The most beautiful villages of the Dordogne Valley by bike

Your first day on the GRP trail begins at Turenne, a village officially listed among the most beautiful in France. You'll cycle 16 kilometres to reach Noailhac, where you’ll make your first overnight stop. Ready, steady, pedal! 

Along the way, stop to visit a Périgord walnut farm, ‘La vie Contée’ where you can buy some local walnut oil. It’s delicious drizzled over salads!

For lunch, stop in Leygonie for a picnic in natural surroundings.

Once in Noailhac, park your bikes and visit the church of Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens , one of the village’s listed historical monuments along with the lookout tower of the old castle. 

For the first night of your cycling trip in the Dordogne Valley, you have two accommodation options: the charming Hôtel La Bastidie, a cosy three-star hotel overlooking the village; or La maison des étoiles, a gîte village in a natural setting where, among other options, you might choose to sleep in a rather original room built entirely of glass, for a fabulous view of the stars. Sweet dreams guaranteed!

Start the second day of your trip at Noailhac and head for Collonges-la-Rouge (which takes its name from the local red sandstone). By road, the two villages are only 4 kilometres apart, but on the GRP trail, you’ll wind your way for a total of 20 kilometres. Stop en route to see the Puy de la Ramière Dolmen. 

Have lunch in Collonges-la-Rouge at one of the two places we’ve selected for you: Le maraîcher, a bar and restaurant with a truly eco-friendly approach. All of the dishes served here are prepared from produce grown in the garden or sourced through local channels within 100 kilometres. Or La ferme de Berle , where the menu includes set meals based on local farm produce!

When you arrive, explore the narrow, medieval streets of Collonges-la-Rouge, listed among the most beautiful villages in France. In fact, this was the very first village to receive this well-known distinction, back in 1982. Be sure to visit the church as well as Vassinhac Castle.

For your overnight stay in this famous Dordogne village, we recommend the VVF holiday complex of Collonges-la-Rouge, just a stone’s throw from the village. Alternatively, if you still have enough energy, you can cycle an extra 3 kilometres to reach a guesthouse set in the countryside, called  La Douce France, where you'll enjoy a stunning view over the valley.

After a restful night, you’ll cycle from Collonges-la-Rouge to Le Pescher, 19 km away. 

There are two cultural sites you absolutely must stop at on the way: Meyssac corn marketand the Nativité-de-Notre-Dame church in Lagleygeolle. 

 

Continue to Meyssac to have lunch at the Relais du Quercy, a restaurant that serves delicious meals of traditional, local dishes.

When you reach the village of Le Pescher, head for the beautiful La Parétie guesthouse, where you’ll be spending the night. 

For this fourth day of cycling in the Dordogne Valley, be prepared for some challenging uphill sections! You’ll cover 21 km between Le Pescher and Montmaur. 

Stop on the way for a picnic lunch.  

In Montmaur, stay overnight at the Gîte Les Fardines or, if you still have a little muscle power left, cycle another 10 minutes to stay at the rural gîte in Lostanges, La Tréganie.

After the uphill effort of the previous day, this fifth stage is the easiest of the entire route.

Stop for lunch at La Barbacane, a traditional Corrèze restaurant where the food is both fresh and local.

When you arrive, it’s worth exploring Curemonte, another village listed as one of the most beautiful in France. It is nicknamed the village of threes, because it has 3 castles - Plas, Saint-Hilaire and La Johannie - and 3 churches - Saint-Barthélemy du Bourg, Saint-Hilaire de la Combe and Saint-Genest.

Be sure to visit Lou Pé Dé Gril where you’ll find traditional handmade products. The originality of this shop is that it can also offer accommodation.

Alternatively, you can enjoy a rest at Le Moulin de la salle, a 13th-century mill which has been fully renovated and converted into a charming country guesthouse. 

Sixth and final day of your cycling tour between the most beautiful villages of the Dordogne Valley. You have 26 km to cover from Curemonte to Turenne. 

You may not know this, but Corrèze is also famous for its wine! Take advantage of this final stage to admire and find out more about  the vineyard of Branceilles. 

In Saillac, take a peek at the 12th-century village church. 

Another must-see is the Walnut Museum, where you can sample sweet and savoury specialities made with artisanal, local products derived from walnuts. Ideal for a delicious lunch before getting back on your bike. 

 

Well done, you’ve made it to Turenne! You’ve just reached the end of your itinerary. Enjoy a stroll in the narrow streets of Turenne, ranked among the most beautiful villages in France, and take the time to visit the Castle. 

Spend your last night enjoying the comfort of a three-star boutique hotel, ‘La Maison des Chanoines’

• Visit la Vallée de la Dordogne 

Further reading : 

• Dordogne Valley what to do?
• 6 specialities to taste in Dordogne valley