Saint Vincent de Cosse is a charming village set above the Dordogne valley

Visit Saint Vincent de Cosse

Saint Vincent de Cosse is a small village set above the Dordogne river in the beautiful stretch of the Dordogne Valley between Saint Cyprien and La Roque-Gageac. Whilst small it does have quite a number of large and beautiful manor houses to admire and an attractive village centre.

Explore Saint Vincent de Cosse

In the centre of Saint Vincent de Cosse is the church of Saint Vincent built in the 19th century. It has a simple but pleasant interior with some very nice stained glass windows in a modern style. There is an older church in the commune, the church of Saint Vincent the Salvadou which dates back to the 12th century and is listed as a historic monument.

Also in the centre of the village is a stone fountain and village houses built in the traditional Perigord style with stone walls and steep tiled roofs.

There is a signed walk around the outskirts of the village that we recommend in order to see the variety of beautiful houses scattered round the walk, many of which also have pretty gardens and views over the Dordogne valley.

All the buildings have different architectural features including large conservatories, square or round towers, skylight windows and painted shutters. As well as the houses there is a lavoir which is where the villagers washed their clothes in times gone and a stone cabin where agricultural workers would have taken shelter or used as a shelter for their tools and animals.

As you walk around the village and its outskirts there are some great views over the Dordogne countryside and you can even catch glimpses of the chateaux of Beynac and les Milandes and the gardens of Marqueyssac.

There are two small castles in the commune. The Chateau de Panassou is Renaissance in style and was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. It is private and not open to the public. The Chateau de Monrecour can be seen from the main road along the Dordogne valley and is a hotel and restaurant. It is also one of the locations in the Dordogne valley where you can take a ride in a hot air balloon. it costs around 200 euros but offers great views over the river and castles.

The commune of Saint Vincent de Cosse stretches as far as the river and includes the Port d'Enveaux where you can hire canoes and cayaks. This is our favourite stretch of the river for canoeing as it offers excellent views of the castles as you glide by. There is also an adventure tree park here and a snack bar and so if you come with children you can find plenty to entertain them.

Where to visit nearby?

This part of the Dordogne valley is absolutely packed with sights to see and visit. There are several of France's "most beautiful villages" nearby including La Roque-Gageac, Domme and Beynac. The Chateau de Beynac, Chateau les Milandes and Chateau de Castelnaud are all well worth a visit and the medieval town of Sarlat is simply superb.