Between the Dordogne and Vézère, you also travel through the home of the Cro-Magnon man. A journey back to prehistoric times 30,000 years ago. The rock paintings in the caves of the Vézère Valley have been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The cycle routes lead past old castles and vineyards and through pretty medieval towns such as Sarlat and Bergerac. And also through vast corn and tobacco fields. Bergerac is also the centre of tobacco growing in France.
Character:
An easy to moderately difficult tour area with small tarmac side roads in a varied river and hilly landscape. Mostly flat in the Vézère and Dordogne river valleys, but with a few climbs in between.
Tour tip:
From Le-Buisson-de-Cadouin to Bergerac: 45 km on tarmac minor roads from Cadouin to Couze-et-St-Front to the Dordogne and the Canal de Lalinde. Continue to Tuilières and the wine town of Bergerac. Interesting stops: Musée de Velocipede (bicycle museum in Cadouin), Moulin de la Rouzique (paper-making museum).
Best time to travel:
End of April to beginning of October
Journey:
Unlike the ICE, you can take bicycles on the TGV. The journey takes you via Paris to Bordeaux and Souillac. http://www.bahn.deCyclist hotline 01805/151415.
Bike hotels:
Accommodation of all types and categories is available, but is also very popular in high summer and autumn. It is advisable to make a reservation, e.g. tel. 0033/1/45848384, http://www.logis-de-france.fr
Organiser:
Wine wheel (http://www.weinradel.de),
DRF Rad & Aktiv (http://www.radreisecenter.de)
Package holidays:
8-day individual cycle tour Perigord (210 km) from/to Souillac with 7 x half board, luggage transport, maps etc. from 544 euros per person (DRF Rad & Aktiv).
Maps/literature:
IGN cycling maps 1:100,000 RKF46 "Bordeaux-Royan" and RKF47 "Bordeaux- Perigeux" for 6.60 euros each via http://www.fahrradtouren.de . The travel guide "Southwest France", Michael Müller Verlag, 456 pages, 18.90 euros, is very useful.
Information (general):
Maison de la France, Zeppelinallee 37,D-60325 Frankfurt/M., Tel. 0900/1570025, Fax 0900/1599061, mailto:info.de@franceguide.com , http://www.franceguide.com
The article from issue 5/2007 is available as a free PDF download.
