The City of Sarlat is one of the most endearing, charming, historic, and magical places I have ever…read morevisited. The amount of history surrounding this entire area of Southwest France is unparalleled to begin with, and Sarlat-la-Caneda contributes a very large portion to this magical setting. It is a medieval town that was established mainly due to the Benedictine abbey of Carolingian origin. The Sarlat Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Sacerdos, and the building itself can be seen in records as early as 1081. It was one of the very few cathedrals in the region that was never raided by the Vikings!!!! Those rascals!! Thank God, because if it were destroyed and leveled to the ground, we would not be able to visit and understand how profound this divine place actually is today and how well the efforts to preserve it have been accomplished. The Malraux Law was passed in 1962, which saw Sarlat restored, and this effort saved many buildings from demolition. The architect of this law, Andrea Malraux, was, at the time, the French Cultural Minister. This legal act greatly enhanced Sarlat's medieval center through the extensive restoration of most of its houses. My favorite (as mentioned in one of my earlier reviews) was the Manoir de Gisson, a museum that you should not miss when visiting! Some of my most favorite highlights during my visit were, of course, the food, the winding, cobblestone roads, the art galleries, and the nightlife, where visitors can enjoy an aperitif at a cozy, outdoor cafe' before venturing out to enjoy the tantalizing cuisine of this city! From foie gras, black truffles, cepes, dried sausages, cheese, walnuts, and wine, this girl was golden and I had everything that needed or could ever want! There is a great little grocery mart, tons of places to find delicious food and lot's of curiosities. There are candy shops, cafes, and desert spots galore!, And one cannot leave without visiting the farmer's markets, which are huge and packed full of the most amazing produce, delectables, and gifts. They have markets two times a week and they are a must see! I even ventured out to discover a wonderful art store and since I happen to be a painter, I could not pass up the 1.5 mile walk to scope out some French art supplies and I even got to pop into an incredibly curated antique shop as well! I could go on and on about this magical place, but I am going to leave it to you to book your ticket and see for yourself. My only hope is that my photos tell it's story and make you want to book your next trip to France!

Sarlat is a beautiful village, and if you planned to stay here, stay in one of the Bed & Breakfast…read more(mentioned in my previous review). But stay for the Market Day on Saturday. Market Day is fabulous! You'll see stuff not sold anywhere, and you'll see various foods not cooked anywhere else (unless you're in Spain), so get ready for lunch and have some Paella! There's no warnings for pickpockets, here! They're friendly people! Go early, before it gets too hot, & too crowded, and while the dish is fresh! BTW: Our Tour Guide told us, French Costumer Service, they ignore their customers, they don't pressure you to buy, sometimes they don't even greet you. That's their style! I'm in Customer Service, but I always talk to my customers. If I was ignored, I just assumed, the seller don't care about me! But not in France.

Charming stone cottage with a spectacular view of a medieval castle. Swimming, canoeing, tennis,…read morebiking, randonee, hiking and golf all close by. Weekly rentals so you'll have time for it all. Sarlat, the medieval jewel of the Dordogne is 3 kms. Check it out thru the Office du Tourism Sarlat... "montfort" ref 20007. They speak english as well as french.

From the owner: Classé au Patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco Le site préhistorique de la vallée de la Vézère comporte…read more147 gisements remontant jusqu'au paléolithique et 25 grottes ornées. Il présente un intérêt exceptionnel d'un point de vue ethnologique, anthropologique et esthétique avec ses peintures pariétales, en particulier celles de la grotte de Lascaux dont la découverte (en 1940) a marqué une date dans l'histoire de l'art préhistorique. Ses scènes de chasse habilement composées comprennent une centaine de figures animales, étonnantes par la précision de l'observation, la richesse des coloris et la vivacité du rendu. Classé au patrimoine mondial de l'Unesco en 1979. Ci-dessous, la liste complète des monuments classés au patrimoine mondiale de l'Unesco en France.

It is about 4.5 for the visit. It is amazing the entire rock face was cut out in the middle for…read moredwelling. This nature cave is one kilometer long and 8 meters high. The limestone face provide prehistoric living area and protection. Currently the visit include walk along the entire length. It has some civil engineering equipment displayed how the 15 century people moving rock. This includes the hand crane, leveling, and horizontal pulley. This mechanism demonstrates how the rock was move. The cave also has the fortress for defense. You also can see the jail was putting there. Some area is used for gardening. This high location has a good overlooking the river below.

The guide is in Irish, joked the receptionist as he handed us a returnable trail leaflet as we…read moreentered La Roque St Christophe, a must visit site if you are in this area. This sheer rock face, some five terraces high, has been inhabited since prehistoric times. It was such a secure place, above the Vezere river, that man made it a troglodytic fort in the 10th century and that these early efforts were added to throughout the middle ages when the fort, really by then a high rise town, often held as many as 1000 people. A little reconstruction has taken place and one can easily imagine how the medieval town worked, how it continued to supply itself full size working models of big lifting machines have been constructed here - and how it defended itself against attackers. A marvellous and worthwhile experience.

A pleasant surprise. Josephine Baker's home for 30 years has been brought back to its former glory…read more The grounds and gardens are immaculate, with a troop of gardeners picking up every leaf and planting new flowers near the chapel. A falconry show begins at 11:15, with another at 4. Audioguides in numerous languages are available at the gift shop and start of the tour. The gorgeous chateau has an interesting history beginning in the 15th century, with gargoyles galore. Josephine, resistance fighter, humanitarian, and world renowned singer and dancer from the 1920s to the 60s, installed some amazing bathrooms into the chateau, which has lots of stairs. Great views over the valley and village. Pieces of her music are available on the audio guide. A woman-owned business about an amazing woman. Cafe and toilets are available. Free parking, but tickets are required to enter grounds.

Chateau Milandes was built in the early 15th Century, but it's most famous inhabitant (in my…read moreopinion) was Josephine Baker. She started renting the Château in 1937, then bought it and lived their till the late 1960s. This is where she raised her flock of adopted children (she had 12!). Evicted and swindled in her later years, she spent her final years elsewhere, dying in Paris in 1975. The Château was bought 20 some years ago, and the current owner and her daughter have brought back the Château and gardens in all their glory! The items on display map out Baker's tumultuous life, from her birth in Jim Crow Missouri to her rise to fame on the French entertainment world. Truly fascinating and a must see for any fan of Josephine Baker!