Tour enchanting Carcassonne and the Dordogne

Itinerary

1. Day

   1

   Arrive in Sarlat

   Sarlat-la-Can, France

   Arrive in Toulouse or Carcassonne on your flight or by train. You'll then be taken to your hotel in Sarlat, where you'll check in and have the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Spend the time settling into the hotel and start exploring the local area if you wish.

2. Day

   2

   Sarlat and Lascaux

   Sarlat-la-Can, France

   After breakfast you'll learn about the fascinating history of Sarlat on a walking tour of this ancient market town, which grew after a Benedictine monastery was built there in the early 9th century during the reign of Charlemagne.

   As you meander through its enchanting cobbled streets, you'll hear how the town was shaped by the various conflicts that brought upheaval to the Dordogne in the Middle Ages.

   This afternoon we travel back around 17,000 years to prehistoric France and the famous cave of Lascaux. This UNESCO World Heritage Site near the village of Montignac is an elaborate cave system where chambers, galleries and shafts are adorned with almost 2,000 Upper Paleolithic paintings and engraved figures.

   Described by a local cave art scholar as the 'Sistine Chapel of prehistory' you'll visit the recently opened International Centre for Cave Art and wander through an exact copy of the decorated caverns that took three years to recreate.

   You'll have the opportunity to draw using the same tools and techniques employed by the Stone Age cave artists, touch original artefacts found by archaeologists

3. Day

   3

   Rocamadour and Marqueyssac Gardens

   Rocamadour, France

   Today you'll follow the extraordinarily picturesque Dordogne River to one of France's most instantly recognisable sights - the remarkable village and monastery of Rocamadour.

   As you wander through a network of twisting and ever-ascending lanes, you'll soon be treated to views of this eclectic, near-vertical village, perched on the side of a limestone cliff and towering over Alzou canyon.

   Following the discovery of St Amadour's perfectly preserved body, Rocamadour became a pilgrimage site during the Middle Ages. It was known as the 'Lourdes of its time', famed for its healing powers and visited by numerous monarchs. You'll have time to explore the village at your own pace, before heading to Marqueyssac Gardens.

   This beautiful formal garden has over six kilometres of shaded pathways lined with hand-pruned shrubs and dotted with belvederes, rockeries, waterfalls and greenery. The gardens also boast one of the best panoramic views in the Dordogne.

4. Day

   4

   Beynac and La Roque-Gageac

   Beynac-et-Cazenac, France

   This morning you'll visit the great fortress of Beynac, towering above the river and once captured by Richard the Lionheart. With amazing views, cobbled squares and a maze of narrow alleys, this village is recognised as one of the 'Most Beautiful Villages in France'.

   A short drive will then take you to Domme, a magnificent walled town with several fortified gates. Here you can enjoy more stunning views, an array of fine mediaeval dwellings plus goldsmiths' houses and a delightful covered market.

   Afterwards you'll travel back towards the river to discover one of France's prettiest villages, La Roque-Gageac. With its riverside location and cream-coloured stone houses, La Roque-Gageac is a delight to explore. You'll board a traditional 'gabare' boat, once used for transporting wine, to get a sense of the way of life here in centuries past.

5. Day

   5

   Cahors

   Cahors, France

   This morning you'll bid farewell to the Dordogne and travel south to enchanting Cahors, with its splendid 14th century fortified Valentré Bridge majestically spanning the River Lot.

   On your journey, you'll see as the countryside gradually changes from rolling wooded slopes of lush green to the paler yellows, ochres and endless fields of the instantly recognisable sunflowers that are so typical of southern France.

   In Cahors, you might choose to sample some of its famous red wines, or follow a trail around the town's delightful 'secret gardens'.

6. Day

   6

   Carcassonne

   Carcassonne, France

   There are many exceptional 'old towns' in France yet none quite rivals the enchanting allure of Carcassonne, with its mediaeval citadel, adorned with fairy-tale-like, cone-topped turrets and cream-coloured battlements.

   Today you'll enjoy a guided tour of this wonderful town, and experience a sense of timelessness, wandering ancient, cobbled lanes founded by Romans and trodden over the centuries by Visigoths, Saracens and rich mediaeval merchants.

   In the afternoon you will have time to explore its more peaceful corners at your own pace, wandering along more of the town's pretty streets.

7. Day

   7

   Albi

   Albi, France

   Today you'll visit Albi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the banks of the The Tarn river. Albi is a stunning brick-built city, with a skyline dominated by an imposing gothic cathedral, thought to be one of the largest brick buildings in the world.

   You might find Albi to be more Mediterranean in character than the towns of the Dordogne. During an informative guided tour you will learn all about this once independent state and visit the beautiful cathedral, where you'll see its breathtakingly detailed interior with one of Europe's most important mediaeval works, an enormous mural of the Last Judgement.

   This afternoon you'll be free to explore as you wish. The renowned artist Toulouse-Lautrec was born here, and you might choose to see the rich collection of his most famous works at the Toulouse-Lautrec museum. Or you might simply amble around Albi's old town, one of France's largest conservation areas, soaking in the relaxed atmosphere.

8. Day

   8

   Return home

   Albi, France

   Today you'll check out of your hotel and transfer to the airport or train station as your tour of the Dordogne comes to an end.