Dordogne & Perigord

In Central France, the name of Périgord dates back to pre-Roman times, although most English-speaking visitors call the departement Dordogne. One of the cradles of human civilization, Périgord is riddled with 200 prehistoric sites in its Vézère Valley, taking in the world renowned cave paintings in Lascaux. Gastronomes speak of the province as a land of foie gras and truffles. Throughout France you'll see dishes appearing on menus with the appendage à la Perigourdine. That means a garnish of truffles, the tastiest fungus in nature. Velvety foie gras is sometimes added as well. Capital of ...

In Central France, the name of Périgord dates back to pre-Roman times, although most English-speaking visitors call the departement Dordogne. One of the cradles of human civilization, Périgord is riddled with 200 prehistoric sites in its Vézère Valley, taking in the world renowned cave paintings in Lascaux. Gastronomes speak of the province as a land of foie gras and truffles. Throughout France you'll see dishes appearing on menus with the appendage à la Perigourdine. That means a garnish of truffles, the tastiest fungus in nature. Velvety foie gras is sometimes added as well. Capital of Périgord, or the Dordogne, is Perigueux on the Isle River, about 70 miles (113 km) east-northeast of Bordeaux and some 63 miles (101 km) south and slightly west of Limoges. In addition to its food products, the region is known for its Roman ruins and medieval churches,especially the Cathedrale de St-Front built from 1125 to 1150 in Perigrueux. Other attractions include Rocamadour, a medieval village built over a gorge; Cahors, the ancient capital of Quercy; Montauban, hometown of the great painter Ingres (with an amazing display of his works); and Lascaux with its prehistoric caves.

About the Expert

Darwin Porter and Danforth Prince have written many guidebooks for Frommer's, including Frommer's France and Frommer's Germany.