Sarlat Nuit Oie.jpgSettle in near the old town at Hôtel Plazza with a spa, pool and premium facilities or, if you prefer the simple life (but with all the comfort you could wish for), at Le Temps Retrouvé B&B and its 1.7ha grounds a stone’s throw from the town centre.
The next two days are going to be action-packed and exciting, so a good night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast at these two places give you your first taste of Périgord’s signature hospitality.
Visites Guidees Sarlat Header Elise Viguier 3.jpgToday’s market day in Sarlat! Stalls take over the cobbles with a whirlwind of colour in the shade of age-old ochre stone buildings.
Enjoy a coffee on one of the terraces on Place de la Liberté and find out what the locals have on their minds… Everyone’s talking about mushrooms, rugby, politics, food and drink…
You won’t be able to resist the local aromas and colours that change with the seasons: strawberries, walnuts, asparagus, duck in all its glory and truffles (winter and summer).
It’s time to reach for the sky on board the panoramic lift at Sainte-Marie Church to drink in 360° views of the town’s rooftops with a glass of champagne and foie gras platter.
Pick a mouth-watering restaurant in the protected area… There are so many to choose from!
Place De La Liberte Sarlat 2.jpg
Now it’s time to venture into the valley of châteaux and get up close to the Espérance River. Starting with the “hanging gardens” of Marqueyssac.
Snuggle up on a countryside walk back in time and watch the horizon come to life with a “folly of shrubs”, Tuscan-style cypress trees, winding or straight lanes, hedge mazes, a belvedere overlooking the valley and tall trees whose branches play peek-a-boo with the sunlight.
Simply magical…
Dordogne Gardens Marqueyssac.jpgWe’re going to have to leave the headland and venture upstream to visit one of this part of the valley’s 4 Most Beautiful Villages in France: La Roque-Gageac.
The microclimate between the cliff and river is simply mind-blowing… Bougainvillea, banana trees and other tropical species growing on the cliffside lanes bring you surprising botanical experiences for these latitudes.
As the sun glitters on the Dordogne water, it’s time to enjoy a cocktail and some peace at Bar de la Bambousaie before a romantic meal at La Belle Etoile, just above the river.
La Roque Gageac © Elise Viguie 82No matter the season, a romantic starlit walk through town always makes you feel like star-crossed lovers.
The simple pleasure of seeing the cobbles gleam in the torchlight in quieter spring and autumn, it feels like you’re the only people in the medieval town. Then there’s the holidays, when you can visit the best Christmas market in France or watch street artists in action on summer nights.
How about a lie-in together? We’ve got something better! Book a couple’s massage (at both Plazza and Le Temps Retrouvé) and spend some we-time at the spa. What better way to start the day?
Last but not least, you simply can’t leave Périgord Noir without revisiting the valley and indulging your inner food lover. Another cliff, a fortress watching over the river for almost 1000 years and medieval lanes… Have you been to Beynac?
5559 Chateau De Beynac Et Cazenac Dordogne Libre
