A BEAUTIFUL
REGION OF MANY VARIED FACETS
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Called after the spectacular river that
meanders lazily east to west, the Dordogne is one of the most picturesque and
inviting of all French ‘departments’.
For years, its beauty has captured the
hearts of countless English visitors. In
part because of a similarity to the Cotswolds – but in reality because of its
rich and unique blend of architectural heritage, glorious countryside and
mouth-watering harvest of wines and food to tempt even the most demanding
gourmet. No wonder the English and
French spent 100 years fighting over its ownership.
A single holiday visit to the Dordogne
cannot do justice to all that is on offer.
There is so much to experience and enjoy, throughout this vast landscape
at all times of the year.
No matter what your interest may be –
whether sightseeing, sporting activities, dining out, walking, bird watching or
just simply taking a well-earned rest -
the Dordogne and its climate will never disappoint you:
time and time again.
Exploring the region
Its position makes Leygue an ideal base from
which to visit many of the region’s famous sights, whether they be medieval
towns and villages, vineyards, chateaux perched high above the Dordogne River or
caves containing prehistoric art dating back to at least 13,000 BC.
Indeed, every town, village and hamlet has something to offer the tourist, and
there are always surprises around each turn in the road.
Even our closest small towns – Lalinde and
Beaumont [2.5 miles & 5 miles] – are reminders from the 100-year war with
France, as they are amongst the many fascinating bastide [fortified] towns and
villages to been seen throughout the area.
To the west, the market town of Bergerac [15
miles] lends its name to the wine produced by the surrounding vineyards where
wine can be sampled and bought direct. For
the more discerning wine buffs, it is not much further west to reach the great
vineyards of St. Emilion.
Climate
Compared with the English climate, you can be assured of
hotter and longer summers in the
Dordogne, especially from June through to September. Therefore, swimming pools are a must, for refreshing dip at
any time.
The earlier or later months in the season
are, again, usually warmer than the UK and are ideal for sightseeing, with
spring flowers or autumn foliage being an added attraction.
Average temperatures for Bergerac [Météo
France statistics]
