Call to book01904 734 939
Tour Search
#Favourites

La Roque-Gageac

Officially recognised as one of the most beautiful villages in France, La Roque-Gageac is largely situated at the foot of a cliff on the banks of the Dordogne River in central south-western France.

1 result matching: Discover La Roque-Gageac

Filter by
Clear All
Holiday type
Reset
Holiday length
Reset
Transport type
Reset
Additional options
Reset
The Charming Dordogne
Save up to £150pp
4.2 stars(178 reviews)
2024AprMayJunJulAug...
7 days from
£899 pp £799 pp
View Details
Save up to £150pp
7 days from
£899
£799
per person
View Details
Tour map
  • DestinationFrance
  • Starts / EndsSt Pancras International
  • AccommodationHotel
  • TransportRail, Coach
Map and accommodation
Our customers love our La Roque-Gageac tours
The Charming Dordogne
08 Oct 2023
Graham
5 stars
“Very interesting and informative. Beautiful views, interesting places. Particularly enjoyed the Truffle Train, and the pilgrim links at Rocamador. Excellent hotel and tour manager.
Collected by Trustpilot

As with many European destinations, although there is evidence of human inhabitancy in the area dating back to prehistoric times, La Roque-Gageac's origins as a settlement really begin in the Roman era. A potential target of Vikings and other invaders, the village's cliff-side position proved beneficial; in the twelfth century a virtually impregnable fortress was constructed high up in the rock face and remained an effective defence until its dismantling in the eighteenth century.

La Roque-Gageac itself is a delightful jumble of medieval cottages and houses built from the distinctive honey-coloured stone found in the Périgord Noir region of France. These are overlooked by a beautiful sixteenth-century Renaissance-style manor house, the former home of Jean-Gabriel Tarde, an astronomer, philosopher and mathematician also regarded as one of the founding fathers of sociology.

As a result of its geographical position, sheltered by cliffs, and its south-facing orientation, La Roque-Gageac benefits from its own consistently-warm microclimate; a fact exploited by the botanist Gerard Dorin in 1970 when he created a tropical garden beside the village church where banana, olive, fig and lemon trees still thrive along with palms and other exotic plants.

In medieval times La Roque-Gageac's location on the Dordogne River assured the village's prosperity as a busy trading port. Goods were transported along the river in traditional flat-bottomed boats called 'Gabares'. Today, visitors can take a river cruise in replicas of these trading vessels, and this provides an exceptional view of La Roque-Gageac, particularly in the mid-to-late afternoon when the lowering sun beautifully illuminates the village's honey-coloured buildings.

Just across the river from La Roque-Gageac, the magnificent twelfth-century castle Chateau de Castelnaud dominates a hill overlooking the river valley and offers unsurpassed views of the beautiful surrounding countryside. The castle is unmissable in its own right, boasting a turbulent history and a remarkable collection of full-scale medieval weapons and other fascinating exhibits in its Museum of War and the Middle Ages.

Equally unmissable for visitors to La Roque-Gageac are the stunning Jardins de Marqueyssac just two kilometres from the village. Situated high above the Dordogne River these vast formal gardens are noted for their exquisite topiary shrubs and hedges which have been shaped into stylised spirals and swirls. Several kilometres of footpaths, accessible for everyone, and a delightful eighteenth-century promenade ensure that these spectacular gardens and the views they offer can be enjoyed in full.