Top 10 places to visit in Périgueux

Your holidays in Périgord will take you to Périgueux… Naturally, the Périgord capital conceals many treasures! If you don't want to miss anything of its rich heritage, its distant past and its traditional southern culture, Le Guide du Périgord offers you a Top 10 of the most unmissable visits in Périgueux, to guide you in your discovery.

Opening photo: Saint-Front Cathedral in Périgueux - Photo credit © Guide du Périgord

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1) Take a guided tour of the capital of Périgord

Périgueux multiplies honors: "City of art and history", "Heritage of UNESCO", "Floral city"... It has many assets to seduce you. If you like old stones, you will love its medieval and cobbled streets. If you are a culture lover, the city museums have something to occupy your days. If you prefer natural spaces, Périgueux is surrounded by forest, crossed by the Isle and dotted with parks and gardens. To appreciate all the facets of the city, we advise you to choose from the themed guided tours offered by the Tourist Office.

The good idea: A walk to discover the heritage of the city of Périgueux.

Find out more: The “Urban Walks” of the Grand Périgueux Tourist Office.

Périgueux - Photo credit © Guide du Périgord

2) Admire Périgueux from the sky, from the roofs of the Saint Front Cathedral

Saint-Front Cathedral is one of the most emblematic monuments of Périgueux. It is one of the important stages on the Routes of Santiago de Compostela and has also been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for this reason. It testifies to this prosperous period, when the city, in full expansion, attracted renowned personalities, such as this famous architect who tried his hand on the white stones of white Périgord, before building the Parisian church of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre. Recently, you can finally appreciate this masterpiece from all angles, even the most perched by visiting the roofs of the cathedral.

Find out more: Our walk on the roofs of Saint-Front Cathedral in Périgueux: very close to the cupolas…

The roofs of Saint Front Cathedral in Périgueux - Photo credit © Guide du Périgord

3 ) Go back in time to the Gallo-Roman past of the Petrocores

We offer you a journey through time, to meet the Romans of Périgueux... The tourist office has imagined a route that takes you from vestige to vestige. You walk through the Gallo-Roman quarter, as if you were part of the Petrocorian people, passing through:

The Tower of Vésone, a temple dedicated to the goddess Vesunna.
The old Gallo-Roman houses, the Périgord domus, which form the heart of the archaeological site, preserved within the Vesunna Museum (fr).
The amphitheater, which now houses the Arènes garden.

Find out more: The Gallo-Roman route of Périgueux (fr)

Vesunna Museum in Périgueux - Photo credit © Guide du Périgord

4) Discover Périgord art and archeology at the MAAP

To discover the works of art, produced by the Périgords, from prehistory to the present day, you must go to the "MAAP", the Museum of Art and Archeology of Périgord. Visitor guides are adapted, in the form of games, to keep youngsters attentive.

Find out more: Visit the MAAP, the Périgord art and archeology museum.

Photo credit: The MAAP, visit for the Guide du Périgord

5) Learn about the French wars in the amazing Military Museum of Périgueux

The subject is rarely treated, and even less so in a small town that has not had a significant military past. However, if the Military Museum of Périgueux is small, it has an impressive collection of medals and costumes from all eras. It traces all the wars one after the other and shows you the evolutions. It has the advantage of being on a human scale and of being well documented.

Find out more: The military museum of Périgueux (fr)

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6) Find local products at the market

After all these journeys through history, it's high time to eat. Fortunately in Périgueux, delicacies are not lacking. Several markets are available in the city, depending on the season:

The traditional Périgueux market takes place every Wednesday and Saturday, on the Place de la Halle.
The most typical is the Marché au gras de Périgueux (fr), which takes place every Wednesday and Saturday, between November and March, on Place Saint Louis.

The good idea: The duck and truffle festival is held there in January!

The most mysterious is the Truffle Market, starting in December, on Wednesdays.

7) Our favorites to learn about the gastronomy of Périgord

If you want to learn about the pure gastronomy of Périgord, with a hint of exoticism and an unusual touch, we reveal our favorites and we share with you these good addresses:

The Restaurant Le Clos Saint-Front is a journey of life. Its menu traces culinary experiences around the world and a deep love for Périgord. What we particularly like is this food and wine pairing, as a tribute to the wine-growing tradition of the region, which we taste, in its "winemaker's menu". Check out our video report on our lunch at Clos Saint-Front in Périgueux (fr).

The good idea: Follow us, in the haunt of truffles and foie gras... at the Espace du 6 e sens! (fr)

8) Canoeing on the Isle

After the comfort, a little effort to digest is required. You can rent a canoe directly from the Périgueux base. The Isle is a calm river, with many meanders. This gives it a wild character. You feel alone in the world, especially out of season. In summer, you can enjoy an unusual torchlight descent along the river. The monuments of the city, reflected by the light of the flames, offer you a magical moment.

Find out more: The Périgueux Canoës website.

9) Cycling on the banks of the Isle

Are you cycling in Périgueux? Nothing's easier. The town is crossed by a “bicycle route”, which follows the banks of the Isle. You will be there safely. The course is relatively flat and therefore ideal for families with small children. The river brings freshness, even in summer. The atmosphere there is friendly. In short, you no longer have any excuse not to get on your bike and visit Périgueux, in "soft mobility" mode.

Find out more: Nature bike ride in Périgueux on video.

10) Hike in the Auvézère Gorges

Just outside Périgueux is the confluence of the two rivers: the Auvézère and the Isle. The Gorges de l'Auvézère extend from the green Périgord and enter the white Périgord. It is an exceptional natural site, in which you can make beautiful hikes along the water.

Find out more: Family hike or sports trail in the Auvézère gorges?