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The Dordogne Valley
Nights: 7
Starting point: La Vieille Auberge (3*), Souillac. Bedrooms here are simple, the focal point instead being the restaurant, which enjoys an excellent reputation for the delicious cuisine of Robert Véril. The indoor pool is an added bonus. Day 1: take time to explore medieval Souillac, which boasts a 12th-century abbey church and a museum of automata. When you are ready to leave, you head south alongside the Dordogne and cross the river, passing the fine châteaux of Treyne and Belcastel before rising steadily through the beautiful Ouysse Valley past a good viewpoint. You could pause to visit an old working flour mill before continuing to the causse (limestone plateau) to reach Hospitalet. For a longer day and the chance to visit the beautiful market town of Gourdon which clambers up the hillside towards an ancient castle, you can loop south-west of Souillac on a hillier but rewarding route. (28km or 60km) Accommodation: Hotel le Troubadour (2*), Hospitalet. Set in its own grounds, the Troubadour enjoys good views over the surrounding countryside. Rooms are prettily decorated and furnished with pieces made by a local craftsman, and give direct access to the outdoor pool. Normally you dine at the hotel restaurant, but in July and August we include dinner at a restaurant in Rocamadour instead. Day 2: you will probably want to spend your day at the Troubadour exploring the famous nearby village of Rocamadour. Crowned by a castle, this dramatic 'hanging village' has been a centre of pilgrimage for centuries. However, if you want to explore further afield, an enjoyable circular route leads to the town of Gramat, with several ascents and descents as you ride across the causse (limestone plateau which water has eroded over the millennia). (20km or 40km) Accommodation: Hotel le Troubadour, as above. Day 3: this delightful route takes you to the Gouffre de Padirac, a spectacular cave 100 metres underground that is visited by boat and on foot (pay locally). From here, you cycle to the Cirque d'Autoire, a natural amphitheatre with a series of waterfalls. It is worth visiting the idyllic village of the same name before climbing steadily to the fortified hill-top town of Loubressac. (32km) Accommodation: Relais de Castelnau (3*), Loubressac. This is a comfortable hotel, so named because it enjoys views to the château of Castelnau from the restaurant, terrace and outdoor pool. Day 4: from Loubressac you descend into the Dordogne Valley and follow the great river westwards to the superbly preserved medieval village of Carennac. Take time to admire the turreted and brown-tiled houses, ruined priory and Romanesque church before continuing along a beautiful stretch of the valley (first on the south bank, then on the north bank), passing many superb viewpoints and the handsome villages of Gluges and Meyronne. (40km) Accommodation: Hotel Pont de l'Ouysse (3*), Lacave. This high-quality hotel, the best on the holiday, sits on the banks of the River Ouysse beneath the château of Belcastel. The cuisine, fully deserving of its Michelin star, is outstanding, and there is no shortage of space to relax, including an outdoor pool and pleasant gardens. Day 5: there is plenty to do around Lacave: visit the village's caves with their stalactites and stalagmites, stroll to the confluence of the Ouysse and the Dordogne, hire a canoe and take to the water, or simply relax in the hotel gardens. If you prefer to explore further afield, you could head to the medieval town of Martel and cycle through the area north of the Dordogne along picturesque lanes. (35km) Accommodation: Hotel Pont de l'Ouysse, as above. Day 6: the direct route back to your starting point, Souillac, is very short, giving you ample time to explore the town on your return. To extend the day you could visit Martel (the 'town of the seven towers') if you did not do so yesterday. (10km or 40km) Accommodation: Vieille Auberge, as above. Recommendations for extra nights: the Pont de l'Ouysse (Lacave) is a good choice as there is plenty to do around Lacave, or choose Hotel Troubadour (Hospitalet) so as to have more time in Rocamadour. Take the Train and break your journey for a night in Paris on the way, staying at one of our favourite Parisian hotels. Read one traveller's experiences in her personal travel diary. Other information: if you would like to see the brochure page, you can download this (and the pages for any other holidays you are interested in) by using our brochure creation system. You can also read our feature about cycling in the Dordogne. Similar holidays: Vézère & Dordogne Valleys (grade 2), Medieval Villages of the South-West (grade 2), Ancient Périgord (grade 2) Prices & travel 2008:
Recommended destination airports: Toulouse Extra night prices 2008 (extra nights can be booked at any hotel):
> Notes on prices > Any queries? Let us call you back  |
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The
quiet lanes that follow the meanders of the beautiful Dordogne and lead
into the hills that surround it are ideal for leisurely cycling. You pass
ancient châteaux that guard the river, many of which are open to
the public (pay locally), and can even visit the remarkable cavern of
the Gouffre de Padirac. The area's great gastronomic traditions are well
represented at our comfortable inns, but the real joy of this holiday
is to cycle through some of France's most beautiful countryside,
a delight to discover on two wheels.
Rocamadour
