

The innermost part of the cave is covered with engravings from the Magdalenian period (about 12,000 years ago). The Grotte des Combarelles was discovered in 1910. If possible, it’s worth coming out of season, but if you can’t, seek accommodation away from the main centres, and always drive along the back roads – the smaller the better – even when there is a more direct route available. The well-preserved medieval architecture of Sarlat Dropdown content, the wealth of prehistory Dropdown content and the staggering cave paintings of the Vézère valley, and the stunning beauty of the château-studded Dordogne have all contributed to making this one of the most heavily touristed inland areas of France. Plantations of walnut trees (cultivated for their oil), flocks of low-slung grey geese (their livers enlarged for foie gras) and prehistoric-looking stone huts called bories are all hallmarks of Périgord Noir. This is the distinctive Dordogne country: deep-cut valleys between limestone cliffs, with fields of maize in the alluvial bottoms and dense oak woods on the heights, interspersed with patches of not very fertile farmland. Périgord Noir encompasses the central part of the valley of the Dordogne, and the valley of the Vézère.
#France dordogne how to
All companies must provide life jackets ( gilets) and teach you basic safety procedures, most importantly how to capsize and get out safely.

Most places function daily in July and August, on demand in May, June and September, depending on the weather, and are closed the rest of the year. Prices vary according to what’s on offer expect to pay around €17–25 per person per day. The company you book through will either take you to your departure point or send a minibus to pick you up from your final destination. Although it’s possible to rent one-person kayaks or two-person canoes by the hour, it’s best to take at least a half-day or longer (some outfits offer up to a week’s rental), and simply cruise downstream. There are rental outlets at just about every twist in both rivers. Canoeing is hugely popular in the Dordogne, especially in summer, when the Vézère and Dordogne rivers are shallow and slow-flowing – ideal for beginners.
