From Bordeaux to Carcassonne: a Road Trip through the Most Beautiful Medieval Villages

You arrive at the airport in Bordeaux. Pick up your car at the airport and drive to your hotel. 

You start your French romantic getaway and have the rest of the day at leisure to discover Bordeaux on your own.

2000 years of history and not a wrinkle! Bordeaux, the world-wide wine capital, has seen much of the 18th-century areas of the city listed as World Heritage by UNESCO. And for a good reason: it is the town with the most protected buildings in France (363), just behind Paris! Its historic center focuses indeed on an exceptional architectural heritage: the Grand Theatre, the Place de la Bourse and the entire facade along the quays, as well as the Chartrons district; the birthplace of the wine trade in Bordeaux.

Spend the morning exploring Bordeaux on a Market’s stroll (small group / approx. 2 hours). Stroll the old city streets, visit the famous Capucins Market, taste local specialties, and dive deep into local legend. With over 2,000 years of history, there's something to see around every corner. Explore the city center. You can choose to do the tour either by foot, on bikes, Segway’s, or electric scooters.

In the afternoon, learn how to make the traditional ‘canelé’ cake, an indelible part of Bordeaux and Aquitaine’s culinary heritage. Choose cannelé or canelé; both spellings are correct. Parallel fissures score the cylindrical circumference of each canelé, evoking a vague memory of the Devil’s Tower rock formation in Wyoming. The crackly yet rubbery outer crust has a color between molasses and dark brick, while the golden honeycombed interior tastes like custard and rum.

It tastes even better than it sounds… bon appetit!

Enjoy a full-day tour including the discovery of two beautiful landscapes of the Bordeaux region, the stunning Arcachon’s bay and the famous vineyards to the Medoc region.

In the morning, you drive to the Atlantic coast. Climb the Pyla's Sand Dune, the biggest Sand Dune in Europe!  There, enjoy the amazing views on the ocean, the bay and the forest. The Bay of Arcachon is home of the traditional culture of oysters! Savor an oyster's tasting at a local producer with a glass of white wine.

Drive back to Bordeaux and enjoy a quick picnic in the center of Bordeaux.

Then you drive through the "Chateau Route" of the Medoc. Arriving in a charming family-run estate (Chateau Lamarque, Chateau Chasse-Spleen, Chateau Siran...) you feel the intimacy and authenticity of a private chateau run by a passionate family for generations. Start the visit in the vineyards, in front of the château, tour around the traditional vat room and discover the cellar.

Then, enjoy a tasting class - Become a wine expert in 20min!

Later in the afternoon, visit a Great Classified Growth estate (Chateau Gruaud-Larose, Chateau Lagrange...). Visit the vineyards, the vat room and the cellars of one of the most prestigious chateaux of Bordeaux. Enjoy some explanations about their winemaking process, from the vine to the bottle. Finish the visit by a tasting of the estate's wines.

Start the day with a tour of the most famous Bordeaux wine appellation: Saint-Emilion! Discover the tasty merlot wines of Saint-Emilion. This tour is as much a wine and tasting tour as a cultural tour with the visit of the medieval village of Saint Emilion. You stroll in its little streets dating back from the 9th century and still perfectly preserved thanks to its classification at the UNESCO heritage list. The village is located at the top of a hill and offers breathtaking views on the surrounding vineyards. Be warmly welcome with a glass of wine at an elegant Classified Growth chateau (Grand Cru Classé in French) just outside the village. 

Enjoy a little and instructive walk in the middle of the vines. Take a tour of the cellars. Have a description of the winemaking process from the grape to the bottle. And most important…enjoy a tasting of two wines of the property inside the castle, while you also savor an aperitif made of local and fresh delicacies: bread, cheese, charcuterie, chocolate…

Then, leave the group and head to Dordogne and beautiful Sarlat la Canéda, (approx. 150 km /1 hour 45 minutes). 

A picturesque tangle of honey-colored buildings, alleyways and secret squares make up the beautiful town of Sarlat-la-Canéda. Boasting some of the region's best-preserved medieval architecture, it's a popular base for exploring the Vézère Valley, and a favorite spot for film directors. It's also firmly on the tourist radar, so explore early in the morning, especially on market days.

Dive underground today on a historic tour of the Cave Paintings of Dordogne (small group / approx. 8 hours). Approximately 17,000 years ago, unknown artists created several cave paintings in the area, some of which are found in the Dordogne area. Explore these paintings, learn about the people who created them, and immerse yourself in the prehistorical times. 

