On vacation in White Périgord, you would like to take the opportunity to visit Périgueux in 1 day. But you are wondering: What to see in Périgueux in 1 day? So, I suggest you follow my tour to visit Périgueux on foot in order to discover the most beautiful tourist sites of Périgueux in one day.
City of Art and History, Périgueux is the capital of Périgord which is worth a detour because it hides many tourist treasures. To discover them, nothing better than a tourist circuit to do on foot by following the route on the Google Map in pedestrian GPS mode (below).
How to visit Périgueux in 1 day?
To discover Périgueux in 1 day, you can choose between:
- By going randomly from alley to alley and only visiting what presents itself or what attracts you;
- By taking a guide for a guided tour (see at the Tourist Office)
- Or by walking but following my itinerary of the must-sees in Périgueux (see details below).
The Périgueux tourist office also provides a brochure with 2 walking routes:
- 1 circuit to visit the medieval and renaissance town
- 1 circuit to visit the Gallo-Roman city
These 2 itineraries are interesting but the ideal is to do a single itinerary on foot that combines the 2! This is what I offer you below: 1 complete circuit to visit Périgueux in 1 day.
When to visit Perigueux?
The city of Périgueux can be discovered in any season. However, in summer with golden light, the monuments are sublimated. Moreover, in summer the streets are livelier than in the middle of winter.
Personally, I visited this magnificent city in the middle of August and on a Saturday, market day. I loved !!!
What to see in Périgueux in 1 day?
What to see in Périgueux in 1 day? A Périgueux range of Renaissance monuments, mansions, houses from the Middle Ages, religious buildings and much more! Indeed, through its rich historical past, Périgueux has managed to preserve beautiful vestiges of its Galo-Roman, medieval and Renaissance era. All these treasures of Périgord heritage can easily be visited in 1 day because the sites are quite close together and the city is not huge (30 inhabitants).
What to visit in Périgueux in 1 day?
Here are the steps of my tourist circuit which goes around the emblematic and unmissable sites of Périgueux:
- Roman amphitheater and ancient Gallo Roman city
- Chateau Barriere
- Vesunna Museum
- Church of Saint Etienne of the City
- Mataguerre Tower
- Passage Taillefer
- Hotel d'Abzac de La Douze
- Military Museum
- Impasse de la Gaite
- Calvary Street
- Place de la Clautre
- Saint Front Cathedral Perigueux
- Estignard House (3 rue Limogeanne)
- Place Saint Louis via rue Eguillerie with the Maison du Patissier (XNUMXth century)
What to see in Périgueux in 1 day – Itinerary map
To follow in pedestrian GPS, click in the map on "More options"
Visit Périgueux in 1 day – Program
My day of visit begins with the remains of the Gallo-Roman city which can be visited very quickly. Then it continues through the historic center of Périgueux with the route that passes through the most beautiful monuments and the most beautiful streets and squares of the city.
If you are not interested in archaeological sites, you can start my circuit from the Mataguerre Tower (5th stage on my itinerary).
Périgueux walking tour – Visits
Roman amphitheater and ancient Gallo Roman city
To start my walking tour, you have to go to the Jardin des Arènes. Indeed, this is where the remains of the tiers and corridors of the Roman Amphitheater (80 AD) are found. This one had been transformed into a fortress in the Middle Ages and today it sublimates a pretty public garden.
Rue Turenne, you can discover the old wall from the time of the fortification.
What to see in Périgueux in 1 day – Château Barrière
Bypassing the boulevard des Arènes, you will take the avenue of the 15th infantry regiment to reach the Château Barrière by the rue Saint Etienne.
When you are facing the park of the Castle, a few tens of meters on the right is the Norman gate which was part of the old Roman wall of the city.
What to see in Périgueux in 1 day – Vesunna Museum
If you want to visit the Gallo Romain Vesunna site-museum, you will have to go right next door: to the Parc de Vésone at 20 Rue 26ème Régiment d'Infanterie. This is also where the Tour de Vésone is located. Personally, I zapped because I'm not passionate about archeology and I was more interested in the other visits...
What to see in Périgueux in 1 day – Church of Saint Etienne de la Cité
By taking rue de la cité then rue Jacques Emilie Lafon, you can stop off at the Eglise de la Cité. It was the first cathedral in Périgueux but it was destroyed and rebuilt several times.
What to visit in Périgueux in 1 day - Tour Mataguerre
In a few minutes walk, you will arrive at the foot of the Mataguerre Tower. It was part of a 1500 meter long fortification. It is the only tower that has stood the test of time out of the 28 that originally existed.
What to visit in Périgueux – Passage Taillefer
By taking rue de la Bride then rue Condé, you will arrive in rue Taillefer. In the heart of the old stones of the medieval city of Périgueux, magnificent and narrow cobbled streets, is the Passage Taillefer.
What to visit in Périgueux – Hotel d'Abzac de la Douze
By taking Rue Aubergerie, you can make a detour to visit the Military Museum.
Personally, I didn't. On the other hand, I went to admire the magnificent Hôtel d'Abzac de la Douze which is located at n° 16 rue Aubergerie. A 16th century private mansion, its entrance facade is remarkable. Another private mansion is also noticeable in its turn: It is the Hôtel de Sallegourde at number 8.
What to visit in Périgueux – Impasse de la Gaité
By taking the impasse de la Gaité, you will come across a pretty square with some very well preserved or renovated houses from the medieval period.
What to visit in Périgueux – Rue du Calvaire
My itinerary goes up via the rue du Calvaire where the Maison du Vigier is located. This is the old courthouse of Périgueux.
Place de la Clautre Perigueux
At the end of rue du Calvaire, you will arrive at Place de la Clautre where a pretty market is held every Saturday.
Saint Front Cathedral Perigueux
Here is my favourite: the majestic Saint Front cathedral. With its 5 domes, it is unlike any other cathedral in France. Indeed, it is inspired by Byzantine architecture and has an air of the Orient. Listed as a World Heritage Site, it inspired the diocesan architect Paul Abadie to build the Church of the Sacred Heart in Montmartre.
Estignard House (3 rue Limogeanne)
A stone's throw from the Cathedral, along rue Salinière, you will arrive at the Hôtel Estignard, also known as the Hôtel Fayard. It is a magnificent mansion from the Renaissance period.
House of the Périgueux Pastry Chef
Arriving at Place Saint-Louis, you can admire the “Maison du Pâtissier” which dates from the 14th century. It is recognizable by its Renaissance style door decorated with a shell.
Where to stay to visit Périgueux on foot?
To stay near the historic center of Périgueux, I recommend an ideal hotel for a tourist stay.
Other city tours?
So here it is:
Visit Sarlat in 1 day