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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 10am 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, Tamniès. Night in a hotel.
Distance covered: approx. 45 km / ascent: approx. 1100 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. 750 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, and a well-deserved cold drink!
Return by shuttle to Sarlat.
Distance covered: approx. 45 km / ascent: approx. 1300 m
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
Itinerary end: Separation in Sarlat on the last day at around 4pm.
If you would like to arrive a day early and/or stay on for an extra day after the trip, we can reserve quality hotel accommodation for you in Sarlat la Canéda, a charming medieval town. The old town is particularly impressive with its stone-fronted houses, stone roofs and its maze of streets around the Place de la Liberté. The house of La Boetie, the Saint Sacerdos Cathedral and the Présidial are all well worth a visit...
Itinerary start: Rendezvous on the first day is at 10am 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, Tamniès. Night in a hotel.
Distance covered: approx. 45 km / ascent: approx. 1100 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. 750 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 Marquay on a series of undulating trails bordered by chestnut and oak forests, typical of mountain biking in the Périgord…
Return by shuttle to Sarlat.
Distance covered: approx. 50 km / ascent: approx. 1300 m
Distances and altitude gain are an indication only and may vary.
Itinerary end: Separation in Sarlat on the last day at around 4pm.
If you would like to arrive a day early and/or stay on for an extra day after the trip, we can reserve quality hotel accommodation for you in Sarlat la Canéda, a charming medieval town. The old town is particularly impressive with its stone-fronted houses, stone roofs and its maze of streets around the Place de la Liberté. The house of La Boetie, the Saint Sacerdos Cathedral and the Présidial are all well worth a visit...
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