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Real estate Dordogne: land of early man
Better known as Périgord, the land of a thousand castles has all the advantages to win you over: an exceptional cultural heritage, stunning natural settings and an opulent gastronomy, where truffles take center stage. Those early humans had it right when they took up residence in Lascaux!
Real estate trends
Dordogne is still an affordable department. In Périgueux, the average m² price for older property is approximately 1,500 € (2,000 € in Sarlat). For Périgord overall, transactions on single homes average around 130,000 € (115,000 € in Bergerac, 140,000 € in Périgueux) according to La Vie immobilière (http://www.lavieimmo.com) .
Traditional housing
It is as multi-faceted as Périgord itself. The typical Périgord farm consisted of low buildings with gable roofs, topped with French tiles. The ground floor served as a living or work space, and attics became storage areas. An eye-catching tree (walnut, linden, oak…) usually graced the center of the courtyard.
Location
East of the Gironde and the Landes, Dordogne is one of the five departments of the Aquitaine region. Several low cost airlines link Paris and London to the Bergerac and Brive (Corrèze) airports. The TER rail system serves the department by train from Libourne (TGV) or Limoges (Coral). Expect the Paris-Périgueux trip to take 4 and a half hours.
Scenery and activities
Dordogne works like a color palette. From north to south, you'll find:
- The green Périgord, or Nontronnais, covered with heather moors where chestnut trees abound;
- The white Périgord, around Périgueux, is composed of limestone plateaus crisscrossed by rivers;
- The famed black Périgord, kingdom of the truffle and cradle of prehistory, spreads out around Sarlat;
- The Purple Périgord is home to the renowned vineyards around Bergerac, including Monbazillac and Pécharmant.
They say that Dordogne has the most important historical heritage of France. With over a thousand castles and abbeys scattered across it, there are also some remarkable accounts of medieval troglodyte settlements. But it's in its prehistory that you will find its true treasures: over 200 sites, including the world-famous cave of Lascaux, a replica of which can now be visited.
Nowadays, the Périgord is celebrated for its fine table, with goose and duck, particularly foie gras, taking center stage. Most famous of all, the Périgord truffle appears in many recipes, along with walnuts, chestnuts, ceps, etc.
Outdoor activities include hiking, mountain biking, sailing sports, canoeing...
Weather
Dordogne boasts a transition climate, ranging from the maritime climate on its Atlantic coast to the mountain climate of the nearby Massif Central. Winters are not harsh, summers are cool and pleasant, and rainfall is not excessive. The region enjoys a temperate climate all year long.
In town
- Périgueux: a city of art and history founded in the age of the Roman Empire, it is now the prefecture of Dordogne, with 30,000 inhabitants. In cooperation with the public, several urban renewal projects are under way, particularly development of the university infrastructure.
- Sarlat-la-Canéda: the "capital" of black Périgord, it is the medieval town with Europe's highest concentration of listed buildings. However, its prestigious past has not prevented the city from welcoming high tech businesses. The populated area has approximately 70,000 inhabitants, including 10,000 in Sarlat.
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