Visit Sarlat on foot

What a pleasure to wander the streets of Sarlat, the Medieval City, on foot! Once parked near the city center, you are ready to discover this town of Périgord Noir, renowned for its numerous historical monuments (classified or registered). Sarlat-la-Canéda offers an intense and captivating day when you escape to the Dordogne, don't forget the camera and the basket on market days! Alone, with others or on a guided tour, put on your sneakers, we're going to visit Sarlat on foot.

Photos from the report: Guide to Périgord

Article Summary

1. Sarlat, a medieval town
2. Saint Sacerdos Cathedral
3. The House of Boétie
4. The Lantern of the Dead
5. The Garden of Fires
6. Sarlat Market
7. The Manoir de Gisson and the 3 geese
8. Sainte-Marie church and the covered market
9. The panoramic elevator
10. Sarlat west side
11. Sarlat at the cinema
    

Discover Sarlat, some information before starting

It is not always easy to park in Sarlat, in the protected area, during the high tourist season. You will find parking lots around the center. On the heights of the city, some do not charge, you just have to walk a few more minutes to reach the center! Consult the parking information on the Sarlat Town Hall website (in fr).

Are you well parked? Prepare your calves, let's go for the visit which will take a good day if you don't want to miss anything. In case of extreme heat, remember to bring a bottle of water, sunscreen, a hat or cap to avoid sunburn!

To visit Sarlat, three solutions are available to you:

• Wander the streets at random according to your desires, stopping at a restaurant in Sarlat
  
• Get information at the tourist office, there are very good Sarlat visit plans for adults and a special one for children. See the Sarlat Tourist Office
  
• Read our article and let yourself be carried away by our advice.

From the well-known Place du Marché aux Oies to the more intimate streets where restaurants are hidden...

Visit Saint-Sacerdos Cathedral

Take advantage of being nearby to start your excursion with this religious monument in the heart of the Périgordine capital, entry is free. Inspired by the Gothic movement, there still remain some Romanesque parts, a vestige of the old church replaced in the 12th century by the Saint-Sacerdos Cathedral. Admire the impressive facade decorated with old stones, a beautiful architectural representation of the region. Moreover, the bell tower dates from this period, a trace of the Romanesque style of construction. After a time of observation, enter a magnificent building where there is a baroque altarpiece, a Louis 14 at the back of the apse of the Cathedral and a swallow's nest organ. The colorful stained glass windows let in a soft light, revealing important scenes from the Christian religion. You can exit through a door on the right at the back of the church to reach a pretty square, the Cour des Fontaines, passing in front of the old Chapelle des Pénitents Bleus.

Interior of Sarlat Cathedral

All around the great cathedral!

The Chapel of the Blue Penitents and the Cours des Fontaines in Sarlat

Photograph the Maison de la Boétie, a must-see in Sarlat on foot

South of the city center of the medieval city (near the Cathedral), walk to Place du Peyrou to observe a facade of La Maison de la Boétie, with a mix of styles. The medieval and the Renaissance intertwine with finesse through large bay windows framed by medallion pilasters and diamonds. Built in the 17th century by Antoine de la Boétie, this 3-story house is a flagship monument in Sarlat. On the 2nd floor, an unusual room can be visited, that of Étienne de la Boétie created by Arno Fabre who covers the walls with sentences from the “ discourse of voluntary servitude ”, by Étienne de la Boétie himself. Remember your camera, but also your glasses if you plan to read the 67 lines and 1,167 meters of text in this atypical room.

The Maison de la Boétie in Sarlat

Admire the Lantern of the Dead, a magnificent tower not to be missed

Going up rue Montaigne on the right (or going up alongside the Saint Sacerdos church on the left) you reach the Lantern of the Dead, also called the Saint-Bernard Tower. Located in the old cemetery, it was built in the 12th century and today surprises with its particular architecture. It is built in limestone, typical of the town of Sarlat, and consists of a ground floor and an upper floor. Admire the beautiful ribbed vaulted room and look up to see a room pierced only by a loophole. Rumors say that it was built to thank Bernard de Clairveaux for saving the city from the plague in 1147. Do not hesitate to walk a few meters to observe this mysterious tower which continues to intrigue visitors .

