La Roque Gageac, Dordogne - travel guide

In a stunning position on the north bank of the Dordogne River, and backed by a steep hill / cliffs, with little to suggest that much has changed there in the last 300 years, La Roque-Gageac is truly the perfect picture postcard village.

The golden yellow houses with their traditional perigord rooves, line the river and spread up the hill behind. While some of the properties in La Roque Gageac are quite modest, there is also an impressive number of grand houses among them. One of the grandest of these is near the road as you enter from Beynac - the 19th century (although it appears older) Chateau de la Malartrie.

The troglodyte fort set in the cliffs 40 metres above La Roque Gageac is fascinating, and significant vestiges of the 12th century construction are still standing.

There is also an interesting 'tropical style' exotic garden next to the church that you can wander through up the hill in La Roque Gageac - or rather a series of small individual gardens. The variety of plants is made possible because the cliff behind the village protects it from the cold weather from the north, while the open view to the south ensures it catches plenty of sunshine. (See photos of La Roque Gageac.)

That's the good news.

The bad news? It needs a car park bigger than the village to contain the tourists. But that should not deter you from visiting because it really is a very beautiful village.