I arrived in Sarlat expecting medieval streets, remarkable architecture and excellent photography opportunities. What I hadn’t expected was how much the surrounding landscape would become part of the story.
In the Périgord Noir, geography has influenced almost everything. Villages cling to limestone cliffs, castles occupy strategic positions above the Dordogne River, and forests conceal centuries of history. Even the food connects to the land, from walnut groves and traditional mills to regional products filling Sarlat’s markets.
Over the next two days, I would explore medieval streets, climb through villages built against towering cliffs, visit extraordinary castles and discover why a simple bottle of walnut oil deserves more appreciation than I’d ever given it.
There was also an unexpected hot-air balloon adventure that didn’t quite go according to plan.
Plan your Sarlat visit
Where to base yourself · Central Sarlat-la-Canéda, in the Périgord Noir.
How long to stay · Allow 3–4 nights. My two-day visit was busy and the transport was arranged in advance.
Getting around · Explore central Sarlat on foot. For the valley, consider a car, a driver or a guided outing. Expect cobblestones and steep paths at some sites.
When to go out · Market days are Wednesday and Saturday. For photographs, try early morning or evening.
In this guide · Where I stayed · Medieval Sarlat · Villages and castles · Saturday market · Photography tips · FAQ
My Top 5 Things to Do in Sarlat & the Périgord Noir
- Explore Medieval Sarlat: Wander through golden-stone streets, hidden courtyards and historic squares. Visit the former Sainte-Marie Church, with its enormous doors designed by Jean Nouvel. My tip: explore in the evening when the streets become quieter and the light is beautiful for photography.
- Discover La Roque-Gageac: Visit one of the Dordogne Valley’s most picturesque villages, tucked between a towering limestone cliff and the river. Explore its narrow streets, unusual tropical gardens and riverside scenery.
- Visit Château de Beynac: Discover a spectacular medieval fortress perched high above the Dordogne River. Explore centuries of history while enjoying panoramic views of the valley, neighbouring villages and distant castles.
- Walk Through the Jardins de Marqueyssac: Explore beautifully sculpted boxwood gardens, winding pathways and scenic viewpoints overlooking the Dordogne Valley. Keep an eye out for the peacocks roaming the grounds.
- Experience Sarlat’s Saturday Market: Discover regional cheeses, walnuts, local wines, duck specialties and traditional Périgord products. Visit the covered market inside the former Sainte-Marie Church and experience Sarlat through its food and local producers.
Arriving in Sarlat
Entering the Périgord Noir
My journey to Sarlat began at Château de Biron, approximately 50 kilometres away, with Sébastien driving me through the countryside. Katia welcomed me into the next part of my journey.
Roads narrowed, forests thickened, and limestone appeared everywhere, forming cliffs, village houses, churches and stone walls. Small communities appeared around bends in the road, sometimes with only a church tower visible above the rooftops.
Compared with the open landscapes around Bordeaux, the Périgord Noir felt more enclosed, sheltered by its hills and forests.
Naturally, I kept spotting places where I wanted to stop for photographs.
One challenge of travelling with a photographer is that an ordinary stretch of road can suddenly become fascinating. Fortunately, the people accompanying me throughout this journey were exceptionally patient.
Where I Stayed in Sarlat
Hôtel Le Naâd
Location: 48 Avenue Gambetta, 24200 Sarlat-la-Canéda
For my stay in Sarlat, I checked into Hôtel Le Naâd, just outside the pedestrianized medieval centre.
The hotel has colourful, contemporary interiors that contrast with the centuries-old limestone buildings nearby. My room was comfortable, quiet and air-conditioned, especially welcome after travelling through the Dordogne in summer.
Within minutes, I could be wandering Sarlat’s historic streets, visiting restaurants or exploring the market.
Exploring Medieval Sarlat
An Evening Walk with Emma
For anyone visiting without a car, that convenience is worth considering. Being able to explore the centre on foot, particularly in the evening, makes the experience more relaxed.
At 6:30 p.m., Emma met me at the hotel for a guided walk through Sarlat’s medieval and Renaissance centre.
Yes, I wanted to learn about the town’s history, but I was equally interested in its architecture, quieter streets and the places where evening light would create the best photographs.
Buildings from different periods sit closely together, narrow streets open into courtyards, and elaborate stone details appear above easily overlooked doorways.
It’s a town where looking up is just as important as looking ahead.
Emma explained the changing architecture and led me off the busy streets into quieter passageways that framed the buildings beautifully.
