BEAULIEU-SUR- Distance: 500 km (300 miles).
DORDOGNE
Aurillac
CARENNAC Calviac Road conditions: Well maintained
SOUILLAC Bretenoux and signposted, with some steep
Gluges CHÂTEAU DE
Creysse winding roads around the gorges.
Pinsac CASTELNAU-BRETENOUX Cayrols
Lacave When to go: The best time is autumn
Latronquière
Gramat or spring, since popular areas can be
Maurs very busy in summer. However, in the
LOT upper reaches of the river, quiet spots
Le Bourg
can be found, even in August.
Livernon
Labastide- KEY Opening hours: Shops, churches and
Murat
monuments are generally open from
Drive route
10am to 6pm. National museums and
sights are normally closed on Tuesdays.
Always check the opening hours for
private museums.
Main market days: Sarlat: Wed, Sat;
Cadouin: Wed; Domme: Thu; Trémolat:
Tue; Bergerac: Wed, Sat; St-Émilion:
Sun; Libourne: Tue, Fri, Sun.
Shopping: Wine and luxury food like
truffles, foie gras, cheese, walnuts and
mushrooms are available.
Major festivals: Souillac: Souillac en
Jazz, Jul; Sarlat: Festival des Jeux du
Théâtre de Sarlat, Jul–Aug; Bergerac:
Fêtes des Vendanges, Oct.
DAYTRIP OPTIONS
Nature lovers can visit the Puy de
Sancy and Mauriac, while wine lovers
can visit the vineyards along the
Dordogne. For details, see p175.