Dordogne

Dordogne is a large rural department in the southwest part of France. Its main city, called the prefecture, is Périgueux. Dordogne is found in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, about halfway between the beautiful Loire Valley and the tall mountains of the Pyrenees. The area gets its name from the river Dordogne, which flows through it.

This place mostly matches what used to be called the ancient county of Périgord. As of January 2023, about 417,614 people lived in Dordogne. The area is known for its peaceful countryside and rich history.

History

The county of Périgord goes back to ancient times when the area was home to Celtic tribes. The name comes from the Gaulish word for "four tribes," Petrocore, which later became Périgord. The people there are called Périgordins, and the Dordogne department includes four different areas known as Périgords.

• Périgord Vert (Green Périgord), with its main town of Nontron, has green valleys and many rivers.
• Périgord Blanc (White Périgord), around Périgueux, features limestone plateaus and wide valleys.
• Périgord Pourpre (Purple Périgord) with its capital of Bergerac, is famous for its wine.
• Périgord Noir (Black Périgord) near Sarlat, is named for its oak and pine forests.

The area was later influenced by both the Romans and the English. After years of shifting control, it became part of France permanently. Over time, many beautiful buildings and villages grew up in the region, including over 1,200 chateaux and historic towns.

Dordogne was officially created as a department on 4 March 1790 during the French Revolution. Its borders have changed a few times since then.

Geography

The Dordogne is a large area in southwest France. It is part of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and is surrounded by six other areas: Haute-Vienne, Corrèze, Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, Gironde, Charente-Maritime, and Charente. It is the third-largest area in mainland France and the largest one without a coastline. In size, it is bigger than Cyprus but smaller than Cape Verde.

The biggest town is Périgueux, which is the main city. As of 2023, there are nine towns with more than 5,000 people.

Demographics

The number of people living in Dordogne was highest in 1851, with about 505,789 people. After that, the number of people went down to around 373,000 by 1975. This happened because many people moved to cities for better jobs. But after 1975, the population started to grow again, reaching about 417,000 by 2023.

Many people from Britain have moved to Dordogne. There are between 5,000 and 10,000 British people living there, and about 800 British business owners. They were attracted by the nice lifestyle, warm weather, and lower costs. The village of Eymet has many British families, with about 200 out of its 2,600 residents.

Politics

See also: Departmental Council of Dordogne

The leader of the local government in Dordogne is Germinal Peiro. He belongs to the Socialist Party.

Current National Assembly Representatives

Tourism

Dordogne is a wonderful place to visit, especially for people who love history and nature. There are over 1,500 castles in the area, earning it the nickname "The Other Chateau Country". Some famous spots include Château de Beynac, Lascaux, and Périgueux.

You can enjoy activities like canoeing on the Dordogne River and exploring beautiful villages such as La Roque-Gageac and Cabanes du Breuil. The famous caves of Lascaux are closed to protect the art inside, but a copy called Lascaux II is open for visitors to see. Périgueux also has old Roman ruins, including an arena you can still see today. Many people from different countries, including the United Kingdom, choose Dordogne as a special place to visit or even to have a second home.