Carlux

Well, I like the south-eastern part, where we live, not far from the Lot. Only crowded in the high season,when we mostly avoid most of the tourist parts - and the reason it's 'touristy' is that this is where the best bits are. But maybe we're prejudiced.

Hastobe_Katt

Most of the above places aren't actually in the Périgord (Dordogne) region.

Carlux

And for all you people who are going to see it, it's Pech Merle, not Peche. Pech is a patois word meaning hill originally in Occitan, pueg, from the Latin podium.

You see it in other words - as in Pecharmant wine, from the Pechs charmants or in French, all the place names beginning with Puy - Puy Leveque, Puymirol, etc.

mimipam

Thank God I spelled it right this time. Wonder what some of you would do if you heard me try to pronounce French words - it is no wonder people are hestitant to try to communicate in a language not their "own."

iris1745

Rocamodour for us is a sight not to be missed. When youy climb to the abbeye at the top, it is just an incredible feat . Fit everything in yor schedule. Tourists are everywhere, caves or towns or cities. Of course everyone thinks differently, just our opinion and we love tourists. Richard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/rocamadour

kenav

iris - What time of the year did you go?

moneyburns

Since we are on the subject;I have three nights in Sarlat (first night arrival around 7ish so explore,dinner, etc.

2nd and 3rd day - cruise through the area, see Les Ezyies, Tremlot, Le Burg, St. Cirq (of course for our own St.Cirq),Beynac, Castelanaud, Domme,La Roque Gagaec - any suggestions to Add or Subtract? (definitely doing a run down the river)

We move over to Rocamadour area for four nights - suggestions on a good drive with beautiful villages hopefully - that area is a bit confusing - how far east can we realistically go and not get lost - would love some pretty drives heading (east?) with pretty villages, etc.

So is Anything a MUST see, and what should we avoid that is overblown? Chateaus, history, beautiful villages, good cafes with some great food, wine, ambiance...that would be terrific.
I have tons of info to fill a box, but would appreciate a "locals" imput.
Thanks so much,
I am totally overwhelmed as I am the planner and DH just shows up. Would love to blow him away with what I know, haha.
Great drives, must see Chateaus, etc...history very impt to DH...I am getting lost in details and we leave in 3 weeks, so HELP! Stress level going up as time approaches -box of info but its sort of Greek to me; I need real people who have actually been to explain it all.
(OK. I admit, I am a blonde)

Again, thank you experts for any help......

Moneyb

mimipam

Hi moneyb, I know just how you feel. As you can tell from my original post I try to fit in too much. I am also the planner in charge of all. However, I can't complain as DH pays the bills and will be the driver. You sound like me and want to see it all, but I really try for a little down time. I have been known to schedule "free time" and tell him this is it so get busy and relax. That is why this site is soooo good, but we still have to make our own choices.
Happy travels!!!!

StuDudley

Moneyburns - do you have my itinerary for the Dordogne ??? There are some ideas in it. E-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach it to the reply e-mail.

As a starter, I would stay at least 1 more night near Sarlat and 1 less in Rocamadour.

No reason to go the Tremolat. Not much to see in St Cirq - even though I've beeen involved in travel forums with her for around 15 years, and we've spent some time together.

Don't miss Ch Milandes, Lascaux II, Pech Merle, Fond du Gaume, la Roque St Christophe, Jardins de Erignac, St Leon, many more in the Sarlat region.

Stu Dudley

Hastobe_Katt

For anyone staying in the Dordogne region and wanting ideas for days out / combining sites this might be helpful:

http://www.thegadds.me.uk/dordogne/daysout.php

iris1745

Hi kenav; We have only been in that area twice, once in August and once in July. So we know a little about the tourists. Never a problem. We did encounter the heat wave in France when it was 110 degrees [plus]. Four other people with us, but we were on the go, from morning to night. Water, water, water. So many great places to visit in France, but this is perhaps the greatest concentration of villages and towns. While driving, At every curve, it seems like a majestic sight, be it a chateau or town. Have a lovely trip. Off to BB. Richard

moneyburns

Ah thanks everyone; the stress has subsided somewhat after your great responses.

Stu, I thought I may have emailed you as I know you have a detailed itinerary though I do not recall receiving it; however I started this "journey" last year and might be an address I no longer use. I will re-email you. Thank you for the offer.

Hastobe...Katt, great info on your site; thank you. I like the listing for the kids - as my DH is an old kid.

Mimi, my problem is I do not schedule anything, and then I panic, LOL...Last night the panic set in as we leave in 2.5 weeks and between Paris and Dordogne notes I was throwing everything in the air letting it fall as it may....and selecting from the floor, haha.

But I know it will all be wonderful. Thank youall for allowing me to " vent "my stress level.

MoneyB

mimipam

Hastobe - thanks for the link for combining sites!

La_Tour_de_Cause

Just a couple more tips...
When you go to Pech Merle, be sure to give yourself time to visit the small museum to the RIGHT of the ticket office BEFORE you visit the cave. It will give you a brief overview of what you're going to see and will help you to understand what you're looking at in the cave, as the tour will be in French only. If you are lucky, you'll have a tour guide who will be able to take a few seconds now and then to give English-speakers a brief explanation in English. There is also a large-print, bad and short translation of the tour that they'll give you to carry with you while you're at the various points along the tour.

I'm glad you're going to see this site. I've been there approximately 7-8 times in the last ten years. Will probably go again this year. Fantastic!

Also, if you will be using a GPS, be sure to know the CORRECT spellings of the many towns listed in the helpful comments people have posted. Many wonderful people have given you great suggestions, but if you're trying to look them up on a computer, or type them into a sat-nav unit, you're likely to come up empty. Here are the correct French spellings of many of the sites listed in the comments above:


For example:
L'Hospitalet
Padirac
Gorges de lAveyron
Cordes-sur-Ciel
Tremolat
Castelnaud (Castelnaud-La Chapelle)
La Roque-Gageac
Font du Gaume
Jardins de Eyrignac

Other posters have made various corrections to these names, but I thought I'd list all in one posting. Seriously, I'm not being the spelling police -- just trying to be helpful.

Have a great trip!

StCirq

Correction to the corrections: It's Font de Gaume, not du Gaume.

StCirq

And Jardins d'Eyrignac.

Hastobe_Katt

<i>And Jardins d'Eyrignac.</i>

Which I shall never dare visit again (despite living only 30 mins away) as my lovely little sis was so busy oggling the waiters bum she didn't hear me say 'Will you pay for the beers'. By the time I realised she hadn't paid (just returned the glasses) we were 300 yards+ down the drive in our car and had to a 'Thelma and Louise'....The shame of it!

La_Tour_de_Cause

Cirq- duly noted! Absolutely correct. Knew both of those...just messed up. It's that volcanic ash, fouling up my brain!