Most beautiful villages of Dordogne

How to visit the most beautiful villages of Dordogne ?

The France can be visited for its castles, its landscapes, the richness of its cultural heritage but also for the beauty of its ancient small villages. They are found all over France (Alsace, Batch, Ardèche, Aveyron, Tarn et Garonne...).

And the Valley of the Dordogne is home to some of the most beautiful in France! Straddling the New Aquitaine regions and Occitania, I offer you a small circuit by car that makes the tour of the 10 most beautiful villages of Dordogne.

The itinerary of this road trip can be added to my 3-day tour of the major sites of Dordogne or inspire you for day trips if you spend holidays in Dordogne.

The Dordogne and its charming villages

To develop a route of most beautiful villages of Dordogne, I only selected the classified villages and the villages of character which have a tourist interest. Indeed, the list of pretty villages is long in Dordogne and Périgord, so I had to choose only the most beautiful!

Most beautiful villages of Dordogne

Here in the order of my circuit, the villages reputed to be the most beautiful in Dordogne.

• Monpazier
• Beynac and Cazenac
• Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
• Sarlat La Caneda
• La Roque-Gageac
• Rocamadour
• Autoire
• Loubressac
• Carennac
• Curemonte
• Collonges la Rouge

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Most beautiful villages of Dordogne - Route map

Here is the itinerary of the tour of the most beautiful villages of Dordogne which represents 172 kilometers.

You can consider this road trip from Bergerac, Périgueux or Brive la Gaillarde by doing the circuit in the opposite direction.

To enlarge and put the map in GPS mode, click inside on "More options".

Most beautiful villages of Dordogne - Program

If you want to schedule this tour, I recommend that you plan at least 2 full days to make the most of it:

DAY 1 Visits

• Monpazier
• Beynac and Cazenac
• Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
• Sarlat
• La Roque-Gageac
• Rocamadour

DAY 2 Visits

• Autoire
• Loubressac
• Carennac
• Curemonte
• Collonges la Rouge

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Most beautiful villages of Dordogne - Stages

Now discover the detailed stages of this tour in the order of the itinerary above.

Visit Montpazier

Montpazier is a magnificent 13th century bastide listed among the most beautiful villages in France. To visit it, all you need to do is take the time to discover its pretty alleys, its stone houses and its charming Place des Cornières. If you are lucky enough to go on a Thursday, you will enjoy the open air market which brings together local producers and artisans from the region.

Visit Beynac and Cazenac

At 37 km from Montpazier is the village of Beynac also classified among the most beautiful villages in France.

With its 12th century castle, this medieval village overlooks the Dordogne in a simply magnificent landscape! Moreover, this place served as the setting for the filming of the films Joan of Arc and The Visitors.

After visiting the Castle and the village, you can descend to the river to board a barge and take a nice walk along the Dordogne.

Visit Castelnaud la Chapelle

From Beynac, it will take you 5 short minutes to get to Castelnaud la Chapelle.

This stage is worth a visit in particular for its castle of Milandes which dates from the 15th century. You can enter to visit the Museum of the War of the Middle Ages.

Sarlat

To visit Sarlat, I have a short itinerary to do on foot that will allow you to go around this magnificent medieval city: Circuit to visit Sarlat

Visit La Roque Gageac

The village of La Roque Gageac is the next stop on my tour of the most beautiful villages in the Dordogne.

Another village classified among the most beautiful villages in France !

In the hollow of a cliff facing the Dordogne, it is a very touristy village that attracts for its colors and its aesthetics.

Visit Rocamadour

You will need a 1 hour drive to reach Rocamadour. Town ranked among the most beautiful in France and being part of Great sites of Occitania, Rocamadour is an essential stopover!

It is a medieval city clinging to a cliff and crowned with a beautiful castle. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Saint Sauveur basilica and the Saint Amadour crypt stand at the top of the 216 steps of the Grand Pilgrims Staircase.

A major pilgrimage site, the sanctuary and its statue of the Black Madonna attract visitors from all over the world.

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After your night in Rocamadour, my tour takes you to Autoire which is located 30 km from the medieval city.

What to see in Autoire?

On the edge of the Causse de Gramat in the Dordogne Valley, in a natural circus, Autoire is labeled “Plus Beaux Villages de France”. Its many manors and manor houses are at the origin of its nickname of "little Versailles".

You can hike to the Château des Anglais, go up to the Hameau de Siran to enjoy a beautiful view or even go and discover the 30-meter waterfall right next to the village.

What to see in Loubressac?

10 minutes from Autoire, overlooking the Dordogne Valley, Loubressac deserves a detours for its exceptional panorama and its superb medieval buildings. You can also take the opportunity to visit the Château de Castelnau-Bretenoux.

What to see in Carennac?

A quarter of an hour by car and you will arrive at the charming village of Carennac, also classified among the most beautiful villages in France.

You can admire the stone houses which have preserved their sculpted windows, the Romanesque church, the Doyens castle and the 11th century priory. 

What to see in Curemonte?

14 kilometers after Carennac, my road trip takes us to the village of Curemonte.

It is a pretty hilltop village where you can visit castles, churches and crosses. For a guided tour: www.curemonte.org

What to see in Collonges la Rouge?

My tour of the most beautiful villages of Dordogne has the best in store for you! Indeed, 15 kilometers after Curemonte, you will arrive at the beautiful Collonges la Rouge.

First village classified as "Most beautiful village in France", it is a little gem that is unlike any other village. Depending on the season, the hour and the weather, this village changes from dark red, to garnet or to ocher or orange hues. Mansion houses, mansions, castels, turrets form a postcard setting!

Campsite to visit the most beautiful villages of Dordogne

To discover the region while enjoying a vacation in the heart of nature, if you like camping, here is a campsite in Dordogne well placed for day trips!