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Dordogne
Dordogne, located in the south-west corner of France, hails from the river that runs through it. Most locals often refer to the area as the Périgord, a name used for the province before the French Revolution renamed it Dordogne in 1790.
The region’s four parts is charmingly identified by color and each hold a spectacular adventure in store for travelers.
The Green Périgord (verte) is named for the verdant hills around Nontron, enriched by the many rivers crossing this territory in the north. The White Périgord (blanc) takes its name from the exposed limestone in the landscape whose chalky color informs most of the building materials in the cities. Rivers in this district have weathered limestone in centuries, leaving fantastic cliffs people have built around and into for centuries.
Grapes provide the story behind the name of the Purple Périgord (pourpre), where the wines themselves take on the names of towns on the map, like Bergerac and Monbazilac. Castles, forts and chateaux abound in this district, home to some of the more than 1,000 castles in Dordogne that travellers harking back to more adventurous times may enjoy—such as the Beynac, Biron, Bourdeilles, Castelnaud-la-chapelle, Commarque, Herm and Milandes.
The Black Périgord (noir) in the south-east holds unique stories for the first time traveler. Its vast system of caves underground are laced with prehistoric art, such as those accidentally discovered by locals in the Lascaux caves. Core to the region's studies of prehistory is in the National Museum of Prehistory perched atop a cliff in the village of Les-Eyzies-de-Tayac.
After long days of exploring the four districts, travellers are enjoined to find a local Dordogne bistro and sample regional cuisine over a glass of Bergerac wine. The region food shares one of the most sensual gastronomic delights in the world, where rare specialties truffles and duck liver like foie gras are regular fare.