Start the day in Les Eyzies de Tayac for a guided visit of the National Prehistory Museum, which opened in 2004. It possesses the world's largest collection of prehistoric artifacts, perfect for curious young minds to learn about and explore. 

From here, continue to Montignac to visit Lascaux IV Cave, a perfect reproduction of the original cave—down to the damp, dark, and muffled atmosphere. Inside, the cave employs a variety of set designs to bring the original cave to life for visitors. Displays, state-of-the-art interactive workshops, and immersive technology propel you back in time to the days of Cro-Magnon man. 

End your day with a visit to Rouffignac Cave, where you can see original etchings and drawings. This cave was re-discovered in 1575 by François de Belleforest, who cites "paintings and animal traces" in his ‘Cosmographie Universelle’.

Today you enjoy a full-day tour with a driver-guide to the Gouffre de Padirac and the village of Rocamadour (small group / approx. 8 hours). 

After a drive of just over an hour, arrive in Padirac. Experience a unique visit of one of the most extraordinary natural phenomena of the region as you plunge in an unexpected underground world. The visit of this vertiginous chasm begins with a 75-meter descent via a lift before actually entering the cave system. Following the descent, enjoy a peaceful boat ride on the mysterious subterranean river. Then, disembark and walk along a path that takes you through large caves decorated with stunning gigantic limestone concretions. 

After the walk, you return by boat to your original departure point and take the lift back up to reach the outside world.

Then board the minivan again and head to the nearby village of Rocamadour. Miraculous rock, collection of tales, legends and beliefs, sanctuary of the Black Virgin, pilgrimage site: the village of Rocamadour is all of these at the same time. The whole site is topped off by the castle and its dungeon and the seven sanctuaries. The tour also includes the short visit of a local farm and a goat cheese tasting. The driver-guide brings you back to your hotel at the end of the day. 

Start the day by visiting two of Dordogne's major castles (in self-drive):  Beynac and Castelnaud la Chapelle. Chose to explore them on your own, with a guide, or with the help of a VR tablet. 

Castelnaud dates back to the 12th century. Held by Cathar lord Bernard de Casnac at the beginning of the 13th century, ownership of the castle changed hands to Simon de Montfort in 1214 during the Albigensian Crusade. A new castle was built during this time, and the keep and curtain wall date from that construction. The castle was listed as a Historic Building in 1966, subsequently undergoing restoration to bring it back to its original glory. Since 1985, the building has housed the Museum of Medieval Warfare. 

From here continue to the 12th-century Château de Beynac, Perigord's best-preserved fortress. It perches high on a cliff, where it's watched over the Dordogne for the last nine centuries. From its ramparts, you can see the five great castles of the valley, as well as great swaths of the surrounding countryside. The castle is carved out from the cliff rock and offers tours of the grounds as well as the stone building.

Head down to town for lunch, then spend the afternoon on the water on a self-guided canoe trip. Choose from a variety of route options, from 3 miles (5 km) to 16 miles (26 km) . Opt for a relaxing paddle on quiet water or set your sights on some small rapids and exciting white-water. Either way, the scenery alongside the river is spectacular: rolling hills, deep forest, pastureland and vineyards, and riverside cliffs.

Self-drive to Cahors (approx. 80 km/1 hour 40-minute drive without stops).

You drive along the Western border of the Causses de Quercy Regional Park."Causse" is the name given to massive limestone outcrops of the type particular to the Lot Valley and its greater region. They are typified by unique landscapes, ecosystem flora, fauna and human activity.

Our suggestions for visits en-route : 

• The cave of Pech Merle:

This site, untouched for thousands of years, contains one of humanity’s finest artistic expressions. The Pech Merle cave is an authentic chef-d’oeuvre of prehistoric art, with amazing paintings like that of the Spotted Horses which are over 29,000 years old.

• The village of St Cirq Lapopie:  

The medieval town of Saint-Cirq Lapopie, with thirteen listed historic buildings, is one of the most beautiful villages in France. Perched on a cliff three hundred feet above the river Lot, Saint-Cirq Lapopie was divided among several feudal dynasties in the Middle Ages whose dominant families were the Lapopies, the Gourdons and the Cardaillacs. As a result, several castles and fortified houses were built, each ever stronger, dominating the feudal village.  Arrive in Cahors at the end of the day. 

The day is at leisure to visit Cahors and its surroundings on your own. 

