La Roque Gageac

La Roque Gageac

Rooftops over La Roque Gageac

La Roque Gageac sits right alongside the Dordogne river, just under 10km from Sarlat. The light yellow-coloured architecture, a theme found throughout the Dordogne, is very beautiful among the properties here.

The main road winds between the main row of properties (mainly tourist shops and a few cafes and restaurants) backed by the cliffs, and the river. Above and behind the row of properties on the front are more buildings set into or around the cliff face.

A small path follows through between these bulidings, and gardens/greenery, leading up to a fantastic castle with an arched entrance. Beyond the castle and through the entrance lies the troglodyte caves set high in the cliff face.

La Roque Gageac has won the ‘prettiest village in France’ contest, and consequently gets very busy, filling the car park at the end of town with tourist coaches and cars

View from Grottes

Castle

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Attractions

As you will see if you visit La Roque Gageac, there are frequent canoe trips along the Dordogne river that pass through the town. This offers an enjoyable, relaxing perspective of the town, while bypassing the large number of tourists. Although, it is definitely worth a walk around the town on foot to see more closely for yourself.

River Boat

Grottes

The troglodyte caves set 40 metres up into the cliffs, date back to the 12th century, where the troglodytes hid but were prepared for attack with very good defensive vantage points. To get to the caves, it’s a small fee (a few euros) and a short climb in through the property/office at the bottom, up through the buliding that used to be part of a mansion, then up through the roof onto metal steps that take to the caves. Another reason for visiting the caves is the view over the town and the countryside.