Therefore, Domme is an excellent example of medieval military architecture. However, the bastide of Domme is actually trapezoidal in shape, due to the natural abruptness of the site of the village.
Contrary to old walled towns (such as Carcassonne or Provins), a bastide usually had a rectangular layout. The village is an old bastide (fortified town) from the 13th century, built on a hill 150 metres above the Dordogne River. The village is often nicknamed “the Acropolis of Périgord” in reference to that of Athens. On the left bank of the Dordogne River, the site of Domme is one of the most visited in the region. The bastide of Domme The bastide of Domme © French Moments The gardens can be visited from May to October. The sanctuary, of Romanesque and Gothic styles, shelters a polychromed Piéta from the 17th century.Īnother touristic attraction in Carlux is the intimate Gardens of Cardiot with its terraces overlooking the Dordogne. The lack of ornamentation is due to the fact that the church was built during the Hundred Years War. Catherine church has been listed by the French Government since 1926. The village has kept its small market hall from the Middle Ages (14th century). An interesting architectural feature in Carlux is the odd Saracen chimney, a lantern of the dead dating back to the 11th century. The feudal castle in ruins overlooks the village. It is a typical Périgordian village with its honey-coloured façades and roofs covered with lauzes (stone roofing). The picturesque village of Carlux, perched on a rocky spur, is located 12 km from Sarlat and Souillac.
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The Dordogne Valley in Périgord Noir includes charming villages, some of them listed as France’s most beautiful villages by the association “ Plus beaux villages de France“:Ĭarlux The lantern of the dead or “Saracen Chimney” in Carlux © Jochen Jahnke – licence from Wikimedia Commons The beauty of the landscapes is particularly appealing to British people, many of whom have bought a property there.īeautiful Villages of the Dordogne Valley Today, the Dordogne Valley thrives as a strong touristic region, welcoming millions of visitors each year.
However, in the second half of the 19th century, the river trading on the Dordogne met its decline with the coming of the railway line between Bordeaux and Aurillac. The villages and towns of the Dordogne Valley flourished again in the 19th century thanks to the importance of river trading, bringing prosperity and wealth. From the arrival of the railway to the development of tourism This era of prosperity was temporarily halted in the 16th century due to other conflicts:īoth conflicts lasted until the 17th century. The boats returning from Bordeaux carried spices, sugar, salt and dried fish from the ocean. There the wood was made into wine vats and barrels. The goods were stored on-site before being loaded onto larger barges for transport to Bergerac or Bordeaux.
There, small barges (locally called Gabares or Gabarres) arriving from the Massif Central unloaded their load of chestnut wood, cheese, wool, and leather. When the Hundred Years War ended with the French victory at Castillon-la-Bataille, an era of prosperity started in the region with the growing importance of river trading.įrom the Middle-Ages until the end of the 18th century, the harbours of little towns such as Limeuil, Beynac, La Roque-Gageac and Souillac were busy places. The fortified villages and their castles greatly suffered by the conflict and changed hands many times between France and England. Their strategic positions were coveted by the French and the English during the Hundred Years War. The River Dordogne viewed from Domme © French Moments A coveted land The main sites of the Dordogne Valleyįrom the Early Middle Ages, the prosperous villages situated along the Dordogne Valley between Limeuil and Souillac grew in importance as all economic activity and transport were centred on the Dordogne River. The stars of the region are definitely the looming castles that witnessed conflicts and battles such as the Hundred Years’ War between the French and the English, and the Wars of Religion between Catholics and Protestants. Along the peaceful, scenic roads set along the shores of the Dordogne River are charming old Périgordian villages, peaceful gardens and remarkable views to discover. From Souillac to Trémolat, the Dordogne Valley flows through the region of Périgord Noir.
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