In the majestic scenery of the Lot valley, Cahors, a town of art and history, is simply made for the happiness of exploring. The famous Pont Valentré and the Cathedral of St Etienne are among the most renowned monuments. From the market place through the terraces of the Boulevard Gambetta, the capital of the Lot combines a southern atmosphere with history and food to attract all lovers of heritage and the good life.

Afternoon drive to Cordes-sur-Ciel (literally « Cordes in the Sky »): up high and impressive!

Leave your heels behind! And you can’t get up to Cordes-sur-Ciel by car either! The climb must be made on foot, up through steep cobbled alleyways. Experience the medieval atmosphere of the fortified gates, ramparts, sculpted gothic façades and little hidden corners. Full of charm from the very first step. Stop to visit artists’ studios on the way up. This is a place of inspiration for painters, writers, ceramicists, sculptors and jewelers. On some mornings, when the pink mist has invaded the valley, Cordes-sur-Ciel truly deserves its name, floating above the skies. Don’t forget the “croquants de Cordes”, a local recipe for almond biscuits containing just sugar, almonds and egg whites for a light and delicious crunch!

Morning drive to Carcassonne (approx. 200 km/2 hours 15 minutes without stops). 

En-route make a stop in Toulouse to visit the “pink city”. 

Ochre rooftops and blushing brick churches earned Toulouse the nickname “La Ville Rose” (the pink city). Its enchanting Vieux Quartier (Old Quarter) is a dreamy jumble of coral-colored shopfronts and churches. Beyond the old town, Toulouse sprawls into France's fourth-largest metropolis. It's an animated, hectic place, but Toulouse, nestled between a bend in the Garonne River and the mighty Canal du Midi, is invigorated by its waterways.

Toulouse has one of the largest universities outside Paris: at its core this southwestern French city is home to students and scientists. French aeronautical history continues to be innovated in the Airbus factory outside town.

Arrive in Carcassonne in the afternoon. Perched on a rocky hilltop and bristling with zigzag battlements, stout walls and spiky turrets, the fortified city of Carcassonne looks like something out of a children's storybook when it's seen from afar. 

A Unesco World Heritage Site since 1997, it's most people's idea of the perfect medieval castle. La Cité, as the old walled town is now known, attracts over four million visitors every year, peaking in high summer. Time your visit for late in the day (or better still for spring and autumn) to truly appreciate the old town's medieval charm.

The day is at leisure to explore the fortified city of Carcassonne (we strongly recommend a guided tour of the city) and the region. 

Optional activity: Fanjeaux, Mirepoix, Castelnaudary, St Ferreol Lake.

The first stop is at Fanjeaux, a beautiful tiny medieval village, worth to stop by for the beautiful view from the Belvédère and its old streets. Here, your guide tells you more about Saint Dominique and the crusade against the Cathars. The next stop is Mirepoix, a beautiful medieval village dating from the 10th century. The large central square is flanked by a magnificent covered arcade, created by half-timbered houses supported on wooden pillars. Then, you depart to Castelnaudary for lunch, you are in the capital of the “Cassoulet”, traditional medieval dish, that still nowadays a meal that local people eat regularly. It is composed of white beans, pork sausage, and duck confit, of course, many other choices will be on the restaurant menu. After lunch, you go for a walk to visit Castelnaudary and mainly have a view onto its “Grand Bassin”, that used to be the main harbor of the Canal du Midi. Later, you head to the St Ferreol lake, which is the big water reservoir for the Canal du Midi, and you return to Carcassonne going through the black mountain and its winding roads, with a stop at Saissac for the view.

Today you’re going to explore two of the most prestigious and spectacular Cathar castles. Take good shoes and be in good shape, as the Cathar castles were famous and dreaded for their perched and impregnable defensive position…

During this tour, discover two Cathars castles that are not to be missed: Queribus and Peyrepertuse. This excursion is a deep breath with beautiful views, for nature and history lovers.

You start with Quéribus Castle, also called « the citadel of vertigo », which, as its name suggests offers you a wonderful view, literally breathtaking. During the Cathar crusade, Queribus served as a shelter to the Cathars. This is sometimes regarded as the last Cathar stronghold; in a sense it was.

You take lunch (not included) in the pretty village of Cucugnan. After lunch, take the time to stroll through the medieval streets of this picturesque village and go to the windmill surrounded by vineyards. You then head onto Peyrepertuse Castle, a ruined fortress and one of the Cathar castles. It was associated with the Counts of Barcelona and later the Kings of Aragon. The name Peyrepetuse is derived from Peirapertusa, the Occitan word meaning pierced rock.

Your driver-guide brings you back to your hotel at the end of the day.