ITINERARY | HIGHLIGHTS | WEATHER | ACCOMMODATION & ADDITIONAL INFO

The Dordogne 2008

A Rural Paradise

One never comes to Perigord or Quercy, they say, simply by chance. Rather, one comes here to immerse oneself in a natural landscape that has changed but little. The southwest of France offers the best combination of natural beauty, beautiful villages and fine food in the whole of France. The names of Dordogne, Bordeaux, Rocamadour, the Pilgrim routes of St James, the Causses, all conjure up special images. The walk starts in Figeac and finishes in Sarlat La Caneda, both charming medieval towns. The route is punctuated by fascinating landmarks - megaliths, caves, troglodyte houses, charming villages, and castles. An extension to Les Eyzies, renowned for its pre-historic caves, is also possible.

PRICE

£475.00 per person. Single supplement £85.00. Extension to Les Eyzies: £45 per person.
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INCLUDED

Accommodation for 6 nights in chambres d'hote and 2 star hotels in double rooms usually with bath or shower and private W.C. (very rarely a bathroom may be shared), 6 evening meals and breakfasts, transport of baggage, route instructions/maps.

NOT INCLUDED

Transport to Figeac, from Sarlat, meals not mentioned above, drinks with meals.

Departure dates 2008: Choose the day you wish to start any time from the beginning of April to end of October.

To book email: walking@star.co.uk
T: (44) (0)1242 254353

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ITINERARY

 

Day 1: FIGEAC
Arrive in Figeac. Make the most of your time here to discover this beautiful town and its medieval heritage. Perhaps take a stroll to Cingle Hill from where there is a stunning panorama of Figeac and its surroundings. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2: FIGEAC - LACAPELLE MARIVAL (19 kms/11.9 miles)
Pass a succession of little villages of enormous charm : the fortified village of Cardaillac, St Bressou and finally Lacapelle-Marival, protected by the imposing mass of its castle. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3: LACAPELLE MARIVAL - GRAMAT (21 kms/13 miles)
Depart for Gramat, meeting point of two different yet complementary regions: Le Limargue - a region of prairies and agriculture - and the Causse de Gramat - arid, remote and highly picturesque. En route you will come to Rudelle with its interesting church, Themines with its old market, l'Hopital Beaulieu. Then you come to the junipers and young oaks that highlight the wilderness of the causse de Gramat. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4: GRAMAT - ROCAMADOUR (13 kms/8miles)
Today is spent discovering the Causse and the Valley of the Alzou. This superb, winding canyon, fringed by water mills, offers a foundation for the abrupt apparition of the vertiginously located town of Rocamadour. One of France's prime sites, this remarkable town is without doubt one of the most celebrated pilgrimage shrines of the Christian western world. Dinner and overnight.

Day 5: ROCAMADOUR - SOUILLAC (24 kms/15 miles)
Take the beautiful path that overlooking the Ouysse Valley. You will meet some magnificent old mills - Caoulet, Cougnaguet and Treille. Also, the remarkable Chateau de Belcastel, dominating the confluence of the Dordogne and the Ouysse, and the Chateau de la Treyne, dating to the 16th and 17th centuries. Overnight and dinner at Souillac, town noted for its 12th century Church of Sainte Marie with its quite extraordinary Romanesque carvings. Dinner and overnight.

Day 6: SOUILLAC - SARLAT LA CANEDA (28 kms/17.5 miles)
Today you leave Quercy to head for the 'capital' of the Perigord Noir. Along this chateau-lined route is a whole succession of views along the Dordogne Valley and surrounding hills. Arrive at Sarlat la Caneda, renowned for its history, its culinary accomplishments and for its art, this magnificent town has a well preserved architectural patrimony dating back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance - a wonderful place for wandering the alleys and side streets transporting you back to another time. Dinner and overnight.

Day 7: SARLAT LA CANEDA
Breakfast and end of trip.

Optional Day 8: Continue to Les Eyzies, known as the world capital of pre-history for its pre-historic caves, for overnight. 26 or 33 kms.

 

DIFFICULTY OF WALK

Moderate. You do not need to be ultrafit but certainly able to walk between 13 and 28 kms per day and able to cope with undulating countryside and some hills. The route takes you along grassy and stony woodland paths, hill paths, along field and farm tracks and along tarmacadamed country lanes. You may organise taxis locally to shorten the walks.

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HIGHLIGHTS

The beauty of rural France, and the exceptionally pretty towns of Figeac and Sarlat.

If you have done this walk before, we would like to hear your personal highlights. Mail Us

WEATHER

Click here to view the weather forecast Link courtesy of uk met office

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ACCOMMODATION & ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ACCOMMODATION

Comfortable small hotels with local dishes.

GETTING THERE

The route begins in Figeac - the best way of getting there is by train (see below).

AIR: The nearest international airport is Toulouse. approx. 80 miles from Figeac. Rodez also has a small airport but the number of flights is limited.


RAIL: The best way is by train. Go to the French Railways (SNCF) website in order to find timetables for FIGEAC (the first stop on the walk). The website is at www.voyages-sncf.com where you can click on the small Union Jack (UK national flag) icon for an English version.

WHAT TO TAKE:

Comfortable, well aerated clothes in keeping with the season. Always bring a pullover, good walking boots (already worn-in) and several pairs of cotton or wool socks. For your daily needs, you are advised to have a plastic bag to line your day-pack (to protect the contents from rain), rainwear, a sun-hat, sun glasses, sun block, a water bottle, plastic picnic boxes (for transporting your lunches), first-aid kit , camera and film, torch/flashlight.

 

INSURANCE

We recommend that you take out appropriate holiday insurance covering you against illness, injury, and loss or damage to luggage. This insurance should also cover the possibility of your having to cancel your holiday for whatever reason.

To book, contact worldwalks  at:
email:walking@star.co.uk
T: (44) (0)1242 254353

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