Dordogne, Albi and Carcassonne

This week-long escorted tour by Riviera Travel begins in Sarlat, a town that has preserved its medieval charm with honey-coloured stone buildings and lively market streets. From here, a visit to the International Centre for Cave Art at Lascaux presents a meticulous replica of the prehistoric cave paintings that date back nearly 20,000 years.

The itinerary continues along the Dordogne river to Rocamadour, a village climbing a cliffside with deep historic resonance as a medieval pilgrimage site. Nearby, the Marqueyssac Gardens offer paths meandering through clipped box hedges with panoramas over the valley. A boat trip along the Dordogne leads to the fortress village of Beynac, then onto the walled town of Domme and the riverside village of La Roque-Gageac, each with distinctive stonework and views.

Southward, the tour reaches Cahors with its Valentré Bridge, then Carcassonne, where the medieval citadel’s battlements and turrets bring centuries of history into the present. Finally, there is time in Albi, a city notable for its large brick Gothic cathedral and connections to the Cathar heresy. It’s an itinerary that offers varying tastes of rural French history and landscapes, all at a gentle pace.