Top 10 ideas for visits to Sarlat

Discover Perigord & the Dordogne

Do you want to visit Sarlat-la-Canéda, immerse yourself in Périgord culture, admire the beautiful landscapes of the Dordogne, but you don't know where to start? No problem… To help you select the essential visits to Sarlat and not miss anything during your next stay, we take you on a Top 10 of sites to visit in Sarlat to discover all its facets.

Opening photo credit: Visit Sarlat-la-Canéda with the Guide du Périgord

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1) Visit the medieval town of Sarlat-la-Canéda

Of course, we cannot begin this discovery of Sarlat without offering you a visit to the medieval city. It is undoubtedly the most essential of Périgord and its reputation is international. The architecture is remarkable and each building seems to do honor to this ocher stone, which gives an air of prestige to its walls. Most of the old houses have been transformed into shops or restaurants and you can therefore enter and admire the interiors. During the summer, the streets come alive with traveling shows, which give it a lot of charm.

To explore the medieval city, choose a hotel in Sarlat that is well located, easy to live in, easy to book and with competitive rates. The Ibis Hôtel de Sarlat also offers free private parking.

Good idea: Guided or dramatized tours are organized by the Tourist Office from April to October.

Find out more: Our visit to Sarlat-la-Canéda (fr)

Sarlat near the cathedral with the lantern of the dead in the distance - Photo credit © Guide du Périgord

2) Admire Sarlat from its panoramic lift

After strolling through the narrow streets of Sarlat, it's time to take some height to admire Sarlat from the sky. To do this, you just have to go up in its panoramic elevator and not miss the photo from the top. It was Jean Nouvel, an architect well known to Sarladais for his innovations, who came up with the idea for this glass lift to show visitors a new angle of view of Sarladais and its countryside landscapes.

Find out more: I discover Sarlat from the sky, 35 meters above the ground!

The view from the top of Sarlat's panoramic lift - Photo credit © Guide du Périgord

3) Find local products at the indoor market in Sarlat

Sarlat's covered market has a very surprising particularity. He settled in the old Sainte-Marie church. As soon as you enter, you will be impressed by the disproportionate size of its doors! The building was rehabilitated by the architect Jean Nouvel and the result is spectacular. Inside, you will find all kinds of local products, especially food.

Sarlat covered market - Photo credit © Guide du Périgord

4) Enter a Sarladaise residence: the Manoir de Gisson

With its mullioned windows, its slate roofs and its bay with small columns, there is no doubt that you are in a building characteristic of medieval Périgord architecture. The Manoir de Gisson is a beautiful residence, in the heart of the Sarlat city. It will complete your visit and will transport you to a very distant time. It's a journey through time that is offered to you in Sarlat, nothing less!

The good idea: Integrate it with a guided tour of the medieval city of Sarlat, thanks to a combined ticket.

Goose market square, the Manoir de Gisson in the background - Photo credit © Guide du Périgord

5) Take a walk in the Jardins du Plantier

In order to get some fresh air in Sarlat, the ideal is to go to the Jardins du Plantier. You can picnic there on its well-maintained lawns. Don't forget to follow this meal with a moment of relaxation and reading under its large majestic trees, taking advantage of a shady bench. While the children have fun in the playground and the bandstand...

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6) Immerse yourself in local tradition and discover traditional breeding

The rearing and force-feeding of geese is a real tradition in France. All the more so in the southwest, because it is a migration zone for geese and its breeding took root there very early in the history of this population. To discover it, we suggest you a farm, in the heart of Sarladais, in Prats-de-Carlux, on the outskirts of the town.

Find out more: Les Oies du Périgord Noir: Farm visit and goose foie-gras tasting

The Geese of Périgord, near Sarlat - Photo credit © Guide du Périgord

7) Meet the White Lady of the Château de Puymartin

In the town of Sarlat-la-Canéda, the Château de Puymartin is a very romantic residence, while keeping the traces of its medieval past. It has known all the great wars of History: that of 100 years, that of Religions… Many battles marked its old stones before its magnificent restoration in the 19th century. Yet his most famous victim is a poor countess, locked up forever in the tower. For eternity, it would seem, since she still wanders today between the walls of her golden prison...

Find out more: Visit the Château de Puymartin and its legend of the White Lady.

Puymartin Castle - Photo credit © Guide du Périgord

8) Cycling around Sarlat

The Sarladais is a very popular region for cycling, because the gently rolling hills offer great sporting prospects, without being too difficult for families with children. After climbs with beautiful elevations, you will enjoy pedaling quietly on the plateaus and admiring the forest landscapes. Each season has its pleasures in Périgord and you will find little pleasures to savor there at all times.

Find out more: The Sarlat Greenway: from Sarlat-la-Canéda to Cazoulès (fr)

The Sarlat greenway - Photo credit © Guide du Périgord

9) Discover a new facet of Périgord gastronomy

Périgord gastronomy is internationally renowned. Gourmets and gourmets alike will enjoy it. What would a Sarladais top 10 be without telling you about its tasty local cuisine. Not to mention that the old stones of Sarlat offer it an exceptional setting and adorn each plate with a note of magic. We are therefore "obligated" to offer you lunch in one of the most famous establishments in Sarlat, delicately combining the traditional flavors of Périgord with a touch of spicy exoticism!

Find out more: Behind the scenes of a Sarladaise institution: La Couleuvrine (fr)

To go further: Find our other favorite restaurants in Sarlat, in our dedicated section.

The interior room of the Couleuvrine in Sarlat Photo credit © Guide du Périgord

10) Go for a family hike

We offer you an 8 km hike that goes off the beaten track and will show you a beautiful facet of nature near the Medieval City. Meeting in Vitrac for the start of the Boucle de Montfort, an 8 km hike with beautiful viewpoints, a pleasant beach where you can have a picnic, discover the pretty village of Monfort and its castle. An original way to discover the Sarladais.