Two criticisms: at times it felt extremely crowded, with way more people packed into a small cave than is probably sensible (even with mandatory face masks and the pass sanitaire). Also, slightly trivial, but the on-site cafe was excellent, offering a meal of a quality you will not find at a tourist attraction in Britain! The tour guide was brilliant, pointing out a whole new level of things that we would never had noticed. It’s not at all like looking in a glass display box at a museum. The reproduction is like being in the real cave, from the look and feel of the ‘rock’ to the temperature, acoustics and atmosphere. And the intricacies in the way they’ve been painted, the techniques that were used, and the way the figures had been planned to fit with the shapes of the rocks, are astounding. It brought cave paintings to life in a way that you can’t appreciate from a small, flat photo. I wasn’t sure beforehand whether it was worth visiting a reproduction, but in hindsight it totally was. By Car:įrom Paris: by the A20 motorway to Souillac, then departmental road to Sarlat.įrom Bordeaux: by the A89 motorway to Thenon, then departmental road to Sarlat.įrom Toulouse: by the A20 motorway to Gourdon, then departmental road to Sarlat.Really good. By Plane:įly into the Brive-Vallee de la Dordogne Airport from Paris, Manchester, London or Nice, then rental car to Sarlat.įly into the Bergerac Airport from London, Liverpool, Dusseldorf, Charleroi, Southampton, Birmingham, Bristol or Amsterdam, then rental car to Sarlat. Toulouse to Sarlat: catch the Toulouse/Paris intercity from the Gare Toulouse Matabiau to Souillac with bus link to Sarlat. Paris to Sarlat (via Libourne): catch the Paris/Bordeaux TGV from the Gare de Montparnasse (Paris) and then the TER (Regional train) from either Bordeaux or Libourne to Sarlat - a beautiful scenic trip.īordeaux to Sarlat: catch the TER regional train from the Gare Bordeaux St Jean to Sarlat. Paris to Sarlat (via Limoges): catch the Paris/Toulouse intercity from the Gare d'Austerlitz (Paris) to Souillac, with bus link from Souillac to Sarlat. If you cancel less than 30 days before the booking there is no refund. I refund that 30% if you cancel 30 days or more before the booking date. I ask for an account of 30% to confirm a booking. Get in touch to discuss your trip, and for a quote. I'll pick you up at your hotel, your bed and breakfast or holiday home and guide you to do either one of my preplanned circuits or through a circuit which we have tailor-made together according to your wishes. I'll help you discover the historic sites, the natural beauty and the hidden treasures off the beaten path.

Come and let me share my knowledge and the insight I have acquired into the regional culture with you. I discovered that prehistoric man had been equally attracted here, well before me, but probably more by the generous nature and safe shelter provided by the ledges and caves in the limestone valley walls than by poppies coming out of cracks. I learnt French and, being naturally curious learnt about the people and explored the place they call the “Périgord Noir” (the south eastern part of the Dordogne). The luscious green countryside reminded me of my home in rural New Zealand but with the added marks of centuries of civilization.

I loved the delicate red poppies which pushed their way out of the cracks in the stone walls at springtime and the stark silhouettes cut out by the medieval fortresses strategically placed high above the river valleys so many centuries ago. When I first arrived I was blown away by the beauty of the region. I have lived in this part of France with my French husband and family for more than 20 years. My name is Jean Laroche and I come from New Zealand.

Dordogne valley caves