La ville de Sarlat est située au sud est de la Dordogne ou du Périgord, nichée entre la vallée de la Vézère au nord et la vallée de la Dordogne au sud. C’est le Périgord noir, les sites à visiter sont nombreux dans cette partie de la Dordogne.
La vallée de la Vézère, aussi appelée “vallée de l’Homme”, vous évoquera certainement quelque chose, elle regroupe 25 sites préhistoriques majeurs, dont la très célèbre grotte de Lascaux et de beaux villages à flanc de falaise.
The valley of the Dordogne, less steep, ideal to explore by canoe or gabarre, offers incredible panoramas on the“Most Beautiful Villages of France“, the Roque Gaugeac and Beynac and on the medieval castles planted at the top of the villages, vestiges of the wars of former days.
For those of you who don’t miss any of our articles, I grew up in Périgueux, the capital of the Dordogne, located about 1h15 from Sarlat. I have been walking and discovering the many sites of the department since I was a child, and I always take as much pleasure in making Matthieu or my friends (not from Périgord) discover them!
In short, we can tell you that there is no shortage of things to see and do in Sarlat and its surroundings. We have prepared a 3-day itinerary below so you won’t miss anything!
Where is Sarlat located?
Sarlat is located in the south east of the Dordogne, it is the capital of the Périgord Noir. The department is divided into 4 colored areas, white, red, green and black, each with its own particularities.
Visiter Sarlat et ses environs
Autant vous annoncer tout de suite que les choses à voir et à faire à Sarlat et ses alentours ne manquent pas. Nous vous conseillons de visiter Sarlat et ses alentours en 3 jours afin de prendre le temps d’explorer les très nombreux sites situés à moins de 30 minutes de Sarlat.
We have selected the villages, castles and caves that we believe are essential to understand the history of this incredible region and to fully enjoy the beauty of its landscapes.
During the spring school vacations and in July and August, we advise you to book your accommodation and activities in advance.
Détail de notre itinéraire de 3 jours
- Jour 1 (points roses sur la carte) : Sarlat et Lascaux, les incontournables
- Morning: Lascaux in Montignac: the origins of man
- Afternoon: Sarlat or how to fall in love with the Dordogne
- Nuit : Hôtel Montaigne à Sarlat
- Jour 2 (points orange sur la carte) : Vallée de la Dordogne et ses trésors
- Morning : The Dordogne along the water
- Afternoon: Discovering the “Most Beautiful Villages in France” and its castles
- Nuit à Sarlat
- Day 3 (green dots on the map) : Les Eyzies and its surroundings
- Morning: Les Eyzies, the origins of man
- Afternoon: Go down into the largest equipped cave in the Périgord
Day 1: Sarlat and Lascaux, the must-sees
Matin : Lascaux à Montignac : les origines de l’homme
It is in Montignac, north of Sarlat, that the cave of Lascaux was discovered in 1940. After about fifteen years of intensive exploitation and visits, small green algae started to develop. To compensate for this deterioration, a replica as accurate as possible, Lascaux II, was made at 200 meters from the original cave, you can see the entrance in the photo below.
I’ve been lucky enough to visit this extraordinary replica several times, it was a school or family outing quite common when you grow up in the Dordogne as you can give yourself! My memories are quite precise, the illusion was total, the temperature, the atmosphere… everything let us believe that it was the original and the visit was damn incredible.
Comment visiter Lascaux aujourd’hui ?
Today, you have two options:
- Lascaux II, always visited in small groups, from April to September (beware there are really few places)
- The International Center of Cave Art, also called Lascaux IV, can be visited all year round, with the cave reproduced in its entirety and a museum, located away from the original site.
This visit is more complete and interactive with many animations on screen proposed. A site that will please young and old alike, you can book your tickets with audio guide in advance online (especially in high season). Entrance fee 6€ per adult – Allow 2-3 hours for the visit.
For those who follow, we have gone from Lascaux II to Lascaux IV, so for the more mathematically inclined among us, you are probably wondering “What is Lascaux III? So it was a travelling exhibition, which was installed for three months at Cap Sciences, in Bordeaux before being exported around the world.
