Enjoy dog-friendly Dordogne from a quiet gîte
Discovering the château-studded countryside and picturesque villages in the Dordogne, known to the French as the Périgord, is blissful. And bringing your dog along couldn’t be easier. You’ll find heaps of glorious gardens that all welcome dogs, although often on a lead only, lovely woodland walks, dog-friendly restaurants, mesmerising château and vineyards for wine tasting tours.
La Maison du Gardien
Dogs £25 per week
Walk into a lovely light space with high ceilings, wooden floors and a huge fireplace with a wood burner that your dog will love to snooze in front of. Find a welcome basket of local goodies and a bottle of wine produced by a neighbour – if you like it you can have a tasting at the vineyard- in the spacious, airy kitchen. Doors from the living room open onto the outside space with a large fig tree, table and chairs, barbecue and sun loungers – a good spot for letting your dog have a run around. A ten-minute cycle will take you to the lake for a cooling swim and you can stroll through the vineyards to St-Martin-de-Gurson for your morning croissants, or have them delivered.
Owners Justine & Michael: Dordogne foodie markets are full of life. The Saturday market in St Foy le Grande, 15-minutes away, has been voted one of the best markets in France.
Gites Boutique
Dogs by arrangement
Poised between the Perigord Noir and the Perigord Pourpre – Bergerac and Bordeaux on one side, caves and castles on the other – is a hilltop retreat with 13th-century origins. The owners, a friendly English couple, live to one side of a large gravelled courtyard dotted with lavender, while the gîtes face the other way. There’s a huge communal barn where you can get together, a simple kitchen with Nespresso on tap, a TV corner for kids and a spacious dining terrace with marvellous views. There are books and games for all ages, a pool to float in and a hot tub to bubble in. Stroll through the forest to Villamblard to pick up croissants, visit the weekly market, or pop into one of the bar/restaurants for a simple meal.
Owners Michael & Mandy: Swim at the nearby lake then enjoy some tapas and organic wine whilst watching some live French music as the sun goes down.
La Ferme du Fournil
Up a country lane, with acres of woodland, gardens and stunning valley views, is a traditional farmhouse and a colourful cottage – larger groups can take both. The owners have restored them with artistic flair, adding modern day comforts yet retaining the old charm and spirit. The farmhouse has a big, friendly kitchen/sitting room with an open fire, four bedrooms with polished mahogany beds and two bathrooms. Eat breakfast or sip aperitifs on the magnificent veranda. The cosy cottage has its own garden shaded by wild plum trees, a vibrant feel and open stairs to the mezzanine bedroom; mind your head! Les Eysies, Monpazier, Sarlat and Domme are all close. Return to barbecues and a wonderful dog-friendly garden.
Owner Stephen: Why not just treat yourself to a quiet day relaxing in the grounds, swimming in the pool or sitting by the pond watching the abundance of wildlife.
Rediat Cor
Rediat Cor£20 per dog per week or short break
Perched on a hill at the foot of the castle ramparts sits a beautifully converted house with stunning valley and woodland views. It’s warm and friendly with a sleek kitchen, state-of -the-art bathroom, two sitting rooms and two cosy bedrooms under higgledy-piggledy beams with sensational film-set views. Leave your car in the square opposite and spend the days pottering up and down the steep cobblestone streets and the Perigord Noir houses of the village, bright with flowers in summer. Don’t miss the château gardens, Wednesday’s market and river swimming 4km away. There are dog-friendly restaurants and tourist attractions nearby, and you’ll find a list of the owners’ favourite dog walks in the house.
Owner Amy: A delightful boulangerie for your morning bread and pastries, a charcuterie filled with local meats and cheeses, and several cafés and restaurants are just a five-minute stroll away.
Rigal
Dogs by arrangement
This pale-shuttered 1700s manoir with a medieval tower and low-slung mellow-stone farmhouse is stylishly contemporary. Come as a party of six, or eight, or combine the two houses for a glorious gathering. Rigal is bliss for city escapees. Children will love the all-wood playground, pool, table-tennis, rabbits, pigs and ponies. Grown ups can chase the sun or shade around the outdoor seating areas and feel cosseted by drenching showers, dreamy mattresses, and delicious bedding. Visit for the first strawberries in April, the wild orchids in May, and the wines all year round, from famous Monbazillac to tiny appellations. Stock up at Lalinde’s Thursday market, wander around pretty Monpazier, take woodland walks from the door.
Owner Chris: Explore the ancient history of the Lascaux caves and paintings, the natural wonders of Proumeyssac or Mexange Grottes.
The Cottage at Les Chouettes
The Cottage at Les ChouettesDogs by arrangement
Splash in the large pool, spread out over three outdoor seating areas or have a game of ping pong or volleyball. Children will love family holidays here, and if you’re a large party you can take the next door barn too (both have their own entrances). The village, a 20-minute walk away, is beautiful, and there are excellent restaurants within walking distance including the Michelin star Le Vieux Logis. Dog walkers will be happy letting the hounds loose for miles of scampering in the wonderful hills or strolling to the river beach for swimming. The Sarlat market on Saturdays is not to be missed.
Owner Karen: My favourite village is the Bastide Limeuil on the banks of where the Dordogne and Vezzere Rivers meet.
Vive la France
This article is part of Vive la France, the home of inspiring itineraries and stories from travel writers and our team, to help you plan your next French adventure.
Written by
Carmen McCormack
Carmen is a freelance writer specialising in travel. She once lived in a bus in north Wales, skipped off to study in Barcelona, and now calls Bristol home. When she’s not tapping away on her laptop, she can be found reading (a lot), lake swimming (a little), and pottering on the allotment with husband and two kiddos. She’s currently dreaming about cold cerveza and torta in Mexico.
