Grateful for any comments on the itinerary I'm planning in the Dordogne. We prefer to have several bases rather than move every night so I've tried to select places which are central, interesting in themselves and with a bit to do within driving distance around them. We'll do all the usual Dordogne things: eat (yeah!), drink, bastides, chateaux, caves, walk, and sit still occasionally sipping coffee! Here goes:

April 9, Arrive Bordeaux and drive to Brantome (maybe Chateau de la Cote), April 11 to Sarlat (not sure where) or Carennac (maybe Hotel Fenelon), April 15 (Monpazier (maybe Hotel Edward 1st), April 18 to Condom (to visit with friends), April 20 to Bordeaux (maybe Hotel de la Poste) for two nights then back to Paris.

I'd welcome any suggestions on the itinerary, hotels, restaurants, things we shouldn't miss etc. I guess I am trying to be in a medium price bracket. Many thanks in advance. Michael

Hi Mike,

I suggest that you get Michelin maps 329, 335, 336 and 337 and the Michelin Green Guides "Languedoc, Roussillon, Tarn Gorges" and "Dordogne, Berry, Limousin", perhaps the Green Guide to "Pyrenees, Aquitaine".

You can get PREM fare to Paris for 25E from Bordeaux.

Try http://www.novarentacar.com/ and
www.autoeurope.com for car rental.

Hope this helps.

<<April 11 to Sarlat (not sure where) or Carennac (maybe Hotel Fenelon), April 15 (Monpazier (maybe Hotel Edward 1st)>>

I don't really understand this part of your itinerary. Sarlat and Carennac are really bases for seeing two different areas, but I assume from the title of your post that you're primarily interested in the main Dordogne sites. If so, Carennac is not a good base. If you want to visit Rocamadour, Martel, Collonges-la-Rouge, Gouffre de Padirac, etc., those can all be easily done in a nice long day trip from the Sarlat area. On the other hand, the main sites of the Dordogne - caves, bastides, etc. - couldn't easily be done on a day trip from Carennac. So I'd stay in the Sarlat area.

Not sure why you'd move from the Sarlat area to Monpazier for the night, either. It's only about a half-hour from Sarlat and again could easily be included in a nice day's circuit west along the river to St-Cyprien, then south through Belvès, etc.

For hotels, restaurant, things not to miss, etc., do a search on this board. There have been many, many recent posts with such information.

Also get yourself the Cadogan Guide to the Dordogne, Lot, and Bordeaux, as well as the Michelin Green Guide and the maps ira mentioned.

The time frame you indicate is almost exactly the one I might be interested in. Is April a good time for the Dordogne or did you select it of some necessity? Others, what say you to april in Dordogne? Thanks.

I suggest you use Post-its on your maps to mark places that you might be interested in seeing <i>en passant</i> and which might not be in the guidebooks. For example, if looking at my photos:

http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=j4n04qu...&amp;y=-galiga

you might decide that some of the lesser sights in the photos might be worth a stop. Other photos might offer similar suggestions.

Hi Michael,

Good advice.

Thanks for the pix.

Big double ditto on everything St Cirq said. Stay in the Sarlat area, and visit Carennac (et all) as a long day trip. If you add in a Castelnau-Brentoux tour, then it might make sense to stay in Carennac for an overnight.

Stu Dudley
San Mateo (San Francisco), Ca

Many thanks to you all. Thats very helpful.