dossier

Dordogne Gastronomic Cycling

DORDOGNE GASTRONOMIC CYCLING | WHERE YOU STAY

Hotel le Quercy  **
Souillac  Days 1+8

The Hôtel Le Quercy is tucked away in a quiet side street, just 300m from the centre of town. Each of the hotel’s 25 rooms have recently been refurbished and are light and airy, with a pleasant decor. All are ensuite and have satellite television and telephone. The hotel also has its own outdoor pool!

Day 1 Arrive Souillac

Souillac is a bustling town, with an impressive Benedictine abbey, good shops and an excellent mechanical toy museum. Our hotel, with swimming pool, is right in the centre if you fancy a wander and pre-dinner apéritif.

Day 2 Souillac to Sarlat 35km/22mi or 37km/23mi

The easier of today’s choices takes you west along the Dordogne Valley, with the possibility of a lunch stop at the fabulous Château de Fenelon - there’s a fine collection of armour, arms and objets d’art dating from C15 to C18. The more challenging route takes you across the river via Carlux, and on through lovely wooded countryside to the little village of Ste Nathalène. Either way, you’ll arrive at our *** hotel which is set in 3 acres of pine woods overlooking the Sarlat Valley.

Hostellerie Meysset ***
Sarlat,  Days 2+3

You stay at the stylish Hostellerie de Meysset, set in 3 acres of pine woods and gardens, it is a haven of tranquillity. The hotel over looks two valleys and all of the rooms have stunning views of them. All 26 rooms have en-suite facilities with bath/shower, hairdryer, TV and direct telephone.

Day 3 At Sarlat

This was the old regional capital. The Vieux Quartier is an astonishingly beautiful jumble of widely varying architectural styles, and virtually all pre-17C. A self-guided historical audio walk is available from the tourist office, and there’s a lively market on aWednesday and Saturday. You could also cycle to Domme or La Roque-Gageac - we provide you with route notes.

Day 4 Sarlat to Les Eyzies 28km/17mi or 43km/27mi

You have a choice of routes again today. You either head west cross country through the rich green rolling countryside of the Périgord Nord to the village ofMeyrals (traditional Périgourdine houses), or head down to the Dordogne taking in Beynac with its impressive fortified castle. Then along the banks of the river to lively St Cyprien – good lunch stop. Your final stretch takes you up through wooded glades and past the Roc de Cazelle troglodyte cave village and on to the prehistoric capital, Les Eyzies. Our hotel here is set in lovely tranquil gardens and has a private swimming pool.

Hotel les Glycines  ***
Les Eyzies  Days 4+5

This hotel is a real gem, run by brother and sister team Pascal and Cathy Lombard who have over the past 10 years carefully restored the building to its former grandeur. The hotel has a cosy wood panelled bar and a light airy dining room which looks out onto the well kept gardens surrounding the swimming pool. All rooms have views of the courtyard and are en-suite with a bath, hairdryer and television. Upgrades to larger rooms overlooking the gardens are available on request.

Further details on the hotel website.

Day 5 At Les Eyzies

The steep limestone cliffs surrounding the village are honeycombed with shelters and caves where prehistoric man once lived and practised magic. Our circular cycling route takes you through the magnificent Vézère Gorges and back via the Abri du Cap Blanc where you’ll find the only remaining frieze of prehistoric sculptures in the world open to the public. Or spend the day canoeing or kayaking down the gentle Vézère River .

Day 6 Les Eyzies toMontignac 24km/15mi or 30km/19mi

A fabulous freewheel down to the Vézère river and on to visit La Roque St Christophe – the oldest and largest cave site in western Europe – and the pretty village of St Léon with its charming C12 church and lovely riverside picnic spots. An easy afternoon cycle to Montignac where Isabelle and Vincent Nourisson offer a warm welcome, wonderful food, lovely pool and walled rose garden. A true hidden gem!

Hotel La Roseraie  ***
Montignac  Days 6+7

Set in a lovely little square in the small town of Montignac here you will get a very warm welcome from the owners. A fairly large hotel where each room is named after types of roses and each room is decorated differently, all rooms have en-suite, telephone, TV and are very spacious. The hotel has a huge garden, which is ideal for relaxing and a swimming pool with sun terrace. The hotel also has a lounge area where people can relax or play chess.

Further details on the hotel website.

Day 7 At Montignac

Explore the pretty medieval village, perhaps wandering up to the ruined château, before heading off to the nearby Lascaux II caves, ranked as the number one prehistoric site in Europe. Discovered in 1940 by four
children looking for their dog, the caves offer an amazing collection of paintings and are well worth a visit. Back at the hotel, the gardens, shaded verandas, swimming pool and sun terrace are perfect for relaxing and soaking up the summer sun.

Day 8 Montignac to Souillac 48km/30mi or 55km/34mi

Starting out, you head first via the tiny farming village of St-Amand-de-Coly (impressive abbey) and on through wooded glades to Salignac. From here, we’d recommend a short detour to theManoir d’Eyrignac whose impressive C18 gardens are rated the best in France. Then lovely flat cycling through open country passing chestnut groves, maize fields and masses of sunflowers, perhaps stopping off at charming St Geniès with it’s C14 chapel. Roll through traditional Perigord villages such as Eyvignes and Eybènes (church and manor worth a stop), before heading down into the Borrèze valley. Back in Souillac, there’s time to visit the Vieille Prune Distillery!

Day 9 Leave Souillac

You leave the hotel after breakfast.

For extra nights we recommend Montignac, Sarlat, Souillac or Toulouse.