Périgueux
I have always loved the Dordogne region of France. It is a vast area that incorporates so much diverse countryside and each area is just as beautiful as the next. The gastronomic delights of the Dordogne are known the world over and I have enjoyed many a spectacular meal at various restaurants that are dotted all over the region. One of my very favourite towns to visit is Périgueux because it is simply so very French.
I adore wandering through the narrow streets of Périgueux with its charming houses each side and cobble stones that have been worn down with time. The town is steeped in history and there is just so much to see from Roman times right through to the present day. I particularly love the churches and the vast open squares.
Le Chateau des Reynats in Périgueux
If you plan your trip to this lovely town and make sure you arrive on market days, then it is really an experience not to be missed. Wednesdays and Saturdays are thriving market days when people from the region bring locally grown produce to sell as well as some of the best artisanal goods which are so typical of the region. I can spend hours just looking at all the stalls and finding some really great things to bring back with me.
Restaurant in Le Chateau des Reynats
I also love to tour around the centre of town visiting all the very French shops but of course you have to remember that most of these are closed during lunch and most do not open again until mid afternoon. This gives you plenty of time to stop and enjoy a long lunch in one of the many very good restaurants that are found in Périgueux.
One of the best places I was ever taken to when I was visiting this lovely town bathed in sunshine was Le Chateau des Reynats. Not only is the setting superb, but the food they serve here is simply out of this world. The chateau is situated just on the outskirts but my goodness what a lovely place this is to eat at. They have an amazing selection of wines and as I am very partial to cheese, I have to say that their cheeseboard was absolutely amazing.
The whole area around Périgueux begs to be explored and once you discover this lovely part of the Dordogne, you will want to revisit it time and time again. There are some really delightful places to stay at whether in a gîte, a hotel or even a chateau as well as private houses that can be rented on a weekly or monthly basis. I have found that many visitors to the Dordogne like to base themselves in Périgueux because it is so well placed for trips to other towns like Brantôme and other places of real interest.
I fell in love with Périgueux the first time I ever visited here and I try to go back there as often as I can just to soak up the wonderful atmosphere of the Dordogne.