Michael Satterfield
by TGR Staff -09/03/2021
The Southwestern region of Dordogne, France is a very special place, set between the Loire Valley and Pyrenees mountains, it is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Filled with idyllic villages, grand Cathedrals, and some of the oldest cave paintings known to man, it is an easy place to get lost for a few weeks. With European travel opening back up, France still has the US on their “Green List,” meaning travelers need to be vaccinated or have a negative PCR test. Travelers must also download the TousAntiCovid app to dine at restaurants and visit many tourist attractions. While while tensions might be high in Paris, most of the countryside is claim and businesses are missing tourist dollars, and flying into Bordeaux Airport means you can avoid any disruptions in the capital.
While hotels are available, renting a traditional country home like Maison Agora, is an amazing way to experience France and gives you a home base for your automotive adventures. The house sits in a one-acre garden and benefits from panoramic views of the French countryside which are enhanced by a small 12th century church next door. While road tripping from hotel to hotel can be fun, this region of France is perfect for day trips, so we suggest finding a central hotel or house rental and just unpack once.
Dordogne has so much to do, but be sure to visit the Marqueyssac Gardens, Château de Castelnaud a 12th century medieval fortress, visit the riverside villages of La Rogue Gageac and vertical village of Rocamadour. The region is also perfect for taking scenic drives and renting a car will be required to see most of the sights, plus the roads are fun to drive. In the past we have used Peugeot Car-2-Europe for trips longer than 21 days, the best part of this program is the unlimited mileage, roadside assistance, and the included full coverage insurance. Taking a road trip abroad isn’t as daunting as you might think and with GPS you don’t even have to worry about getting lost.
Road tripping through Dordogne is an experience and the best way to take in all that the area has to offer, the perfect route has already been put together by the local visitors bureau. We visited many of these spots on our last trip, but there are things on this route that we will have to go back a see. The route takes you from Loubressac, which has been called one of the most beautiful villages in France to the waterfalls near Autoire, stop for lunch at Château de Montal or take the train to see the caves of Lacave, before looping back to Loubressac.
Traveling to France is relatively inexpensive with round trip tickets from major US cities often for under $500 a person. Private home rentals like Maison Agora have an average rate of $1,653 a week or $236 a night, or you can find hotels starting for as little as $63 a night like the amazing Hôtel Château de La Côte. July and August are considered the busy season, but no matter what season you plan to visit Dordogne, you will have an experience of a life time.
