Where to stay in Dordogne for prehistory, castles and fine dining

The Dordogne is a large department, and the choice of base shapes the whole holiday. Some travellers want to be close to the medieval streets of Sarlat, others to the castles that line the Dordogne river, others again to the caves and shelters of prehistory. Knowing where to stay in Dordogne means first deciding which of these worlds matters most, then finding an address that keeps the others within easy reach.

Sarlat is the best-known town of the Périgord Noir. The Sarlat tourist office describes a small medieval town between the Dordogne and Vézère valleys, famous for its cobbled lanes and its market of local produce. Staying in the centre puts you at the heart of the action, although the old streets fill up quickly in high season. Further south, the Dordogne river is guarded by fortresses such as Castelnaud, a 13th-century stronghold perched above the valley, whose museum of medieval warfare displays weapons, armour and full-size siege engines.

The river valley has other jewels too. Beynac and its castle, the cliff-side village of La Roque-Gageac, from where hot-air balloons take off, or the hilltop town of Domme each deserve a day. These places are wonderful to visit, and each of them is listed by the hotel among its suggested day trips, generally around half an hour away by car, sometimes a little more.

The Vézère valley, a short drive north-west of Sarlat, offers a quieter alternative. Its villages and cliffs concentrate the most famous prehistoric sites in the region, and Les Eyzies sits right at its centre. From there, Sarlat lies eighteen kilometres away, Lascaux about half an hour, and the castles along the Dordogne river roughly thirty minutes by car. Many visitors wondering where to stay in Dordogne end up choosing this valley for that very reason: everything is close, yet the evenings stay calm. It is also where Les Glycines welcomes its guests, in the heart of Les Eyzies, a few minutes' walk from the National Museum of Prehistory and its rich collections.

Whichever area you choose, Les Glycines makes the logistics simple:

• Cycle hire, to request from reception a day in advance.
• Walking maps of the valley handed out at the front desk.
• A picnic basket from the kitchen for your day trips.

Good Dordogne accommodation should suit the way you travel, whether as a couple, with friends or with children. Once a staging post for stagecoaches, Les Glycines now holds four stars yet counts just twenty-five rooms, spread between the old building and three hectares of gardens. You can choose between the character of the historic house and the privacy of a wooden lodge among the trees. Detailed pages, with pictures and floor areas, present every category:

• Classic Room: a simple, practical choice for two people.
• Junior Suite: a lounge area and space for up to three guests.
• PRM Room: adapted for reduced mobility, served by the lift.
• Lodge: an independent wooden house that sleeps a family of four.

For a romantic trip, two other options stand out. Charm Rooms come with 180 cm beds and, in some cases, their own outdoor space. The wooden Ecolodge Suite is one of the most spacious, with a private bedroom and a generous sun deck turned towards the cliffs. Families, on the other hand, value the lodges, where children and parents each keep their own space after a busy day of visits. A lift serves the upper floors of the main building, which helps with luggage and pushchairs alike, and the room adapted for reduced mobility makes the house accessible to every guest.

Whatever the category, the setting remains the same: lawns shaded by weeping willows, rose bushes, beehives and a pool heated during the summer months. Booking on the hotel website gives access to the last rooms available, with immediate confirmation and direct contact with the team before arrival. Those arriving in an electric car can plug in overnight, as the property is equipped with chargers for Tesla and Porsche models. When comparing places to stay in the Dordogne, these practical details often make the difference once the holiday has begun, especially for a stay of several nights. Staying in one place for the whole holiday also means unpacking only once, then exploring a new corner of the Périgord every morning without the stress of moving on.

Beyond the room itself, the best places to stay in the Dordogne are those where evenings are as enjoyable as the days. Reserved for adults, the Sothys wellness area spreads over 162 m². Guests reserve a slot to enjoy its heated pool, its hammam and its sauna in peace. Treatments for face and body are offered at the beauty Institute nearby, as described on the wellness page.

For dinner, there is no need to drive anywhere. Chef Pascal Lombard cooks for two restaurants: the Bistro, with its open kitchen and generous dishes, and Le 1862, awarded a Michelin star in 2022. His menus draw on local farms, the hotel's organic kitchen garden and black truffle in winter. Opening days for each dining room appear on the Les Glycines restaurants page, and a cellar of nearly five hundred wines completes the experience. The bar, by the fireplace, welcomes guests for afternoon tea as well as for a glass of champagne in the evening. Croustous, the Périgord take on tapas, can be ordered there too, a pleasant way to wait for a table or to end the evening without a full dinner.

The season also influences the choice. Summer suits canoeing on the Vézère and long evenings by the pool, while winter brings truffle stays and quieter visits. Seasonal packages that combine the room with dinner or an excursion are listed on the offers page, worth checking before you fix your dates. Some sites, such as the Grand Roc cave, close in winter, whereas the National Museum of Prehistory welcomes visitors all year round. In spring and autumn, the valley is often at its most pleasant, with mild weather, quieter roads and soft light on the limestone cliffs.

In short, the answer to where to stay in Dordogne depends on what you want to see, but a central village in the Vézère valley makes every part of the region easy to reach. With its 4-star comfort, its spa and its starred table, Les Glycines offers a base where each day ends in calm, a few steps from the museum and a short drive from Sarlat and the castles.

To round off each day, guests can enjoy:

• The adults-only Sothys spa, accessible by reservation.
• The bar by the fireplace, for afternoon tea or champagne.
• The cellar, with close to five hundred wines to discover.