France: Dordogne & Lot
Eight days, cycling with flat and hilly options. Quiet roads through lush river valleys and beautiful stone villages, with visits to castles, and caves displaying pre-historic paintings.
These river valleys have been populated for millennia, for very obvious reasons; their beauty and fertility are unsurpassed, and the profusion of châteaux suggests the passionate history of this coveted landscape. Cycling from one medieval village to another, you will marvel at how little things seem to have changed with the passage of time. Behind the lazy riverbanks and cliffside villages, chestnut and oak forests hide entrances to caves whose walls have been decorated by stone-age artists. Words fail to convey how moving seeing these 20,000 year-old paintings can be. Despite their age, they still display deep knowledge of the human condition. Starting near the confluence of the Dordogne and Vézère Rivers, you will cross from Rocamadour to the Célé and Lot Rivers, and finish near their confluence in St.Cirq-Lapopie. This trip stands out as being exceptional. The cycling is virtually perfect, on quiet and consistently beautiful routes. The lodging is so comfortable your toes will curl, and the culinary temptations will fuel you for each day’s interests and pleasures. If you dream of pampered cycling in France, this is the trip for you!
The Plan:
Day 1: Pick up in Bordeaux at 14:00 for van transfer to Tremolat. Optional pickup at the train station in nearby St. Emilion – a charming golden cobble-stoned town, famous for macaroons as well as for exceptional wines. D (Meal inclusions provided for guided trips. Self-guided trips include breakfasts)
Le Vieux Logis, Tremolat, www.relaischateaux.fr/vieuxlogis
Day 2: 29, 62, or 83km; flat or hilly options. Cycle from Le Bugue to the ancient and lovely town of Limeuil at the confluence of the Dordogne and Vézère Rivers, then on through Le Bugue to Les Eyzies de Tayac. Visit the famous Grotte de Font-de-Gaume, with its awe-inspiring prehistoric paintings. Return to Tremolat for an exquisite dining and lodging experience. BL
Same lodging
Day 3: 63km. Ride to pretty Vitrac and the clifftop village of Domme, via St. Cyprien and riverside Le Rocque Gageac, with its homes beneath and carved right into cliffs at the water’s edge. A visit to medieval Sarlat is optional. Rest in an exquisite hotel where every room has an eagle’s view of the river below, or a magnificent country estate, where you can choose to dine in superb French style. BL
Hotel de l’Esplanade, Domme, www.hotels-restau-dordogne.org; or
Domaine de Rochebois, Sarlat, www.rochebois.com
Day 4: 54km. Ride to the fortifies vertical town of Rocamadour, following the banks of the Dordogne. You’ll stop at the magnificent Montfort Castle panoramically overlooking a bend in the river below. Stop in Souillac to see the amazing bas-relief carvings in the cathedral and visit Les Grottes de Lacave, before finding the secluded hotel where you’ll rest for the next two nights. BLD
Domaine de La Rhue, Rocamadour, www.domainedelarhue.com
Day 5: 73km loop ride. Early visit to La Gouffre de Padirac, a magnificent cave system partially explored by boat, then cycle to Loubressac, one of the most beautiful villages in France, and Carrenac. Return via St. Sozy and Meyronne. These are all outstandingly charming villages, surrounded by gorgeous farm estates, and filled with beautiful old stone architecture steeped in historic charm. BD
Same lodging
Day 6: 72km on exceptionally quiet roads. Morning exploration of the medieval village of Rocamadour, which houses the Christian relic scholars believe is the body of Jesus’ friend Zacchaeus. Leaving Rocamadour, meander through quiet rural countryside to the valleys of the Lot and Cele Rivers, where beautiful houses are perched on the sides of cliffs, and farmland abounds. BL
Château de Mercues, Cahors, www.chateaudemercues.com
Day 7: 50, 60, or 120km. Cycle downstream to visit to Les Grottes de Peche Merle and its 25,000 year old paintings (that’s not a typo!). Continue to the fantastic village perchée of St.Cirq-La Popie and back, enjoying the quiet and pretty roads and towpaths on the banks of the Lot River. Afternoon transfer to your château for a sumptuous final night with dinner. BD
Same lodging
Day 8: Morning departure, and transfers to the train station in Cahors.
The Details:
| Start: | Bordeaux train station. 14:00 day one. TGV (high-speed train) from Paris CDG airport takes 3½ hours. |
| Finish: | Cahors train station, 09:00 day eight. Regular train connections available to Toulouse, Bordeaux or Paris. Train to Paris CDG airport takes 5 hours. |
| Guided Cost: | $3995 (per person, includes 8 days, 7 nights, 7 breakfasts, light picnic lunches, 4 dinners, Font de Gaume admission, route notes and maps, luggage handling, support vehicle and full-time guide) |
| Self-Guided Costs: | $3695 (per person, includes 8 days, 7 nights, 7 breakfasts, luggage transfers, maps and route notes, essential transfers, emergency support) |
| Single Occupancy: | $1345 |
| Bicycle Rental: | Hybrid: $195; Racing: $275 |
| 2010 guided dates: | Apr 24-May 1; May 22-29; Sep 25-Oct 2. Call 800-672-0775 for guaranteed departures, updates or to add a new departure. |
| Self-guided dates: | You choose! Best times are April-June (spring flowers, high rivers), and mid-August-October (many harvests). |
All details and pricing are subject to change without notice.
