June 10th, 2010 | 
Author: Last month, in association with Footprint travel guides The Independent published an article highlighting some of the reasons why the Dordogne is one of the most popular French holiday destinations.
Hosted online at The Independent’s website, the article gives a brief overview of the area’s appeal as a rural retreat from “Europe’s big cities” before delving into the particular attractions found along the rivers and valleys of the Dordogne-Perigord region.
According to writers Michael Pauls and Dana Facaros, the Dordogne’s modern tranquillity belies a rich history of military strife. There are 1,001 medieval castles in various states of repair throughout the region, a legacy from the Hundred Years War and several civil conflicts. Many of these were renovated during the renaissance to the elegant château’s which can be found to this day, leaving a “collection of these to rival the Loire valley.”
The writers also touch upon the Dordogne’s system of limestone caves, where temperatures stay at a constant 2°C and geological phenomena such as stalactite grottoes or the abyss of the Gouffre De Proumeyssac draw as many people as the Vrze valley – the “World capital of prehistory”.
Outdoor activities are not neglected either with a brief description of the opportunities for riverside activities and the dense network of long distance footpaths and cycle routes. Turning to food, the authors recommend the region’s fatted duck as the “unquestioned totem animal of the southwest and most of its restaurants.” However their praise does not stop there with a detailed exploration of the many culinary delights, seasonal festivities of culture and smaller heritage sites found throughout the region.
The article is well worth reading for anyone planning a French holiday who has yet to visit the Dordogne and will likely reveal new attractions even to the experienced.
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