These were places I might have missed without someone who knew the town so well.
And Emma had another challenge: keeping me moving.
Every time we made progress, I’d notice another doorway, staircase or patch of sunlight catching the limestone.
I’d stop, raise my camera and take another photograph.
Then another.
Fortunately, Emma appeared to enjoy the photography side of our walk almost as much as I did.
Sainte-Marie Church and Its Monumental Doors
Location: Place de la Liberté, 24200 Sarlat-la-Canéda
One of Sarlat’s most striking buildings is the former Sainte-Marie Church, transformed into a covered market by French architect Jean Nouvel.
The first thing that caught my attention was its enormous steel doors.
The steel doors create a dramatic contrast with the medieval stone façade, particularly when you’re standing beneath them.
The former church now welcomes shoppers and local producers, connecting Sarlat’s architectural heritage with everyday life.
Music in the Street
I’d experience that transformation properly when I returned for the Saturday market.
During our walk, someone began playing guitar, and a small group started dancing nearby.
Others stopped to watch. Some joined in.
Emma and I stopped too.
It was one of those unplanned moments that makes travelling enjoyable. Nobody needed to organize an experience or explain its historical importance.
For a few minutes, we simply watched people enjoying themselves.
Chasing the Evening Light Through Sarlat
It’s easy to think of medieval towns as collections of historic monuments. Moments like this remind you that people still live, work and enjoy their evenings among them.
Day visitors were leaving, restaurant terraces were filling, and warm light caught the golden limestone buildings. The narrow streets grew quieter, creating better opportunities to photograph the architecture without constantly waiting for people to pass.
A staircase framed by stone walls. A narrow street leading toward a church tower. A courtyard where light reaches only one side of the buildings.
Dinner at St. Victor
That alone is a good reason to stay overnight rather than visit on a day trip.
Location: 19 Rue Tourny, 24200 Sarlat-la-Canéda
After our walking tour, Emma accompanied me to St. Victor, introduced me to the team and made sure I was comfortably settled before leaving.
Seriously, how cool was Emma?
My table was at street level, exactly where I wanted to be. I could enjoy an apéro, watch people passing and take in the peaceful atmosphere.
St. Victor is an intimate wine bar and modern bistro offering seasonal dishes and a selection of natural and organic wines.
About 45 minutes after settling in, just as my appetite was becoming difficult to ignore, my duck breast and sides arrived.
Beautifully prepared and worth the wait.
The restaurant also has an inner courtyard, but I was happy watching Sarlat from my street-side table.
Exploring the Périgord Noir
Sometimes, that’s all I want from a good evening while travelling: excellent food, somewhere comfortable to sit and absolutely no reason to hurry.
The following morning, Katia accompanied me through some of the Périgord Noir’s most distinctive villages, castles and countryside attractions.
The Dordogne River had shaped trade and transportation. Limestone cliffs offered protection and strategic positions for castles, while forests and agricultural land influenced how communities developed.
La Roque-Gageac
I’d come to photograph beautiful places, but the stories behind them were becoming just as interesting.
Location: La Roque-Gageac, approximately 15 minutes from Sarlat by car
A Village Between Cliff and River
Arriving in La Roque-Gageac, the first thing I noticed was how little room there seemed to be for a village.
The Dordogne River runs along one side, while a towering limestone cliff rises almost directly behind the houses. The village occupies the narrow strip of land between them, with buildings appearing to climb the rock face.
The cliff offered protection, while the river provided transportation and trade. Generations built their homes and gardens wherever the terrain allowed.
For photography, the village, cliff and river work together. Each helps explain the scale of the others.
The River and the Gabarres
The Dordogne looked peaceful during my visit, but Katia explained how dramatically conditions can change when water levels rise.
During major floods, the river can spill into lower parts of La Roque-Gageac, covering sections of the road. She even told me about canoeing along the flooded roadway when the Dordogne was particularly high.
Standing there in summer, looking down at the river well below street level, that was difficult to imagine.
Historically, flat-bottomed wooden boats called gabarres transported timber, wine and other goods along the Dordogne. The river was an essential commercial route connecting communities throughout the valley.
Today, replica gabarre excursions offer visitors a different perspective of La Roque-Gageac, with views of the houses rising beneath the limestone cliff.
Climbing Through La Roque-Gageac
For travellers interested in photography, a boat excursion can also provide compositions that aren’t possible from the village streets.
As we climbed through the village, we stopped at Église Saint-Donat, a historic church tucked against the limestone surroundings.
