Dordogne at a glance

Find out all you need to know about Dordogne, a popular department in the south-west of France that attracts many expats and visitors

In the south-west of France is the expat-favourite Dordogne in Aquitaine which, despite its popularity with Brits, averages a modest property price of €115,000. There are good reasons for Dordogne’s popularity including the great weather, beautiful countryside, quintessentially French villages and delicious gastronomy, along with its easy access to the UK via Bergerac and Brive Vallée de la Dordogne airports.

Local specialities include duck, foie gras and truffles, and the department is home to the prolific wine-producing area around Bergerac. Notable towns to visit include Sarlat-la-Canéda, Périgueux and Bergerac while there are hundreds of pretty villages with a busy social calendar of village fêtes and festivals. For history buffs, there are the prehistoric caves at Lascaux and numerous châteaux left after The Hundred Years’ War; and the countryside offers a chance to take part in outdoor pursuits.

What an expat says:

Kate Bouyer has lived in Dordogne for 13 years and wouldn’t change it for the world. “Life and living in Dordogne is a diverse mixture of history, beautiful scenery and delicious and inspiring food, where my family and I can live outdoors in the spring, summer and autumn. I have found that there is a wide range of nationalities and cultures that seem to live in harmony in this peaceful part of France, and I would not want to be anywhere else.”

What a property agent says:

“Dordogne has long been popular with British buyers: far enough south to enjoy much improved weather, but within a day’s drive from the Channel ports and tunnel. British buyers typically think of spending up to €250,000 which could buy a character farmhouse with a pool.”

Julie Savill, Beaux VillagesRead more about Dordogne