Dordogne

Holiday Villas from the Villa Company in the Dordogne:

In the Dordogne holiday gites and villas with private pools are numerous, and we have carefully chosen a refined hand picked selection to include in our Dordogne holiday programme - villas that meet our high standards and offer our guests a certain 'something special'. We believe no holiday villa in France would be complete without those home-from-home comforts. So if you're looking for family holiday villas in the Dordogne with excellent facilities, then we have Dordogne France holiday villas in Aubeterre, Bergerac, Bourdeilles, Les Eyzies, Limoges, Montagrier, Nontron, Perigueux, Riberac and Sarlat. You can rest assured that the Dordogne villas from The Villa Company have been carefully chosen for their quality, location and value for money.

See our French holiday villas in the Dordogne

Holiday villas The Dordogne France - Region overview:

For many years the British have headed directly to the Dordogne for their French villa holidays, and no wonder. At times you could think that you were in Britain- except that the sun shines here! The Dordogne has gently rolling countryside, small French villages perched on hill tops and vast rural vistas cut through with gently rolling rivers; around every corner French Chateaux appear before you, some reminiscent of fairytale castles, others grand and imposing; fascinating sleepy villages of honey coloured stone invite you to stay a while. Indeed the Dordogne offers something for everyone.

Holiday villas The Dordogne France - Geography - North Dordogne:

In the north of the Dordogne the main towns are Perigueux, Riberac, Nontron and Brantome. The area is mostly un-spoiled and sparsely inhabited which means that the countryside is wonderfully tranquil and pretty - a beautiful region to explore from your Dordogne holiday villa.

The landscape in the Dordogne is mainly composed of gently rolling hills, rather like those found in the Cotswolds; only here you will find expansive, mature, deciduous woodland where you can wander at your leisure and enjoy the shade and the rich variety of birds and vegetation. The hillsides and valleys in the Dordogne are generally a mix of fields with crops such as sunflower and maize alongside lush cattle meadows; rough countryside often plays host to rare plant-life such as orchids, and of course there are the rivers.

Holiday villas The Dordogne France - Geography - East Dordogne:

The eastern part of the Dordogne is known as Perigord Noir and has Sarlat as its main town. This really is the heartland of the Dordogne and is a spectacular location, but as such commands a premium - something to bear in mind when you're looking for Dordogne villa rental. Pretty villages adorn the region such as Souillac, Castelnaud, Domme and Les Eyzies. Here the Dordogne valley is at its most beautiful, the rolling hills are crowned with oak and walnut woods. As you would expect, stunning Chateaux perch high above the meandering rivers in timeless elegance.

Holiday villas The Dordogne France - Geography - South Dordogne:

Towards the south of the region the Dordogne countryside becomes less hilly and the soil supports the vineyards of such famous wines as St Emilion. The major town here is Bergerac which sits besides the majestic Dordogne river - the key to the region's prosperity. The south Dordogne countryside is mainly unspoiled and the vineyards offer magnificent scenery to drive alongside, especially as there are often magnificent Chateaux set amongst the vineyards - such as the one at Monbazillac, creating a classic French image. The south Dordogne is also a major producer of tobacco which grows along the riverside flatlands and the storage and drying barns have become as much a part of the countryside as the Chateaux. The Landais forest to the north of Bergerac is a super area for walkers and a beautiful place to visit while on holiday in the Dordogne. Why not take a picnic and enjoy a day out in this tranquil forest setting?

Holiday villas The Dordogne France - Food and Wine:

The whole of the Dordogne region is famous for the quality of its cuisine. The Perigordines are particularly blessed with a rich supply of walnuts (and its derived oil) as well as mushrooms. Famously, the Dordogne is known for truffles, snuffled by pigs and dogs in the forests of the region. Not surprisingly, the locations of these highly sought after fungi are a closely guarded secret, even amongst members of the same family!

The land here is fertile and the local farmers offer wonderful fresh produce at the region's markets. Notably the excellent cheeses, charcuterie and the highly regarded foie gras. Even fish, fresh from the coast is available.

Bergerac wines, vibrant reds such as Pecharmant and Montravel, soft Moelleux whites and the globally renowned Monbizillac are just some on offer, with St Emilion just edging the Dordogne region.

Holiday villas The Dordogne France - Rivers:

The Dordogne is criss-crossed with rivers, which have been the life blood of and the key to the region's prosperity over the centuries. The mighty Dordogne is fed from many other smaller rivers which are now the playground of visitors to the region. In the north the Dronne and the Isle pass by towns such as Montagrier, Tocane St Apres and Bourdeilles. The east has the upper Dordogne and the Vezere passing Souillac, Castelnaud, Domme and Les Eyzies. To the south the Dropt feeds into the Dordogne which leads to the sea.

Whilst enjoying your villa holiday in the Dordogne, why not visit the riverbanks of Bergerac and take a boat trip on a Gabarre (traditional flat-bottomed boat). During your trip you will hear all about the long history of boats which sailed down the Dordogne river as far as the Port de la Lune; loaded with walnuts, truffles and barrels of wine.

The rivers in the Dordogne are superb for paddling, canoeing and swimming as they usually do not flow too fast, are fairly shallow and crystal clear. For a canoe/kayak descent to remember, Castelnau to La Roque Gageac certainly takes some beating with spectacular Dordogne scenery.