Higher along the cliff stands the Troglodyte Fort, once associated with the nearby Abbey of Sarlat.
The narrow pathways and stone buildings reveal how residents adapted their homes to the limited space available between the river and rock.
Then we came across something I hadn’t expected.
An Unexpected Microclimate
La Roque-Gageac has a sheltered microclimate created by its south-facing limestone cliff, which absorbs warmth and offers protection from colder winds.
This allows palms, banana trees and citrus plants to grow among the medieval buildings.
Seeing tropical-looking vegetation against centuries-old limestone was wonderfully strange.
There I was, surrounded by the Dordogne River, historic stone houses and a towering cliff, and suddenly, a palm tree.
Château de Beynac
Location: Place du Château, 24220 Beynac-et-Cazenac
Perched on a limestone cliff approximately 150 metres above the river, the fortress was built for defence and control, not simply to enjoy the scenery.
Much of the castle dates to the 12th century. During the Hundred Years’ War, the surrounding valley became a strategic area contested by French and English forces.
Across the Dordogne, Château de Castelnaud stood on the opposing side.
From Beynac’s terraces, the views stretch across the river, farmland, villages and distant castles.
Looking across the valley today, it’s difficult to imagine the tension that once existed between these fortified positions.
The castle also gave me an unexpected photography opportunity.
While exploring, I noticed someone who immediately caught my attention as a potential portrait subject.
I hesitated.
Even after years of photographing people while travelling, I occasionally need a moment to work up the courage to approach a stranger.
Eventually, I asked.
I’m glad I did, because the resulting photograph became one of my favourite portraits from the journey.
Roland’s Tip: Visitors can reach Château de Beynac by walking uphill through the village’s steep cobbled streets or using parking closer to the castle. The lower route is beautiful, but it requires comfortable footwear and a reasonable level of mobility.
Jardins de Marqueyssac
Location: 24220 Vézac, approximately 15 minutes from Sarlat
A Landscape Shaped by Hand
After exploring medieval castles and villages, Jardins de Marqueyssac offered a completely different perspective on the Dordogne landscape.
The estate is famous for its extraordinary boxwood gardens, where thousands of plants have been carefully pruned into rounded, flowing shapes.
Instead of straight hedges and formal patterns, the boxwood creates soft, sculpted forms that seem to roll across the grounds.
Our guide knew both the main viewpoints and the quieter corners after years working at Marqueyssac.
Move a few metres, and the composition changes. Sunlight catches the rounded tops of the boxwood, while the spaces between them fall into shadow.
Then there were the peacocks.
They roam freely through the grounds, adding flashes of colour against the greenery and pale stone.
And judging by their behaviour, they were perfectly happy to have an audience.
The winding pathways eventually lead toward the Belvedere, a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the Dordogne Valley.
Seeing the places we’d visited spread across the valley helped me connect them.
From there, villages, castles, forests and farmland spread across the landscape.
Roland’s Tip: Allow time to explore beyond the main viewpoints. The garden’s winding pathways and sculpted boxwood offer some of its most interesting photographic compositions.
Lunch at Paddock 135
Location: Vézac, near the main Dordogne Valley attractions
After a morning of medieval villages, castles and formal gardens, Paddock 135 offered a welcome change of atmosphere.
The restaurant combines the relaxed spirit of a French guinguette with an unexpected collection of vintage cars, motorcycles and mechanical decorations.
It was playful, informal and completely different from the historic sites we’d been visiting.
Paddock 135 serves regional products and Périgord specialties associated with Maison Lagrèze.
The weather was hot, and by then, Katia and I were enjoying the opportunity to sit down, have lunch and laugh about the morning.
Discovering the Tradition Behind Walnut Oil
Moulin du Trel
Location: Trel, 24220 Vézac
Before visiting Moulin du Trel, I hadn’t given much thought to how walnut oil was traditionally produced.
That changed the moment I stepped inside.
The mill still uses water-powered machinery to produce walnut oil through a process involving wooden gears, a heavy grinding stone and a traditional press.
Watching the machinery operate was fascinating.
Water turns the wheel, wooden gears transfer the movement, and a large stone crushes the walnut kernels. The resulting paste is warmed before being pressed to extract the oil.
And the smell?
Imagine an entire building filled with the aroma of toasted walnuts.
After the oil is extracted, the remaining walnut material can even be ground into flour, making use of nearly everything.
