Perigord Noir (Black Perigord) is the most visited region of the Dordogne, and includes many of the sights that you will already have heard of. This part of the Perigord is the richest in terms of beautiful villages, magnificent castles, pre-historic cave paintings and caves rich in stalactites and stalagmites. It really is a wonderful area and well worth visiting.
It is so rich in sites that it is worth splitting your visit into two parts: the southern part of Perigord Noir follows the Dordogne valley as it flows from east to west, passing beautiful villages and dramatic castles as it goes and the northern part which follows the valley of the River Vézère which is world famous for its prehistoric sites.
Perigord Noir and the Dordogne Valley
Beautiful villages
The dordogne river in the Perigord Noir stretches from the lovely town of Saint Cyprien to and on to the pretty village of Carlux on the Lot/Dordogne border.
Close to Saint Cyprien are the "most beautiful villages" of Beynac, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, La Roque Gageac and Domme. A little further south is the most beautiful village of Belves.
Of course the highlight of a trip to the Perigord Noir is the beautiful town of Sarlat, packed with history and beautiful buildings. Sarlat is a small distance to the north of the river but close to the cluster of beautiful villages around Beynac.
Castles
The Dordogne is known as the land of the 1001 castles and many of them are found in the Perigord Noir.
Along this same stretch of river are the magnificent castles of Beynac, Castelnaud, les Milandes, Montfort and the Chateau de Fenelon whilst to the north is the magnificent Chateau de Hautefort.
Gardens
Also in the Perigord Noir are the wonderful gardens of Marqueyssac, on the river near La Roque Gageac and the gardens of Eyrignac near Salignac. In between the two at Carsac-Aillac is a wonderful water garden, the Jardin d'Eau de Carsac-Aillac. Egalement proche d'ici est les Jardins de Cadiot.
Proche de Sarlat est le charmant Jardin de la ferme fleurie et à coté de Domme les Jardins de l'Albarède offre les idées pour jardiner sur un terrain très sec.
Caves
There are also some caves in this part of the Perigord Noir though most are along the Vezere valley. Along the Dordogne valley are the caves at Domme, and the troglodyte dwellings under the main square of Belves.
Perigord Noir and the Vezere Valley
Caves
The Vezere Valley is UNESCO listed because of its enormous wealth in prehistoric paintings and dwellings.
Amongst the prehistoric caves and shelters are the Lascaux Caves, the Roque Saint Christophe, Laugerie-Basse, the Grotte de Rouffignac, Font de Gaume and the Cavern of Bara Bahau. At Les Eyzies is the Musée de la Prehistoire.
There are also the beautiful natural caves of the Grotte du Grand Roc and the Gouffre de Proumeyssac.
Beautiful villages
Heading along the Vezere river from the lively market town of Le-Bugue you will soon reach Les-Eyzies which is at the heart of the many caves in the area. Further north-east is Saint-Leon-sur-Vézere which is one of the 'most beautiful villages of France and further along is the pretty riverside village of Montignac which is home to the Lascaux caves. Near to here is the pretty town of Terrasson and Saint Amand de Coly which is another 'most beautiful village of France'.
Castles
The Vezere Valley is also home to the charming Chateau de Losse and the impressive Chateau de Commarque.
Gardens
Terrasson is not only an attractive town it is home to the lovely modern gardens of Les Jardins de l'Imaginaire.
Just Beyond the Perigord Noir in the Lot Department
Close to the Perigord Noir in the Lot department are the attractive towns of Souillac and Martel as well as the historic and UNESCO listed Rocamadour.
Also the most beautiful villages of Carennac, Autoire and Loubresac and the fabulous Gouffre de Padirac.
Just Beyond the Perigord Noir in the Correze department
The most beautiful village of Curemonte is not far from the Perigord Noir area and the countryside of the Correze is well worth a visit.
For the other parts of the Perigord see: Perigord Pourpre, Perigord Vert and Perigord Blanc.
Find Sarlat (or elsewhere) hotels
Reserve excursions near Perigord Noir
Map of Perigord Noir and places to visit
Perigord Noir places to visit
Badefols-d'Ans
Badefols d'Ans is a pretty visit with an attractive church and chateau.
Badefols-d'Ans guide
Carsac-Aillac
Carsac Aillac is a small village with a picturesque roman church and a beautiful aquatic garden.
Carsac-Aillac guide
Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
Castelnaud-la-Chapelle is one of the most beautiful villages of France.
Castelnaud-la-Chapelle guide
Chateau de Beynac
The Chateau de Beynac is an imposing heavily fortified castle.
Chateau de Beynac guide
Chateau de Castelnaud
The Chateau de Castelnaud has impressive collections of medieval arms.
Chateau de Castelnaud guide Chateau de Commarque
The Chateau de Commarque is a partially renovated 12th century castle.
Chateau de Commarque guide
Chateau de Fenelon
The Chateau de Fenelon is an attractive castle with decorated rooms.
Chateau de Fenelon guide
Chateau de Hautefort
The Chateau de Hautefort is one of the most prestigious in the Dordogne.
Chateau de Hautefort guide
Chateau de Montfort
The Chateau de Montfort is private but is very picturesque.
Chateau de Montfort guide Chateau des Milandes
A beautiful chateau that was once home to Josephine Baker.
Chateau des Milandes guide
Château et Jardins de Losse
A Renaissance castle built inside medieval walls and with a charming garden.
