Best of Bordeaux & Dordogne: Food, Wine and Heritage (Tour code: 12409)

Welcome to Bordeaux and you will be met by a representative at the station and be trasferred to the hotel, right in the heart of the historical center.

Overnight stay in Bordeaux at Hotel De Seze.

Bordeaux

After breakfast at the hotel, meet at 9.30am at the Tourist Office of Bordeaux. Discover the Magic of the ‘Right Bank’ Wine Region of Bordeaux.

The wine region of Libournais encompasses much of what is referred to as the Right Bank. Named after its historical capital, the expression Right Bank typically refers to wines from the Pomerol and St-Emilion areas of the Libournais. There are several villages around the region that share the Saint-Émilion name, such as Montagne-Saint-Émilion and St-Georges-Saint-Émilion that are named the satellite appellations.
The area is bordered to the west by Pomerol. Merlot is the dominant grape in this area, followed by Cabernet Franc and a very small quantity of Malbec that is tending to disappear. The climate and damp, cool soils of the area make it difficult for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to fully ripen and, as such, they are less often used. Mix Incredible Wineries with the Enchanting Village of Saint Emilion.

Today, depart for the Saint Emilion wine region and enjoy a visit and wine tasting in a famous Classified growth Chateau of the Saint Emilion appellation or surrounding (Pomerol, Fronsac, Lalande de Pomerol…). Then, arrive in the village and participate in another visit of a Classified Growth Chateau, followed by some free time for personal discovery and lunch. In the afternoon, after a walking tour of the village, experience another visit and wine tasting session in a local winery of the Saint Emilion appellation or surrounding (Pomerol, Fronsac, Lalande de Pomerol…). The wine tasting fees, the guided walking tour of the village and bottled water in the minivan are all included.

5.30pm return to Bordeaux.

Overnight stay in Bordeaux at Hotel De Seze.

Saint Emilion

After breakfast, you will start your day with a winery located along a Full Day Including Visits to 3 Renowned Estates.

The Medoc area covers approximately 5,700 hectares of declared vineyards, annually producing on average 300,000 hectoliters of wine. Of the grape varieties permitted, 50% of the viticultural area is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and to a lesser extent Petit Verdot and Malbec. Also allowed within the AOC regulations are the varieties Cabernet Franc and Carménère. Taste Fabulous Wines, Guided by a Knowledgeable Hand.

This morning, head towards the famous Medoc wine region with your small group tour. On this full day tour, experience 3 visits and wine tasting sessions in Classified Growth or Cru Bourgeois Wineries that have been carefully selected for their exceptional setting and quality of wine. During these visits you will learn all there is to know about the history of the estates, the wine making process as well as the techniques used during the winemaking. The visits are followed by a wine tasting session. The wineries are usually located in Margaux, Saint Julien, Pauillac or the Haut Medoc appellations. Stop along the famous Route des Chateaux for great photo opportunities.

During the day you will inevitably drive along the D2 road or Route des Chateaux as it is known locally. It is along this route that some of the most famous Wineries such as Chateau Margaux, Chateau Palmer, Chateau Latour or Chateau Pichon Longueville are located. Depending on the timing of the tour, your guide will certainly make a stop in front of one of these world renowned wineries so that you may have the opportunity to take some photos. At 6.00pm, your guide will drop you off at 12 cours du 30 Juillet, (Bordeaux) which is just at 3 minutes walking from your hotel.

Overnight stay in Bordeaux at Hotel De Seze.

Vineyards

After breakfast,  private transfer from your hotel in Bordeaux to Sarlat.

Upon arrival in Sarlat, check in at your accommodation and rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight stay in Sarlat at Hotel Plaza Madeleine.

Dordogne

After breakfast, experience the best of historic Sarlat with a 2 hour walking tour.

With your guide, tour the city's most notable landmarks like the Lantern of the Dead, a small stone tower located behind the Cathedral. Lanterns were once used to mark the location of a cemetery. The little apertures at the top of the structure where the light was shown at night gave them the name Lanterns. According to folklore, the Lantern of Sarlat was constructed to commemorate Bernard de Clairvaux's trip through the city in 1147. Another theory is that the Lantern is a representation of the dome of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem as it has been depicted from the 4th century: a circular tower with an entrance on the first level and a second level covered by a canopy with 12 columns.

Continue with a visit to Saint Sacerdos Cathedral. The Cathedral is mainly Gothique or northern influence. The bell tower dates back to the 12th century and is the oldest part of the building with the bulbed belfry at the top being more recent as it was added in the 19th century.

