Riberac - Dordogne, travel guide

Dating from the 9th century and set in the Dronne valley, Riberac is at its best on a Friday, market day for reputedly the biggest market in Perigord. At most other times it is fairly quiet.

The town is set in the northern Dordogne region. It is a pleasant town with a main shopping street with various shops, bars and restaurants and other streets fanning out from this and worthy of an amble round.

The most attractive part of town is the walk up to the Eglise Notre Dame and then continuing uphill to the Collegiate Notre Dame. The Collegiate Notre Dame was built in the 12th century and was originally the chapel of the castle. Its elevated position offers some attractive views over Riberac.

The castle was in this part of town but has now disappeared. It was the birthplace of a famous French troubador, Arnaud Daniel.

The most impressive building in the town is on the other sid of the main road, the Rue Jean Moulin, and is the Hotel de Ville. This is a small chateau-like building, built in 1856 and is now the Mairie. The Tourist Office, the post office, the Palais de Justice and the Hospital Ste Marthe are other examples of civic architecture of the 19th century.

There are two main attractions near the town - a large forest, the 'Foret de la Double'; and lots and lots of Romanesque churches. For me, three or four suffice...some examples can be seen at Festalemps, St Privat des Pres and Bourg du Bost. See churches near Riberac.

If you are keen, there is a pretty circuit that passes by many of the little villages and churches of the region, ask in the tourist office.

Riberac makes a very good base for exploring this northern part of the Dordogne - don't miss Lusignac, a very pretty little village with good views, a nice medieval church and a chateau. Aubeterre sur Dronne has a fabulous church carved out of the rock and to the east of Riberac is the lovely village of Brantome.

See more photos of Riberac.