Domme

Domme royal bastide listed as one of France's "most beautiful villages

You can't come to the Périgord Noir without making a detour to Domme.

Domme is a bastide, i.e. a small fortified town with a regular layout, created from scratch in the Middle Ages in southwestern France. Typically, the streets of Domme intersect at right angles, the squares are square, there is a large covered market and the town is fortified. Domme was created by Philippe III, known as "le Hardi", who decided in 1281 to create a bastide town at the top of a cliff overlooking the Dordogne valley.

Domme is remarkably well-preserved, with the ramparts and large gates that once encircled the town still largely in place. The stone houses have a cachet like nowhere else. The town's unique architectural heritage includes its ramparts and the Porte des Tours, where the imprisoned Templars made engravings that can still be seen today.

No matter where you're coming from, you'll arrive at the bottom of the town and leave your vehicle outside. You can visit Domme on foot, or take a guided tour of the town on the little train.

• Departure from Porte de la Tour
• Place de la Halle
• Governor's residence
• Maison du Batteur de la Monnaie
• Ramparts - Fortified gates (Porte Del Bos, Porte de la Combe, Porte des Tours)
• Panoramic view of the Dordogne valley - Old quarters, streets and houses full of flowers, sun-baked stonework

Once you've passed the Great Hall, under which you'll find the entrance to a huge natural cave with concretions where stalactites and stalagmites abound (this is also where you'll find the tourist office), you'll arrive at the plane tree-shaded square and discover the Belvédère de la barre. A breathtaking panorama. Overlooking the Dordogne valley from a height of over 100 metres, you can see for dozens of kilometers, despite the hills in the distance.

Then it's time to relax on the terrace of a café, and enjoy an artisanal Périgord strawberry ice cream.

To the south of the Périgord Noir and at the gateway to the Quercy region, the Pays de Domme offers a wide choice of discoveries and activities.