we are planning a trip to the dordogne region next September.

We will either fly to Bordeaux or take a train from Paris. If we rent a car at the airporet or train station Is it a challenge to drive in Bordeaux? Another option would be to take a train to Sarlat and rent a car there.

In terms of places to stay, "La sopurce" in Baynak, "La tour de Cause" and "Manoir de Malartrie" all look very attractive. Any thoughts or suggestions?

thanks for any help.

Very easy driving.
We've driven to the region from Provence, and from Bordeaux. No problem.
Length of time? Your interests/disinterests?

Take the train to Brive-la-Gaillarde and pick up the car to drive about an hour to Sarlat.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Briv...client=gws-wiz

Actually if you are driving in the city of Bordeaux it’s a pain and not easy to park. If you are picking up a car at the airport to drive to the Dordogne it’s pretty easy

It was f.a.i.r.l.y easy to drive away from the car rental area behind Bordeaux train station and on to the motorway eastwards. The driver only swore at the navigator once.

I sure would not pick up the car until just before leaving town.

Bordeaux is (a) faster to reach by train from Paris than Brive-la-Gaillarde or Sarlat-la-Canéda (b) more likely to offer you a choice of vehicles, including automatic transmission if that is important.

The route from Bordeaux has many interesting possible stops along the way.

We visited the former owners of la Tour de Cause at their B&B with other Fodorites about 15 years ago. We all really liked the place. It's since been "spiffed up" too. It is located in an ideal location, IMO. It's south of the river, so you won't get tangled up in traffic around Beynac & Roque Gageac. Just minutes away from Castelnaud la Chapelle chateau - which is a "Must See". Famous bakery in the area also.

We've spent 13 weeks in the Dordogne over the past 25 years. I put together a 20+ page itinerary for the the region. See attached.

We're spending week 14 & 15 there this Sept.

Stu Dudley

Especially Stu Dudley!

If driving directly from the train station to the ultimate destination, the time gained by taking the train to Bordeaux instead of Brive is lost in the longer drive.

Good point, Michael. Frequency, prices and length of journeys also depend on whether youngtom is leaving from CDG or downtown Paris.

Best to check your actual date of travel on SNCF-connect.com, rental options, and run the numbers.

Stu, I have read your report on the Dordogne. We rented a house last year in Issigeac for our family of 19, children and grandchildren for two weeks. We had a blast and want to return this summer. We are looking more eastward towards Sarlat but had never thought about east of that area. We wlll follow a lot of your advice from your report. Thanks

Dordogne was one of our favorite France trips. We rented an apt. in Sarlat and drove the region….loved every day.

My suggestion is to be there the third weekend in September.
It’s Herritage Weekend and many things are open that are not at other times of year.

Doesn't the TGV train from Paris stop at Libourne just before Bordeaux? That's how we got down to that SW area one September, 10+ yrs ago. Picked up the rental car there.
Works great if one doesn't need Bordeaux itself. In our case, we drove to Paulliac, where my dad served in WW1, so that we could visit the famous wineries there, prior to heading east to Sarlat (and points beyond).