Throughout my journey in the Périgord Noir, walnuts had appeared on menus, in markets and among the region’s traditional products.
But seeing the production process connected something familiar to the people, machinery and knowledge behind it.
It’s easy to pick up a bottle of walnut oil in a shop without considering the work required to produce it.
After this visit, I certainly won’t look at it quite the same way.
Layers of History in the Périgord Noir
Château de Commarque
Location: Route du Château de Commarque, 24620 Les Eyzies
A Castle Reclaimed from the Forest
Hidden within a wooded valley, the site brings together prehistoric shelters, troglodyte dwellings, medieval buildings and the remains of a fortified castle.
Rather than presenting history from one period, Commarque reveals how generations occupied the same landscape in very different ways.
The castle was abandoned near the end of the 16th century and gradually disappeared beneath vegetation.
Its modern rescue began after the property was purchased in 1972. Over the following decades, restoration work brought much of the site back into view.
What I appreciated was that Commarque hadn’t been restored into something that looked new.
The ruins, caves, defensive walls and surrounding forest still seemed connected.
The People Behind Its Preservation
Walking through the site, I could understand how the natural landscape had influenced where people settled and how they protected themselves.
The owners were there.
Seeing them sitting within the property they had spent decades helping preserve gave the experience a personal dimension.
It’s one thing to admire the remains of a medieval fortress. It’s another to meet the people responsible for protecting it.
Centuries of History in One Place
Their dedication helped bring a nearly forgotten historic site back into public view.
Commarque contains evidence of prehistoric occupation, caves, rock shelters and later medieval settlement.
Above the natural shelters rise the remains of homes, defensive structures and a keep overlooking the valley.
Modern scanning technology is also helping researchers study parts of Commarque that cannot safely be opened to visitors.
Les Cabanes du Breuil
It’s also a reminder that preserving historic sites requires an extraordinary amount of work, often carried out over generations.
Location: 1790 Route des Cabanes, 24200 Saint-André-d’Allas
The Remarkable Simplicity of Dry-Stone Architecture
After visiting some of the Dordogne’s impressive castles, Les Cabanes du Breuil offered a fascinating look at a much simpler form of architecture.
Built entirely from dry stone, the cabanes use no mortar, cement or traditional roof framing. Instead, carefully positioned layers of limestone overlap inward, creating stable walls and roofs through the weight and placement of the stones.
Every stone has a purpose.
The structures were designed for practical rural life, serving as shelters for livestock, agricultural storage, workshops and other everyday uses.
The builders understood how to use local materials to withstand the elements without modern construction techniques.
Chasing a Hot-Air Balloon by Drone
Castles tend to dominate conversations about historic architecture, but places like Les Cabanes du Breuil deserve just as much appreciation.
Sometimes, the most impressive engineering is found in the simplest buildings.
Operator: Périgord Montgolfière
Meeting point: Confirm with the operator, as launch locations depend on wind and weather conditions.
The hot-air-balloon adventure wasn’t part of my original itinerary.
And that’s probably why it became one of my favourite memories of the trip.
After a long day exploring the Périgord Noir, I unexpectedly found myself preparing my drone beside a hot-air balloon as the burners fired and the basket slowly began to rise.
I had a photograph in mind.
Ideally, I’d capture the balloon floating across the landscape with Château de Biron in the background.
Unfortunately, the wind hadn’t been consulted about my plans.
As the balloon rose, it drifted across fields, forests, rivers and rooftops, moving away from the composition I’d imagined.
I worked to maintain a safe distance, keep the drone within visual contact and find a better angle as the landscape changed beneath it.
Meanwhile, Katia stayed with me.
We’d already spent hours visiting castles, gardens, mills and villages in temperatures above 30°C, with countless photography stops.
Yet she remained patient every time I wanted to reposition, wait a little longer or try another angle.
Anyone who has travelled with a photographer knows this can become a lengthy process.
In the end, I didn’t capture the exact photograph I’d imagined.
But I came away with a memorable experience, some wonderful images and a good laugh about the whole adventure.
After all, you can’t exactly ask a hot-air balloon to move two metres to the left.
Katia, thank you for chasing it with me.
Dinner at La Couleuvrine
Location: 1 Place de la Bouquerie, 24200 Sarlat-la-Canéda
By the time we returned to Sarlat, Katia and I were exhausted.
After the heat, walking and balloon chase, the terrace at La Couleuvrine was particularly welcome.
We started with an apéro, followed by steak frites with béarnaise sauce.