The Lanterne des Morts in Sarlat, an astonishing building!

walk along the Jardin des Enfeus, an ancient cemetery unlike any other in Sarlat

The name of this cemetery was obvious since these are indeed enfeus, flat-bottomed funerary niches containing coffins, which are arranged in this garden, below the Lantern of the Dead. Backed by Saint-Sacerdos Cathedral, the place welcomes artists in summer for unusual evening performances. Music, theater, festival, the shows are varied in a unique setting, in the heart of the town of Sarlat. Find out about the program to enjoy the nightlife in the capital of the Dordogne.

The Garden of Enfeus and the adjacent passage

The Sarlat market, Wednesday morning and Saturday

On Saturday, no need to wonder where the Sarlat market is held, because it extends throughout the city. It begins upstream of " la traverse ", the main artery which adjoins the historic center on the right, a little downhill. Start there, then immerse yourself in the charming streets of the city, up to Place de la Liberté where the Town Hall, the Sainte-Marie church and a superb view of the Cathedral bell tower are located. 450 stands are held in the city, it is one of the most beautiful markets in the southwest and you will not be disappointed by the capital of gastronomy in Périgord!

The market is held throughout the city, particularly Place de la Liberté and La Traverse.

Discover the Manoir de Gisson and the three geese

On the Geese Market Square, you can observe a fun statue, three stylized and modern geese which pose all year round in front of tourists' cameras. Yes, it's cliché, but it's almost become a rite of passage when you're in Sarlat. Then join the incredible Manoir de Gisson, a remarkable building which represents the Salardaise bourgeoisie of the 17th century. A beautiful staircase tower connects the two buildings between the consul's apartments with richly decorated period furniture, and the vaulted cellars which contain a cabinet of curiosities. Discover the Renaissance atmosphere at the Manoir de Gisson which was carefully restored and classified as a Historic Monument in Sarlat.

The goose market square, the Manoir de Gisson and the geese up close!

Discover the Sainte-Marie church and the covered market

Built in the 12th century, the Sainte-Marie church in the heart of the consuls' district has lived several lives since it was transformed into a bakery, a saltpeter factory, used for the coal trade and as a post office for a few years. Now rehabilitated as a covered market, it welcomes many producers from the region every week, proud and delighted to sell their production in a religious building of this scale. Push open the gargantuan steel door (a work by architect Jean Nouvel) armed with your basket. Cheeses, fruits, vegetables, pastries and farm products, it's time to stroll in front of the fresh produce.

The monumental door of the Sainte-Marie church and the bell tower with the panoramic elevator

Gain height in the Sarlat panoramic elevator

Just behind the church, on the facade facing rue des Consuls, take the city's panoramic elevator. Hard to find ? Surely since it is hidden in the bell tower of the old Saint-Marie church. At the back of this religious building, pass through the glass doors for a 35 meter climb. Observe the slate roofs, cobbled streets and emblematic monuments of Sarlat perched above the bell tower. Don't forget your camera to take nice photos, the view is breathtaking over the city. Places must be reserved at the Tourist Office (or on site but in season it is better to reserve), it is 5 euros per person and a super friendly guide will accompany you to explain what you see and a touch of history to contextualize the buildings. The weather has to be good because the elevator shaft is not sheltered from the rain.

Sarlat west side! Do not miss !

We tend to forget that the protected area of the city also extends to the other side of "La Traverse" (west of Rue de la République), so don't forget to go for a walk there. The walk will be steeper, but you will appreciate beautiful views overlooking the town and many more intimate mansions... Fewer people, noise, shops... This is Sarlat for connoisseurs...

The west of the city is rich in quality buildings

Find the sets of Sarlat which were used in the cinema

You may not have known it, but the town of Sarlat is the 3rd largest filming center in France (in fr) . It must be said that this medieval city has everything to please. Cobbled streets and medieval settings, its architecture from another time attracts filmmakers who cover the filming floors with earth and hay for a return to the Middle Ages. The Tattooed in 1968, Jacquou le Croquant in 1969, Les Misérables or even Joan of Arc filmed by Luc Besson, you have not finished dreaming while crisscrossing Sarlat on foot. The most recent film filmed in the city was Ridley Scott's The Last Duel in 2020.

The feet are warmed up, the ankles are tired, it's time to take a well-deserved break. That said, you have now visited all the must-see attractions in Sarlat , thanks to a very complete tour of the city to be done on foot. If you wish to continue, continue with the Plantier park, the statue of the onlooker, the various hotels or the Sainte-Marie fountain which are other attractions of the medieval city. And for an unusual visit to a truly unusual place, continue a little further to Gorodka, an unusual art village a few minutes from downtown Sarlat. Good visit !

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