You'll also hear the term referred to in reference to food, and the cuisine of Périgord, characterized by truffles, foie gras, and other goose and duck products, is world renowned. Périgueux, the administrative center of the Dordogne département, is in the Périgord Blanc.
It’s located on the banks of the River Dronne, north of Périgueux, and is often called the Venice of Périgord for its riverside charm and vegetation. Périgord BlancĪnd the central Périgord Blanc, or White Périgord, is named for the abundance of white limestone in the area. Part of the Pérogord Vert, Brantôme is one of the most popular villages in Dordogne for travelers looking to enjoy the French countryside. The Périgord Vert, or Green Périgord, is the northwestern part of Périgord, known for its lush green fields and valleys and beautiful gardens. The Périgord Pourpre ( Purple Périgord), so named because of the abundant wine from the area, is centered on Bergerac-et-Cazenac. Located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, Dordogne is halfway between the Pyrénées and the Loire Valley. The medieval town of Sarlat is also a highlight not to be missed. Beynac, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, Domme and La Roque Gageac are all close by and all stunning. The Périgord Noir ( Black Périgord) is where most places of touristic interest are, including Sarlat-la-Canéda, the prehistoric caves of Lascaux, the medieval town of Domme, and other towns on the Dordogne and Vézère Rivers. Limeuil is one of the most beautiful villages of France and along this stretch of the river Dordogne there are a few others to see. Périgord/the Dordogne is/are also part of the région of France known as Nouvelle-Aquitaine, which also includes Bordeaux.Īnd to make things more complicated, the Périgord has been further divided into four "colorful" regions: Beyond Bordeaux, there is a large and various world of wines in the Atlantic region if France.
Although the département has been known as the Dordogne for years, many people still use the term Périgord. There are many famous sights that we associate with the Dordogne, including Lascaux caves, Marqueyssac gardens, medieval Sarlat, castles such as Chateau Castelnaud and the prehistoric caves in the Vezere Valley.
What we commonly refer to as the Dordogne region is also referred to as Périgord, the historic name of the area-dating back centuries. Few regions sum up the attractions of France better than the Dordogne. It can get confusing trying to keep the various régions of France straight, especially when some are known by more than one name.