Then, discover the Old Sainte-Marie Church, the construction of the Church dates back to the middle of the 14th century and was consecrated in 1507. By 1794 the church was abandoned and transformed into a bakery, a post office and finally sold in 1805. In 1834 the town of Sarlat bought back the land and the church was renovated. In 2001 the Church was again transformed, into the covered market you see today.

Visit the House of La Boétie, built in the Italian Renaissance style in 1525 and it is the birthplace of Étienne de La Boétie, a magistrate, writer, jurist, and philosopher. The façade of this Private Mansion's principal architectural characteristics are wide mullion windows flanked by pilasters carved with big medallions. In 1899, the house was designated as a historical landmark.

In the afternoon, jaunt through the breathtaking landscape and traditional medieval villages of Dordogne Valley.

Begin with the Bastide Village of Domme. The village is classified as one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France or “The Most Beautiful Villages of France”. Drive to La Roque-Gageac and enjoy a peaceful cruise on the Dordogne River on board an authentic Gabarre to admire the mighty castles that line the river. The boat ride lasts about one hour (tickets not included) and comes highly recommended. The Gabarres are traditional flat-bottomed boats that have been used for transporting goods along the Dordogne since the Middle Ages. 

Finally, arrive at Beynac to take in the sights of the hamlet and castle. This Middle Age structure, with its austere aspect, sits on a limestone cliff, commanding the town and the Dordogne River's north bank. The Lords of Beynac (one of Périgord's four baronies) erected the fortress to seal the valley in the 12th century. See architectural phenomenon, aided by nature, and discover more about the history of this unusual city on this half-day tour!

Return to your accomodation in Sarlat at 5:30 pm. 

Overnight stay in Sarlat at Hotel Plaza Madeleine.

Garonne river

After breakfast, discover the Paleolithic Art of the Dordogne. 

Begin the day in Les Eyzies de Tayac for a guided visit of the National Museum of Prehistory. Established in July 2004, the museum houses some 18,000 pieces and a collection of six million artifacts. The museum possesses the largest collection of prehistoric artifacts in the world. Follow your guide and discover the main chapters of the Hominids’ development through an anthropological frieze and a brief reminder of Africa’s history, starting with the early Australopithecus. Visit the permanent exhibit galleries that will plunge you into the mists of time, revealing seven sequences that cover the entire Paleolithic era through an “ideal historiography”.

Enjoy some free time for lunch (at your own expense)  in Montignac or a village in the Dordogne region. Ask your guide for recommendations.

Visit the brand new Lascaux IV Cave in Montignac – which opened in December 2016. Follow your guide and take some time to visit the exhibitions and the Centre for Prehistoric Cave Art.

Complete your journey with a visit to Rouffignac Cave, which has state-of-the-art original cave paintings as well as real etchings and sketches. François de Belleforest first described the Rouffignac Cave in 1575. He mentioned "paintings and animal trails" in his " Cosmographie Universelle". The cave was formerly a popular tourist destination in the 19th century. Famous archaeologists like as Henri Breuil, André Glory, and Martel visited the cave in the early 20th century, but it wasn't until 1956 that two prehistorians from the Pyrenees, Louis-René Nougier and Romain Robert, found and validated the cave art.

After the visit, return to Sarlat around 06.00pm.

Overnight stay in Sarlat at Hotel Plaza Madeleine.

After breakfast, meet your English speaking driver-guide at Place Pasteur and depart for the village of Rocamadour.

Miraculous rock, collection of tales, legends and beliefs, sanctuary of the Black Virgin, pilgrimage site: the Village of Rocamadour is all of this at the same time. The old medieval houses, the towers and fortifications, the oratories all tumble along the steep cliff that dominates the Alzou Canyon. The whole site is topped off by the castle and its dungeon and the seven sanctuaries. Your guide will certainly stop here for a breathtaking view of the whole site that make for fantastic photo opportunities.

You will follow a guided walking tour of the village and then enjoy some free time for lunch. Rocamadour is without a doubt one of the most beautiful villages of the area. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site as it is located on the way to Santiago de Compostela (St James Way), the main attraction of the village lies in its sanctuaries especially that of Notre Dame that bears a statue of the Black Virgin. 

The visit of the village can be difficult for those with walking difficulties due to the step paths and steps, but please note that you may access the sanctuaries by lift (tickets not included in price). For lunch, there are many restaurants & snacks to be found in the village and your guide will make suggestions depending on what type of meal you are looking for.

Overnight stay in Sarlat at Hotel Plaza Madeleine.

Rocamadour

Your package ends this morning after breakfast at the hotel.