Château et Jardins de Losse guide
Condat-sur-Vezere
Condat sur Vezere is a small village with a cascade of water next to the main square.
Condat-sur-Vezere guide
Coux et Bigaroque
Coux et Bigaroque-Mouzens is three combined villages with some stunning houses.
Coux et Bigaroque guide
Fanlac
Fanlac is a pretty village and setting of the Jacquou le Croquant novel and film.
Fanlac guide
Font de Gaume
One of the rare caves containing prehistoric paintings still open to the public.
Font de Gaume guide
Gardens of the Chateau de Campagne
The gardens of the Chateau de Campagne are very pretty as are the views of the stunning castle.
Gardens of the Chateau de Campagne guide
Grotte de Bara Bahau
The Grotte de Bara Bahau contains engravings made by prehistoric man.
Grotte de Bara Bahau guide
Grotte de Rouffignac
The Grotte de Rouffignac has over a hundred prehistoric engravings and drawings of mammoths.
Grotte de Rouffignac guide
Grotte du Grand Roc
A wonderful natural cave full of a rare form of tiny twisting stalactites.
Grotte du Grand Roc guide
La Grotte du Sorcier
Home to one of the rare representations of a human figure by prehistoric man.
La Grotte du Sorcier guide
La Musee de la Rue du temps qui passe
The Museum of the Rue du temps qui passe is a museum recreating life in the early 1900s.
La Musee de la Rue du temps qui passe guide
La Roque Saint Christophe
La Roque Saint Christophe is a troglodyte town carved out in the cliffs.
La Roque Saint Christophe guide La Roque-Gageac
La Roque-Gageac is one of the most beautiful villages of France.
La Roque-Gageac guide 
Le Thot
The Le-Thot is a museum of prehistory and has reproductions of cave paintings from Lascaux.
Le Thot guide
Les Eyzies
Les Eyzies is an attractive village at the heart of the prehistoric sites of the Vezere valley.
Les Eyzies guide 
Les Jardins d'eau de Carsac-Aillac
The Jardins d'eau in Carsac-Aillac is a very special water garden with a unique aquatic labyrinth.
Les Jardins d'eau de Carsac-Aillac guide
Les Jardins d'Eyrignac
The Jardins d'Eyrignac are a stunning display of clipped hedges and topiary.
Les Jardins d'Eyrignac guide
Les Jardins de Cadiot
The Jardins de Cadiot is a beautiful, romantic garden with ten themed gardens.
Les Jardins de Cadiot guide
Les Jardins de l'Imaginaire
An attractive contemporary garden above the town of Terrasson.
Les Jardins de l'Imaginaire guide Les Jardins de Marqueyssac
The Jardins de Marqueyssac are the most famous in the Dordogne and have magnificent swirling box hedges.
Les Jardins de Marqueyssac guide
Maison Forte de Reignac
The Maison Forte de Reignac is a fortified house built into the cliff.
Maison Forte de Reignac guide
Musee National de Prehistoire
The Musee National de Prehistoire in Les Eyzies contains a wealth of information and exhibits relating to the French paleolithic period.
Musee National de Prehistoire guide
Saint Amand de Coly
Saint Amand de Coly is one of the most beautiful villages of France.
Saint Amand de Coly guide
Saint Crepin et Carlucet
Saint Crepin et Carlucet is a charming village and home to the Chateau de Lacypierre.
Saint Crepin et Carlucet guide
Saint Genies
Saint Genies is a lovely village with a small castle and church at its centre.
Saint Genies guide
Saint Vincent de Cosse
Saint Vincent de Cosse is a small but charming village in the Dordogne valley.
Saint Vincent de Cosse guide Saint-Leon-sur-Vezere
Saint Leon sur Vezere is one of the most beautiful villages of France.
Saint-Leon-sur-Vezere guide
Salignac-Eyvigues
Salignac Eyvigues has an attractive stone halle in its centre.
Salignac-Eyvigues guide
Siorac-en-Perigord
A quiet village close to the Prehistoric sites of the Vezere Valley.
Siorac-en-Perigord guide
Terrasson
Terrasson is a very attractive town with its pale stone walls and slate roofs.
Terrasson guide
The Abri Cro Magnon
The Abri Cro-Magnon is a prehistoric shelter and visitor centre and is the place where the first Cro-Magnons were discovered.
The Abri Cro Magnon guide
The Aquarium
The Aquarium at Le Bugue is a freshwater aquarium and also has an alligator park.
The Aquarium guide
The International Centre of Prehistory
The International Centre of Prehistory has exhibitions about prehistoric man.
The International Centre of Prehistory guide
The Jardin de la Ferme Fleurie
The Jardin de la Ferme Fleurie is a colourful garden surrounding attractive farm buildings in the Dordogne Valley.
The Jardin de la Ferme Fleurie guide
The Jardins de l'Albarede
The Jardins de l'Albarede is a pretty garden near to Domme
The Jardins de l'Albarede guide
The Prehisto Park
The Prehisto Park is an outdoor park with recreations of life in prehistoric times.
The Prehisto Park guide
The troglodyte village of La Madeleine
A troglodyte village that was inhabited in prehistoric times.
The troglodyte village of La Madeleine guide
Vitrac and Vitrac Port
Vitrac Port is very popular for its river beach and nearby is the quiet village of Vitrac.
Vitrac and Vitrac Port guide