Sarlat-la-Caneda

Sarlat-la-Caneda, a sub-prefecture of the Dordogne department, lies at the historic heart of the Périgord Noir region. Its old town, with ochre stone façades and lauze-tiled roofs, boasts a dense concentration of medieval and Renaissance architecture around the Saint-Sacerdos Cathedral and pedestrian lanes perfect for wandering. Sarlat's town-centre market remains a highlight for sampling regional produce such as foie gras, walnuts and truffles. The surrounding area offers several worthwhile excursions: the Gouffre de Padirac, with its underground river, the hilltop town of Domme overlooking the Dordogne valley, and Terrasson-Lavilledieu, a flower-decked town on the banks of the Vézère. The hanging gardens of Marqueyssac, with their clipped box hedges set high above the valley, round out this scenic and heritage-rich circuit. The walnut groves of Lander further reflect the area's longstanding agricultural tradition tied to walnut cultivation, a hallmark of the Périgord. Sarlat therefore makes an excellent base for exploring a region combining nature, gastronomy and historic architecture.