Sarlat, France is an amazing historical travel destination. What can you see in Sarlat and Dordogne area? Les Jardins d’Eau, Carsac-Aillac : From May to October this 16th-century park eight kilometres from Sarlat is in full bloom. The water gardens are on the bank of the Dordogne, cover three hectares and contain waterfalls, streams and ponds that you can navigate via Chinese-style zigzagging wooden walkways. There’s also a replica of the Japanese ornamental bridge in Monet’s garden. It’s a very meditative place, where you switch off for a few minutes, surrounded by water-lilies and lotus flowers, as well as koi carp, frogs and dragonflies. Plant species come from as far away as Southeast Asia and South America, and there are picnic tables under tall shady trees, so don’t forget to bring lunch!

Originally an abbey church dating from the 11th century, the Cathedrale St-Sacerdos is a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles. The organ in the church is said to be one of the best preserved from the 18th century. Pop inside to hear it being played as part of a special concert or simply soak up the peace and quiet away from Sarlat’s busy squares. Nearby you can spot the a rocket-like structure called ‘lanterne des morts’, a 12th-century stone monument that is said to honour Saint Bernard, who is believed to have cured the sick by blessing their bread.

Of no relation to the Parisian 17th-century writer Cyrano de Bergerac with his misshapen nose (or the 1980s BBC detective series), this medieval river port means wine. Rosette and Monbazillac vineyards rise above the town and Pecharmant reds age in oak barrels on family-run estates on its northern fringe. In Bergerac you can taste the region’s 13 different appellations and meet local producers at the House of Wines (vins-bergerac.fr), 1 rue des Recollets. Lazing between sun-baked clearings and chestnut forests in the southern Dordogne, this town, an hour from Bergerac, was founded in 1284 for King Edward I of England. Much to the joy of flaneurs today who revel in the medieval symmetry of central place des Cornieres and its surrounding grid of streets, the bastide was built in a quadrilateral, 500 yards long and 250 yards wide. You can’t get lost.

Looking for Sarlat-la-Caneda hotels? Sarlat-la-Caneda – by its full name – is a gorgeous medieval town located in the Dordogne Valley in southwestern France, within the greater region known as “la Nouvelle-Aquitaine.” As of the last census dating back to 2016, the city had a total population of 9127 people known as “sarladais(es).” Sarlat is also the capital of a region known to locals as the “Perigord noir” (Black Perigord). It is a town with rich history and a major tourist destination that attracts between 2-3 million tourists from around the world on an annual basis. The town center, in particular, is composed of countless picturesque streets dating back to the medieval ages, countless boutique hotels and restaurants with stone rooftops, the most famous of which are the “maison de La Boetie”, the “hotel du Barry”, the “hotel de Savignac” or the famous “presidial.” Read extra info on Sarlat-la-Caneda accommodations.