Comment préparer votre visite ?
If you have time beforehand, we advise you to watch the documentary “C’est pas sorcier au sujet des hommes Préhistoriques”, as always very complete and simple to understand, thank you Jamie!
At the end of your visit, don’t forget to visit Montignac, a charming little village along the Vézère river.
➡️ Si vous avez envie de verdure et de fraîcheur, les Jardins d’Eyrignac sont subtilement travaillés, vous en ressortirez zen comme jamais, situé à 20 minutes au nord-est de Sarlat, un site à intégrer entre Lascaux et Sarlat.
Après midi : Sarlat ou comment tomber amoureux de la Dordogne
Clearly Sarlat is the little jewel of the Dordogne and the Périgord. Its medieval center will impress you with its uniformity and beauty. The old Sarlat marries the styles of different periods going from the Middle Ages to the XVIth century with all the same 66 classified monuments.
In short, this is a city that we love to walk around, explore and show off!
We won’t go into detail here, as we have devoted a complete article to Sarlat, with our top 10 must-see and must-do items, as well as our ideal walking itinerary and, of course, all our practical advice (where to eat? where to sleep?)
Day 2: Dordogne Valley and its treasures
Matin : La Dordogne au fil de l’eau
Explorer la Dordogne en canoë ou en Gabarre, en quelques coups de pagaie vous vous sentirez tout de suite ailleurs et cette balade vous offrira de beaux points de vue sur les châteaux et villages perchés.
Thanks to our friend Kevin, our canoeing expert in the Dordogne, who has been practicing canoeing in a club for many years and who recommended this canoeing trip to us. According to him, it is the easiest and most beautiful trip in the Dordogne (he has explored all the routes)!
Après midi : A la découverte des “Plus Beaux Villages de France” et de ses châteaux
We recommend eating at La Roque Gageac and then exploring several sites in the vicinity, all of which are classified as“Les Plus Beaux Villages de France“, Domme and Beynac, and then finishing with the village (also classified) and the castle of Castelnaud
Cette excursion d’une demi-journée organisée dans la vallée de la Dordogne, au départ de Sarlat pourrait vous intéresser. Elle inclut les villages de Domme, La Roque Gageac et Beynac ainsi que le château de Beynac
La Roque Gageac
This village, embedded between the Dordogne river and the cliff, with its houses clinging to the cliffs, is of an incredible beauty.
We advise you to take the small (and unique) path, which goes up in the village, to enjoy a green vegetation and beautiful views on the village and the river. 10km from Sarlat
Large parking lot located at the level of the docks.
Domme
Domme, located 10 minutes from La Roque Gageac, is a village still surrounded by ramparts, built on the heights of a cliff its belvedere which dominates the meanders of the Dordogne river offers a breathtaking view of the valley. 12km south of Sarlat
We advise you to park your car in the outside parking lot located below
Castelnaud La Chapelle
It is the castle to visit in Dordogne, dating from the XIIth century, it was restored during several years, and it offers an exceptional panorama on the castle of Beynac, the gardens of Marqueyssac and the village of La Roque-Gageac – 9km south of Sarlat
Price high season visit 11,9€ per adult and low season 10,90€ per adult, think to book in July and August – -20% with the PassVisitPérigord
Its medieval village is also classified in “Les Plus beaux villages de France”.
