• Discover the gardens of the Dordogne

• Private lunches in some of the gardens

• Opportunity to see the spectacular prehistoric cave art at Lascaux

• Stunning countryside & gently paced visits

• Well-appointed hotel in historic Sarlat-la-Caneda - a lovely medieval town

More than any other French department, the fertile landscapes of the Dordogne offer an unparalleled glorious array of gardens. The settings lend themselves to picturesque parcs, properties surrounded by drifts of wonderful flowers, often guarded by clipped topiary masterpieces.  Whilst many of the gardens are truly historic, there are also some fine examples of contemporary design and planting – in effect, something to suit all tastes? Our visit in early September is an invitation to discover landscapes consummately tended, where the sharp lines of French geometric formality will frequently be softened by informal and exuberant flowerbeds inspired by English gardening traditions. 

Le Manoir d’Eyrignac and the gardens at Marqueyssac are veritable masterclasses in the art of topiary whilst the gardens at Château de Hautefort display immaculate examples of the decorative parterres for which France is justly famed. Les Jardins de Cadiot are a riot of flowers and La Chartreuse du Colombier is full of diversity with avenues, deep beds, a potager and a Baroque pavilion, where we shall dine privately with the owners.

Périgord Noir will be our main area of concentration, its name derived from the dense forests of the black trunked oak. Our horticultural theme will be complemented by more historic encounters as we explore sites which will include the amazing Palaeolithic Age painted caves at Lascaux. From the tenth century the Dordogne was on one of the lucrative pilgrims’ routes to Santiago de Compostela. Income from pilgrims led to the building of many influential churches in the ‘Périgord’ version of both Romanesque and the flamboyant Gothic styles. The many castles we shall see are potent reminders that English history is intertwined with this region, given it was part of Eleanor of Aquitaine’s dowry when she married Henry II. Therefore, it is not just horticultural roots which we shall discover during this week.

We shall stay at the 4* Plaza Madeleine, ideally located in charming Sarlat-la-Caneda, the former medieval capital of Perigord Noir which is a lovely French historic town. The hotel has an outdoor heated swimming pool, spa and cocktail bar and restaurants, bars and shops are all within easy walking distance.   

Day 1: Sunday 7 September – We fly from Heathrow to Toulouse arriving in the evening. We travel by coach northwards to Sarlat in Perigord Noir and our hotel, the 4* Plaza Madeleine.

Day 2: Monday 8 September – Today we visit three gardens close to Sarlat, beginning at the nearby hamlet of Veyrignac with a private visit to the gardens of Château de Veyrignac. Here we shall find a delightful elegant modern formal garden, surrounding the eighteenth-century château overlooking the Dordogne River. Following a coffee break, our next garden is a celebration of superb gardening skills at the immaculately landscaped Le Manoir d’Eyrignac at Salignac-Eyvigues. Following a group lunch here, we travel the short distance to Carlux to visit Les Jardins de Cadiot. In contrast to the broad sweep of our first two garden settings, we shall see a combination of ten small ‘garden rooms’, surrounded by an oak wood. In the evening, we shall enjoy a group dinner in a local restaurant - water, wine and coffee are included with all group lunches and dinners.

Day 3: Tuesday 9 September – Today we travel to the handsome hamlet of Cadouin to visit the Abbaye de Cadouin. Founded in 1115, this simple Romanesque church is noted for its very fine late Gothic cloisters, one of the finest ecclesiastical spaces in Aquitaine. Following a coffee break, we drive westwards of Bergerac to Vélines and enjoy a private garden visit to Les Jardins de Sardy. Originally planned in the Italianate manner in the eighteenth century, in the last century a Franco-Irish couple from Paris introduced English planting to the revived site. Today, Frederic Imbs maintains his late mother’s garden – a veritable homage to French, English and Italian traditions – and he will host our group lunch in the garden. We return to Sarlat and the evening will be free.

Day 4: Wednesday 10 September – We begin with a visit to Les Jardins de Marqueyssac at Vézac.Located at the edge of a rocky outcrop, these modern hanging gardens present an astonishing array of topiary, overlooking the Dordogne from multiple belvedere. We continue westwards to Paunat for a private visit and lunch at Les Jardins de la Chartreuse du Colombier. The French owners have created formal pavilions, deep English-style herbaceous beds and French Baroque-style topiary in a garden which continues to develop. We return to our hotel where the remainder of the afternoon and evening will be free.

Day 5: Thursday 11 September – This morning, we follow the course of the Vezere River upstream to Thonac and visit Château de Losse. Built in the fifteenth century, the strategic importance of Losse is marked by its deep moat, thick walls and one of the largest castle gates in south-west France. Completed in 1576 by Jean II de Losse, tutor to Henry IV, the interiors are Renaissance in design and furnished with handsome tapestries and a few important pictures. Equally the gardens, classed jardin remarquable, are Italian Renaissance style created by the current owner, who will guide us round both the château and gardens. We continue to nearby Montignac where there will be some free time for lunch (not included). In the afternoon we shall visit the remarkable new replica of the Lascaux Cave. In 1940 a group of boys stumbled across the cave, and in 1963 it opened to the public. However, global interest and sheer numbers were such that Lascaux was quickly forced to close to conserve what is one of the most astonishing Palaeolithic discoveries ever made. In 2016, and to great acclaim, the new replica was unveiled, which we shall visit. We return to Sarlat where the evening will be free.   

Day 6: Friday 12 September – We drive to the north-east of the Vézère Valley to Terrasson-Lavilledieu and Les Jardins de l’Imaginaire. Inspired by contemporary garden concepts of beauty, symmetry and even poetry, the town of Terrasson commissioned American landscape designer Kathryn Gustafson to create a garden that pays homage to Terrasson and Périgord in a panoramic location overlooking the town. There will be some free time for lunch (not included) after which we travel northwards to Château de Hautefort. Originally the stronghold of the Viscounts of Limoges, the first equerry to Louis XIII’s wife Queen Anne of Austria, Marquis Jacques-François de Hautefort bought and extended the château in 1656.  In 1929 the new owner, Baron Henry de Bastard, laid out the heraldic and decorative parterre gardens in the French manner. After our visit to some of the château rooms and the splendid gardens, we return to Sarlat where later in the evening we have our final group dinner in the town.

Day 7: Saturday 13 September – This morning we drive to Cahors, an enchanting town on the River Lot with an attractive medieval centre and a fine cathedral which we shall visit. After our group lunch we continue to Toulouse Airport and an evening departure flight.

Price £3095 Price without flights £2860 Deposit £400 per person

Single Supplement £318 (Double for Sole Use)

Hotel 6 nights with breakfast at 4* Hotel Plaza Madeleine Sarlat-la-Caneda  

Prestige/Privilege Room - 2 sharing

Business Room - (Double for Sole Use)

All rooms have showers only

Flights British Airways

Outward:          BA374 Depart Heathrow (Terminal 3) 1530, arrive Toulouse 1825

Return:             BA375 Depart Toulouse 1855, arrive Heathrow (Terminal 3) 1930

Price includes 2 dinners & 4 lunches with water, wine & coffee, all local transfers, entry fees & gratuities, the services of Rachel Lamb and James Hill

Not included Travel to/from Heathrow, 4 dinners & 2 lunches