The manager stopped by several times, sometimes to check on us and sometimes simply for a conversation or a laugh.
That relaxed hospitality made the evening especially enjoyable.
And after spending most of it on the move, there was something wonderful about finally sitting still.
Saturday Morning in Sarlat
A Market Full of Local Flavours
If there’s one morning worth planning around during a visit to Sarlat, it’s Saturday.
The historic centre comes alive as market stalls fill the streets and squares around Place de la Liberté. Local producers display cheeses, walnuts, sausages, seasonal fruit, wines and traditional Périgord specialties.
After spending the previous day discovering how the region produces some of its food, I was particularly interested in seeing those products at the market.
And naturally, I wanted to taste everything.
I sampled local cheeses and sausages while wandering between the stalls, eventually coming away with a cheeseboard, a bottle of regional wine and a picnic basket.
Markets are among my favourite places to visit when travelling. They offer an opportunity to discover regional food, meet producers and observe everyday life beyond the usual tourist attractions.
Roland’s Tip: Plan your visit around Saturday morning if you enjoy regional food and photography. Arriving early gives you more time to explore before the busiest crowds.
The Covered Market at Sainte-Marie Church
When I’d visited Sainte-Marie Church with Emma, its enormous steel doors had been one of the architectural highlights of our walk.
Returning on Saturday morning, I finally saw the building serving its new purpose.
The monumental doors were open, and shoppers moved between food stalls inside the former church.
With shoppers moving between the food stalls, the former church felt part of daily life again.
The Panoramic Elevator: Sarlat from Above
It’s worth visiting for the architecture alone, but the market gives you another reason to step inside.
Entrance: Inside the former Sainte-Marie Church
One of Sarlat’s most interesting viewpoints is reached through a glass elevator installed inside the former church’s bell tower.
The ascent begins within the stone tower before the elevator rises above the surrounding rooftops.
From above, the medieval centre becomes a collection of golden limestone buildings, tiled roofs, narrow streets and small squares. On market day, the movement of shoppers adds another layer to the scene.
From the tower, the town’s layout became much easier to understand.
For photographers, the elevated perspective offers an opportunity to capture the historic centre as a whole rather than focusing on individual buildings.
Roland’s Tip: If you’re photographing Sarlat, combine an evening walk through the historic centre with a visit to the panoramic elevator. The two viewpoints reveal completely different sides of the town.
Check opening times and elevator availability before visiting.
Photography Strategy & Field Notes
Choosing the Right Lenses
Sarlat and the surrounding Périgord Noir offer an extraordinary variety of photographic opportunities, from narrow medieval streets to river valleys, gardens and hilltop castles.
Wide-angle photography: A 16–35mm lens is particularly useful in Sarlat’s narrow streets, where photographing tall buildings and architectural details can be challenging.
Telephoto photography: A 70–200mm lens works well at Château de Beynac and Jardins de Marqueyssac, allowing you to isolate distant castles, villages and river landscapes.
Working with the Light
Summer sunlight can be harsh, especially when it reflects off Sarlat’s golden limestone.
For a more comfortable photography schedule, consider visiting indoor attractions or taking a lunch break during the brightest part of the day, generally between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. in summer.
Photographing Markets and People
Markets are wonderful places for street photography, but remember that the people working there aren’t simply part of the scenery.
When photographing vendors up close, I prefer to ask permission first.
A friendly conversation can also lead to a much more interesting portrait.
Drone Photography
The Dordogne Valley offers spectacular aerial photography opportunities, but historic sites, populated areas and protected landscapes may have restrictions.
Before flying, verify current French aviation regulations, local restrictions and any required permissions.
Visiting Sarlat Without a Car
A beautiful photograph isn’t worth ignoring safety or the rules.
One of the advantages of staying in central Sarlat is that the medieval town is easy to explore on foot.
Restaurants, markets and historic buildings are within walking distance of central accommodation.
La Roque-Gageac, Beynac, Marqueyssac and Commarque are spread across the countryside, so plan transport before choosing your stops.
My two-day itinerary was possible because transportation had been arranged in advance.
Without a car, consider booking a guided excursion, hiring a private driver or choosing fewer attractions rather than trying to visit everything.
Roland’s Tip: If you’re relying on public transportation, make Sarlat your base and explore the historic centre independently. Arrange transportation for countryside attractions ahead of time, particularly during the busy summer season.
Accessibility and Physical Considerations
The Périgord Noir is beautiful, but some of its most memorable attractions involve uneven terrain, steep pathways and historic buildings that weren’t designed with modern accessibility in mind.
