Cycling Dordogne

The Dordogne region is unique in that it offers a wide variety of experiences and visuals all neatly packaged together. From ancient cave paintings, to Roman empire ruins, and even world famous cuisine. Dordogne is a land locked in time in many ways, and cycling Dordogne is truly a one of a kind experience. 

The region itself is incredibly cycle friendly, and offers plenty of routes that are cleverly mapped out in order to see everything you could imagine. Dordogne is a cyclers haven, and will provide the cycling holiday of a lifetime. 

When to Visit

The Dordogne region generally experiences pleasant weather throughout most of the year. Just remember that southern France can get very hot during the high tourist season in the summer. However, many people find that any time between May – October is perfect no matter what. 

Routes To Take when Cycling Dordogne

There are a few different cycling routes that you can take, and each one offers a different view of the region. Depending on your experience level, you can find different routes that are designed to be accessible by anyone. Here are just a few to consider:

Berges de L’isle

The Berges de L’isle route is perfect for beginners, or those who want a leisurely ride through the region without much difficulty. This 21km cycling route will take you from Trelissac all the way to Marsac sur l’Isle. This is a wonderfully scenic route along the river with plenty of places to stop and eat, relax, enjoy the scenery, and more. This is perfect for a single day excursion that won’t take up too much time or effort.

St. Laurant de Vignes

This is a 26km long cycling route through the famous vineyards and wine country of the Dordogne region. Beginning at the famous church of Bergerac, you will cycle through the vineyards and countryside all the way to Lamonzie-St-Martin and back. This is a wonderful cycling route for all experience levels, and gives you the chance to see the beautiful wine country of southern France. 

The Dordogne Valley

The Dordogne Valley route is an 80km cycling route that is perfect for beginners – intermediate skill level cyclists. The entire route takes at a minimum 5 hours to experience, and will take you around the Dordogne Valley beginning in the town of Domme. You will then go through other villages such as Cenac, La Roque-Gageac, Saint Julien de Lampon, Veyrignac, Vitrac and Turnac, as well as others along the way. This is a relaxed and smooth cycling excursion that will give you plenty to see, taste, and do along the way. 

Other Sites In Dordogne

There are plenty of different routes used to experience the Dordogne region by cycling; but making sure that you take the chance to see some of the most famous sites is important. You should always try and work in some of the more famous sites and stops along the way while planning out your own routes and cycling pathways. 

For example, the Lascaux caves, which are filled with paleolithic paintings from ancient times. You should also see the Château de Castelnaud, which is a medieval castle and war museum that overlooks the valley with some of the most breathtaking visuals. The region of Dordogne is packed with out of this world sites, sounds, and flavors–you should take the time to cycle through as much of it as you can!

Learn French for your Trip!

Remember that English is not always widely spoken in this region of France and so it may be a good idea to learn a bit of French before your trip. Two great resources that I recommend are the Duolingo app and also Frenchplanations.

You might also like to read about Bicycle seats for seniors.

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