| The Dordogne Valley, or the Perigord as
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| | tucked at the foot of the cliff adjacent
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| it is also called by the locals, is home
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| | to the river, is where the motion picture
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| to many of the "Most Beautiful Villages
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| | "Chocolat" was filmed. A steeply sloping
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| of France". This area is not as well
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| | footpath known locally as the Caminal del
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| known as others in the country, but it is
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| | Panieraire (basket maker's path- this was
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| certainly one of the most beautiful.
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| | seen in the opening scenes of the film
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| These 5 venues are among the top sites in
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| | "Chocolat") leads from the bottom of the
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| the region, and a visit to the Dordogne
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| | village, through rows of renaissance
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| is not complete without seeing them all.
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| | houses dating from the 15th to the 17th
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| 1. Domme- Domme is a village situated at
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| | centuries, to the castle and the church
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| the top of a rocky cliff overlooking the
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| | on top. This walk is definitely
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| Dordogne valley. From the lookout area,
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| | recommended, but it does get steep toward
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| the view embraces the valleyfrom the
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| | the top. Tours of the chateau are
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| Montfort meander in the east, to Beynac
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| | normally in French, but English language
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| in the west. The view of the tranquil
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| | tours are available some mornings. Check
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| river and fields of crops belies the
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| | with one of the local tourism offices for
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| violence that took place here in the
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| | availability.
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| middle ages.
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| | 4. Castelnaud- This "chateau fort", or
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| Domme is a bastide village that was
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| | fortified castle, stands only about 2
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| founded by Philip the Bold in 1283, so it
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| | kilometers from the chateau de Beynac,
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| is actually newer than other villages in
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| | and it was between the two that the
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| the area. People at the time were
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| | battle front between the English and the
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| encouraged to go to newly founded towns,
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| | French shifted during the Hundred Years
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| called bastides, most of which were
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| | War. The chateau changed hands between
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| planned around a central covered market
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| | the two sides numerous times. There were
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| area. There are numerous bastides in
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| | several periods of restoration after the
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| France dating from this general period.
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| | middle ages, the last starting recently
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| Although worth a visit any time, Domme is
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| | in 1969. The castle provides superior
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| especially nice on market days when one
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| | views of the Dordogne valley, and it also
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| will find homegrown and homemade fruits
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| | houses a museum of medieval and siege
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| and vegetables, sausages, olives,
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| | weaponry. One can see several catapults
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| cheeses, cured hams, and of course a
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| | in the courtyard, even from the valley
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| staple of the Dordogne, foie gras. Check
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| | below. There are also two films, one
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| any of the local Offices of Tourism to
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| | relating to the weapons museum and
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| find the schedule for markets at Domme or
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| | another about the history of the castle.
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| other villages.
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| | The surrounding village is quaint, but be
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| 2. La Roque Gageac- This charming
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| | prepared for a steep climb on foot to
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| village is huddled against a cliff which
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| | reach the chateau.
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| drops vertically to the river Dordogne.
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| | 5. Sarlat- A bustling town today, Sarlat
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| It features attractive little streets
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| | grew up around a Benedictine abbey
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| with interesting homes, churches, and
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| | founded in the 9th century. The abbots
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| other buildings, including the Manoir de
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| | retained their power until the 13th
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| Tarde, a manor house of the once locally
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| | century when internal strife and
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| famous Tarde family. One stretch has
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| | corruption caused their downfall. The
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| semi-tropical plant life in abundance, as
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| | 13th and early 14th centuries were a
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| the protection of the cliff is such that
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| | prosperous time for this busy market
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| the flora there can survive even in the
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| | town, but the Hundred Years War left it
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| winter months.
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| | weakened and depopulated. After this
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| A walking path runs behind the buildings
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| | came a period of reconstruction, and most
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| at the foot of the cliff and provides
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| | of the town houses to be seen today were
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| great views and pictures. The Troglodyte
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| | built between 1450-1500. This has
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| caves are to be found along here as well,
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| | created an architectural unity in
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| and they are worth a visit.
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| | renaissance style which is very
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| 3. Beynac- About 2 miles down the road is
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| | attractive. If possible, have dinner in
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| beautiful Beynac. The Chateau de Beynac
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| | one of the many restaurants in the old
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| stands on a remarkable site, rising from
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| | town and see the village at night as
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| the top of a rock as it overlooks
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| | well, as it is attractively lit up.
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| thevalley spotted with hills crowned with
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| | Sarlat's old village has a number of
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| castles. The castle was once captured by
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| | interesting places to visit including the
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| Richard the Lion Hearted, and over the
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| | Cathedrale of St. Sacerdos; the Maison de
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| years and during numerous wars it was
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| | la Boetie, where Etienne de la Boetie, a
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| destroyed and then rebuilt. There is a
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| | famous writer and friend of Montaigne,
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| sheer drop of almost 500 ft. from the
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| | and who also influenced Rousseau, was
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| chateau to the river, and the view is
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| | born; the Hotel de Maleville; among
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| spectacular. The panorama includes the
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| | others. There are many charming shops,
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| nearby castles of Marqueyssac,
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| | galleries, and restaurants.
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| Castelnaud, and Fayrac. The village,
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