Domme tourist information
Unusually among the bastide towns, Domme retains part of its original fortified walls and the gateways into the town. The perfect restoration and tourist commercialisation of the town reduces the feeling of authenticity that is found in, say, Monpazier.
Nevertheless it remains one of our absolute favourite Dordogne towns (even if you do have to pay to park!) with the honey-coloured medieval buildings leading up to the central square and viewpoint (belvedere).
Domme is larger than many of the bastide towns in the region, and is found perched high above the Dordogne River, with magnificent views over the river and surrounding countryside. A visit is a 'must' if you are exploring the Dordogne region
There are some very good caves accessed from in the centre of Domme. The caves, the Grottes de Domme, have been used in the past to shelter the town's inhabitants during the Hundred Years' War, though the upper part was only discovered in 1954. There are more than 400m of stalactite filled galleries and a glass lift takes you back up to the surface.
Note that the town is also listed as 'one of the most beautiful villages in France'
Domme has retained much of its ancient ramparts, including three ancient gates. The best preserved of these is the Porte des Tours, flanked by two guard towers. These towers were converted into prisons in 1307 when the Knights Templars were arrested by the king, and it is still possible to see the engraved crucifixes they carved whilst they were imprisoned. The two other gates are Porte de la Combe and Port del Bos.
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Holidays near Domme, France: See our Dordogne Gites pages to find Domme gites.
