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 The
Dordogne, or as the locals call it, the Périgord, is a relatively unknown but enchanting region in the southwest of France. Famed for its cuisine and
wines of nearby Bordeaux, its lovely hotels, and warm hospitality, the Dordogne is a region framed by the many ancient rivers winding through the rolling green hills. The rivers Tarn, Aveyron, Lot, Célé, Vézère, and Dordogne flow
lazily to the west, eroding the limestone along the way into tall, vertical cliffs, creating dramatic sites for villages and castles.
The attractiveness of the Dordogne landscape and the sensory pleasures of the food and wine are more than
enough to lure the traveler; but to fully appreciate this region, one must know its history. In the caves first populated by Cro-Magnon man, are the astonishing cave paintings of Lascaux, Roufignac, Pech Merle, and others - where the well-
preserved images seem to whisper and take us back to the very beginning of humankind’s history. This history has continued to forge the framework of the present-day Périgord; the abundance of castles, fortified churches, and walled
cities attest to the wars and religious strife that have influenced the architecture and cityscapes. We will see two medieval fortresses facing each other from opposite sides of the Dordogne river - Beynac, the bastion of the French
throughout the Hundred Years’ War, and Castelnaud, stronghold of the English.
The Dordogne is so rich in things to see and experience, that it must be explored slowly, and why not by bicycle or tandem? In a country considered to be the
best cycling nation in the world, this area is understandably a favorite among cyclists. It is a storybook land of castles, cliffside villages, gardens, winding rivers, tiny roads with little traffic, and cave art. Each day’s ride will
end at a beautifully situated hotel; some are châteaux dating as far back as the 13th century, and offering elegance seldom enjoyed by touring
cyclists.
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