Sarlat’s medieval centre has cobblestone streets and occasional slopes. Surrounding castles and villages may involve stone staircases, steep climbs or woodland trails.
Château de Beynac, for example, sits high above the Dordogne River, and the walk through the lower village requires a considerable climb.
If you have mobility concerns, check accessibility information directly with individual attractions before visiting.
Where possible, look for parking closer to entrances, available assistance or alternative viewpoints that don’t require difficult walking.
Leaving Sarlat for Saint-Émilion
A Picnic and a Regional Train
A little research beforehand can make a significant difference to how comfortably you experience the region.
Before leaving Sarlat, I made one final food stop at À Table Sarlat, where I picked up an exceptional homemade picnic.
Originally, the idea was to enjoy it before departure.
But as often happens when I’m travelling, we decided to keep exploring, and lunch was postponed.
Fortunately, the picnic travelled well.
I eventually opened it aboard the regional train toward Libourne, my next stop on the way to Château Hôtel Grand Barrail near Saint-Émilion.
The forests, limestone cliffs and medieval villages of the Périgord Noir gave way to broader fields and the vineyards surrounding Bordeaux’s wine country.
On the regional train, I could enjoy the scenery without worrying about driving or parking.
I had my picnic, a window seat and plenty of scenery to enjoy.
At Libourne station, transportation arranged by Château Hôtel Grand Barrail was waiting to take me to the hotel.
Why I Love Sarlat and the Périgord Noir
After several busy days exploring the Dordogne, the slower pace of the train journey was a welcome change.
I left with a much better understanding of how the landscape has shaped life in the Périgord Noir.
In La Roque-Gageac, I discovered how a village adapted to the narrow space between a cliff and river. At Château de Beynac, the view across the valley helped explain why geography played such an important role in medieval conflicts.
Moulin du Trel introduced me to the traditional work behind walnut oil, while Les Cabanes du Breuil demonstrated how generations of builders created practical structures using little more than locally available stone.
At Château de Commarque, I met people whose dedication helped preserve centuries of history.
And then there was that hot-air balloon.
I’d imagined the photograph I wanted before the balloon even left the ground. The wind, unfortunately, had an entirely different composition in mind.
What made this journey memorable wasn’t simply the number of places I visited. It was the people who shared their knowledge, the unexpected experiences and the opportunity to understand what made each place different.
My ambitious two-day visit depended on arranged transportation. Independent travellers should allow three or four nights for a more comfortable pace.
Sarlat itself deserves time, particularly in the evening when the medieval streets become quieter. But I’d encourage anyone visiting to explore beyond the town as well.
And believe me, there are plenty of reasons to stop for another photograph.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Sarlat combines a preserved medieval centre with easy access to some of the Périgord Noir’s most interesting villages, castles, gardens and regional food experiences.
Allow three or four nights for a relaxed visit to Sarlat and the surrounding valley. My own visit covered two busy days with transportation arranged in advance; it is a firsthand account rather than a schedule to copy stop for stop.
Yes, particularly the historic centre. Reaching surrounding attractions is easier with a vehicle, driver, guide or organized excursion.
Sarlat’s markets are generally held on Wednesday and Saturday, with Saturday being the larger market.
Regional specialties include walnuts, walnut oil, duck, foie gras, truffles, cheeses and potatoes cooked with duck fat, garlic and parsley.
Very. Medieval architecture, golden limestone, markets, river landscapes, gardens and elevated viewpoints provide very different photographic opportunities within a relatively small region.
Yes, particularly for photographers and first-time visitors. The rooftop viewpoint makes Sarlat’s medieval street pattern much easier to appreciate.
About the Author
Roland Bast is an award-winning Canadian travel photographer and destination storyteller whose work combines firsthand experiences, original photography and practical travel planning.
Through his slow travel approach, Roland helps independent travellers explore destinations at a realistic pace, with attention to logistics, local experiences and the stories behind the places they visit.
His photography and travel writing have appeared in publications including Canadian Geographic, The New York Times, CAA Magazine and WestJet Magazine.
Stop Rushing. Start Travelling.
Keep Exploring France
For more destinations and firsthand stories, explore my France travel library.
Planning the wider region? Read my Dordogne slow-travel guide and Bordeaux, Cognac and Périgord logistics guide.
Follow the next stage of my journey with my stay at Hôtel Grand Barrail near Saint-Émilion.
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