Beynac et Cazenac
Beynac and celebrates its castle, a setting that served as a backdrop for the film “Les Visiteurs“. Once again this medieval village is also classified in “Les Plus beaux villages de France”, we can find there the houses in white stones and the roofs in lauze which make the fame of the Périgourdins villages. – At 11km from Sarlat
Day 3 Les Eyzies and the wealth of its caves
Matin : Les Eyzies, les origines de l’homme
Les Eyzies de Tayac is a village nestled in the cliffs, a high place of the Périgord and considered as the“small world capital of prehistory“, since many shelters in the surrounding cliffs were used as dwellings by the first men. 20 km east of Sarlat. Entrance fee 6€ per adult free on the 1st Sunday of the month
We advise you to visit the museum of the prehistory which gathers the various elements (tools, jewels, bones, pottery…) found in the caves in the surroundings of which that of Lascaux I. This museum will allow you to learn more about the origins of man in a playful and chronological way. It’s an ideal outing to do with the family
Il n’y a pas que Lascaux à visiter en Dordogne de nombreuses grottes à quelques kilomètres de Sarlat sont ouvertes au public. Nous vous conseillons la grotte des Combarelles, qui regroupe plus de 800 gravures (Chevaux, Rennes, Loup, Bisons…). Prix entrée 11€ par adulte gratuit le 1er dimanche du mois
During your stay, it will allow you to see an ornate cave (Lascaux) and a cave with engravings (Combarelles)!
Après midi : Descendez dans la plus grande cavité aménagée du Périgord
The Proumeyssac chasm will impress you with its depth and geological riches. You can go down on foot in a tunnel or in a gondola as in the time of its discovery – At 28km from Sarlat
For families, Santa Claus visits the children in the abyss by descending through the gondola, magic guaranteed, our daughter loved it.
Price of the visit 11€ per adult 45 minutes of commented visit – -20% with the PassVisitPérigord
Où dormir ? En hôtel ou en camping.
We recommend you to sleep in Sarlat to be able to enjoy the numerous animations and restaurants in the evening. You can also opt for a campsite in the vicinity of Sarlat to be able to radiate and park easily.
Hôtel
Nous vous recommandons de séjourner à l’Hôtel Montaigne très bien situé, à 1 minute à pied du centre médiéval de Sarlat, vous pourrez visiter entièrement la ville à pied.
Les chambres sont spacieuses et très propres, le matelas était hyper confortable. There is air-conditioning, which was very appreciated during the hot summer days. Free parking in low season. In short, an excellent quality/price ratio!
We advise you to book your accommodation in advance, during the school vacations and in high season, the hotels are quickly full, because Sarlat is a very popular small town in summer!
Consulter les disponibilités de l’Hôtel Montaigne
Camping
You will find your happiness by consulting the different campsites in Dordogne here, you can sort according to the type of accommodation and facilities offered (swimming pools, parking …)
La résidence les Coteaux de Sarlat est idéalement située à seulement 2km du centre de Sarlat.
Nous avons pris beaucoup de plaisir à partager toutes ces informations sur ces endroits en Dordogne que nous adorons. Si vous avez un peu plus de temps, n’hésitez pas à faire un arrêt à Périgueux la capitale de la Dordogne, connue pour son centre historique, son musée gallo Romain et sa cathédrale Saint Front dotée de coupoles d’inspirations byzantine qui dominent fièrement la ville.
How to come to Sarlat ?
- By car: Most parking spaces in the city center are subject to a fee. Nevertheless, we were pleasantly surprised that, for once, the town hall has devoted a detailed and very clear page to the different parking zones around Sarlat, indicating precisely which periods are paid and which are free.
- By train: the train station is located a few minutes walk from the city center. The B bus line connects the station to the city center. The train ride from Paris is quite long, about 4 hours, with a connection in Limoges or a connection in Bordeaux. The train from Bordeaux is direct (1h15 minutes).
- En avion : c’est une option plus rapide. Depuis Paris la compagnie hop d’air France relit l’aéroport d’Orly à celui de Brive 1h de vol pour des tarifs très attractifs.
En arrivant à Brive, louer une voiture est la meilleure option pour rejoindre Sarlat en une petite heure et vous pourrez en profiter pour explorer la région.
We had a lot of fun writing this article about this region that we know (almost) by heart. We would like to thank our families and friends who have given us valuable advice. We also update this article regularly since we come to the Dordogne several times a year.
Feel free to drop us a line below to let us know if you’re planning this trip, to drop 5 stars, to ask any questions you may have here or on our Instagram we’ll get back to you with great pleasure!
