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A journey back in time, along the wooded trails and rivers of the Périgord Noir, with its medieval castles, sleepy forgotten villages, rock shelters and prehistoric sites of interest. The valleys of the Vézère and the Dordogne have carved out some true natural wonders (steep valleys, caves, chasms and majestic cliffs), as well as some man-made ones: the area is host to some of the most beautiful and picturesque villages in France… And to top it off, the Périgord is also renowned for its legendary gastronomy!
Itinerary start: Rendezvous on the first day is at 1pm in front of Sarlat SNCF railway station. We will leave directly from the railway station. Please arrive in your cycle clothing.
Welcome to the Périgord! Our journey begins in the town of Sarlat, capital of the famous "foie gras". The first stage of our trip takes us east, towards the Carluxois (area of Carlux). As we discover, the beautiful countryside of the Périgord is full of dry stone walls and chestnut trees, the latter offering welcome shade from the midday sun. Early in the day we arrive at the first castle of our tour, the Château de Saint Vincent Le Paluel. Destroyed during the Second World War, the remaining ruins testify to the impressive scale of the castle before its destruction. We end the day with a ride through the gardens of the 18th century Eyrignac Manor, typical of the French gardens of the era. The gardens are a mixture of the classic French style and the eccentric style bought about by the Italian Renaissance… An easy track then takes us to our first overnight stop, Tamnies. Night in a hotel.
Distance covered: approx. 40 km / ascent: approx. 1200 m
We begin the day with a visit of the castle of Salignac, half expecting to see knights in armour arrive at any moment... Our route then takes us north west, briefly skirting the edge of the Corrèze Moorland as we continue our counter clockwise loop around Sarlat. We follow a series of small tracks that wind their way between small lakes, poplar trees and dense forests. We pass through Saint Geniès and the small village of La Chapelle Aubareil at the entrance to the Vézère Valley… before arriving in Montignac. Hotel for the night in Montignac.
Distance covered: approx. 45 km / ascent: approx. 900 m
We are now in the heart of the Périgord Noir, one of the 4 parts of the "Périgord" area (there is also a green, a white and a purple Périgord…). The area is well known for its prehistoric sites (some of which hold a UNESCO world heritage classification), but is also home to some lesser known sites of interest. Travelling by bike we manage to avoid the crowds and make the most of the gems the area has to offer. After a mix of singletrack trails, forest tracks, a few hills and small valleys, we arrive at the cliffs of the Vézère Valley, famous for the discoveries of Cro-Magnon remains and the Lascaux Caves. Our route then takes us on to the village of Valojoulx with its characteristic stone roofs, nestled in the small valley of Turancon. A short climb then takes us to the village of Thonac, our hotel, and a well-deserved cold drink!
Distance covered: approx. 45 km / ascent: approx. 1300 m
We start the day by visiting the impressive Castrum de Commarque (a fortified castle dating back to the 12th century), former stronghold of the Beynac Dynasty, whose rule was undisputed for over two hundred years. The flowing singletrack trails of the first couple of days give way to more technical trails, which give way in turn to larger tracks of yellow limestone, offering the opportunity to take our eyes off the trail and enjoy the scenery. We reach the village of Meyrals, where numerous artists and painters have taken up residence, giving the village a festive and friendly feel. The village’s Romanesque church and priory are well worth a visit. After Meyrals we find ourselves on a plateau lodged between the two valleys of the Vézère and the Dordogne, with good views of the latter from above the village of Saint Cyprien. We join our hotel in Marquay on a series of undulating trails bordered by chestnut and oak forests, typical of mountain biking in the Périgord…
Distance covered: approx. 50 km / ascent: approx. 1300 m
Straight after breakfast we start the day with a series of great woodland singletrack trails. Grins all round! Our route then takes us into the Dordogne Valley. The river waters, that started high in the Massif Central at the Puy de Sancy, may well reach the Atlantic Ocean before we even get back to Sarlat! One of the highlights of the day is the visit of the Château des Milandes, famous for being the home of Josephine Baker before her death (1906-1975). With the banks of the Dordogne as our guide, we gain a little altitude to join the village of Castelnaud la Chapelle and its fortified castle (classified as a historical monument)… The castle has been transformed into a museum of war in the Middle Ages, and offers guided tours of its acclaimed collection of weapons and armour. Of little use nowadays, we will at least know how to take the next fortified castle by storm if it happens to be closed! We settle into our hotel in Beynac after a full day of riding and visits…
Distance covered: approx. 45 km / ascent: approx. 1200 m
Without a doubt, today's stage offers the best views of the week. We gain a little altitude in order to admire the horizon: Castelnaud la Chapelle, Beynac and its fortress, the gardens of Marqueyssac, La Roque-Gageac and Vitrac, today's final destination. Water has worked wonders here over the centuries and millenia, carving out narrow winding valleys that offer a perfect terrain for our bikes. Signs of the nearby Lotois Moorland appear as the trails become narrower and rockier. The climb to Domme, classed as one of the most beautiful villages in France, is the last climb of the day. Surrounded by ramparts, the village is home to a beautiful former royal country house, offering magnificent views of the surrounding Dordogne Valley. If the weather is on our side, we should be treated to a magnificent sunset! Night at a hotel in Vitrac.
Distance covered: approx. 50 km / ascent: approx. 1300 m
The last day of our tour offers another great opportunity to enjoy the picturesque Périgord on a beautiful route that follows an ancient roman byway through the hills above the Dordogne River. We visit La Roche Gageac and its tropical garden. During the day we pass numerous "bories", strange dry stone huts, most of which are ruins today, but which remain a testimony to the extent of agricultural and pastoral activity in the past. Our route also takes us past numerous beautiful traditional Périgord houses. The Château de Montfort, perched on the edge of the cliffs overlooking the Dordogne, offers us one last voyage back to the Middle Ages before the end of our journey. A pleasant cycle track along an old railway line then takes us gently back to Sarlat, and the end of our tour.
Distance covered: approx. 35 km / ascent: approx. 950 m
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
Itinerary end: Separation on the last day is at Sarlat SNCF railway station at around 4pm.
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