Riberac, Dordogne - a pretty town with a lively weekly market

Visit Riberac

Riberac is in the north of the Dordogne to the north of Mussidan. This is a much quieter part of the Dordogne department and far from the busy summer crowds to the south.

Explore Riberac

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 lacks significant individual attractions but is a pleasant town in an attractive setting in the rolling countryside of the northern Dordogne region.

In the town are two interesting churches. The 20th century Notre Dame de la Paix church is built in neo-Roman style and has attractive slate domes. It is very much in the same style as the much bigger cathedral of Perigueux.

Inside the church has windows by Francis Chigot and paintings by J.P. Laurens and Barnouvin.

The much older Collegiale of Notre Dame dates back to the 12th century and was once the chapel of the chateau in Riberac. Sadly the chateau was destroyed in the 13th century. Inside are some excellent wall paintings from the 17th century and windows by Henri Guérin.

The two churches are both found on the eastern side of the town centre. They are linked by the Rue Notre Dame but also by a pleasant path called the Chemin des Abeilles, path of the bees, and which goes past a garden dedicated to encouraging bees, the Jardin des Abeilles.

The Collegiale of Notre Dame is in a pretty part of Riberac known as the Quartier des Arts and here there are a number of artists workshops and exhibition spaces.

Riberac high street is pleasant to explore, stop for lunch or a coffee or browse the shops. It is popular with the English and there are quite a number with second homes here and many of the shops and restaurants have signs written in English.

Behind the high street to the west is one of Riberac's most beautiful buildings. The town hall is housed in a lovely building that looks like a chateau and is surrounded by a pleasant park.

Near to here is the tourist office which is housed in another imposing building - the ancient gendarmarie! Also near here is the neo-classical Palais de Justice. The Palais de Justice and the tourist office were both built in the 19th century.

Another building to look out for is the theatre which is housed in a church that was built before the French revolution. The theatre is found just south of the main shops on the rue du Théatre.

If you are travelling with children or want to work off some of the pounds gained eating the delicious Perigordine food there is a decent outdoor swimming pool at Riberac. It is clean and very cheap to visit.

Places to visit nearby

Riberac makes a very good base for exploring this northern part of the Dordogne. 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, Faye and Siorac-de-Riberac.

If you are keen, there is a pretty circuit that passes by many of the little villages and churches of the region - see Riberac Churches - ask in the tourist office for map and details

The highlight of this area has got to be the village of Aubeterre sur Dronne. Not only is this classified as one of the most beautiful villages of France, it is also home to an incredible church hewn out of the rock.

Bourdeilles to the east is another pretty village and has an impressive chateau at its centre, the Chateau de Bourdeilles.