Peri peri what? (Perigueux)

Member Name: paulhanton

Product:	Perigueux
Date:	17/08/09 (132 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Bustling, shopping.

Disadvantages: Bit tardy, nothing outstanding.

Perigueux - Perigord - Dordogne

Okay, let's get this straight: Perigueux is actually a large town/city that is the capital of the region of Perigord; which in turn is part of the area of Dordogne (though it is in fact a tributary of the Dordogne, the Isle, which runs through Perigueux) in the French Region of Aquitaine.....clear now?


~~Okay, so where exactly?~~

D3, N89, major routes from Bordeaux in the west, Limoges in the North, well signposted, probably about 30 km NNW of Bergerac. The Perigord region straddles Limousin and Dordogne and in itself is split into 4 areas....I'll leave it there.

A good tip for parking (if following SatNav into town centre), turn off just before main lights into town centre and go down the ramp (tight turn) that leads to free parking by the river.


~~What to see~~

In many ways it seems initially that there is not much of interest in Perigueux, at least not one the cathedral of St-Front has been looked at from outside and in. It is impressive, but not outstanding, and the general area around the cathedral is a bit tardy and is often not helped by the various works on the cathedral resulting in scaffolding or boarding.....I have seen this 3 of the last 4 years.

Okay, I'm being a little harsh as there are a few nice cobbled streets leading off from the main drag and plenty of timbered houses mixing in with newer builds.

This for me is one of the main problems, there seems to be scant regard for the aesthetic of the town, you can walk up the main drag and see nice streets of old timber and stone, with a modern computer shop 'shoved' in the mix. One end of town (cathedral and river end) is shabby, but nicer to be in whilst the other end of town has a colonial style massive roundabout with big embassy type buildings, mixed in with what must be the French equivalent of Primark!


~~What to do~~

There are many canoe trips available on the clean and calm river, in fact a walk by the river is pleasant enough. Both of these activities however are cheaper and less crowded in other towns in the region.

Shopping is about all I feel that this town is particularly good for. There is a 'main drag' which has numerous shops selling much local produce; this generally means duck and duck products, knives, chocolate and country art.

There are a few quaint galleries and artefact shops off the main drag and one or two genuinely quirky little record shops and memorabilia shops to be found between the cathedral and the river. So, shopping is good.

There is a military museum and an archaeological museum, but in truth the military museum is a bit naff and the archaeological museum is a waste of time when the whole of the Dordogne has so many interesting sites elsewhere.

Probably the best thing about the town for me is the mass of alleyways which always seem to lead back to the main drag, fun to explore, but not as extensive as, say, Bergerac.


~~~Eating and drinking~~~

Do you like duck? Fois Gras? If not your best bet is a pizza or one of the sandwich shops as the vast majority of the eateries sell mainly duck in one form or another, no problem as confit de canard (fried duck leg) is fine, only not every bloomin meal!!

Not an expensive town to eat in so that is a plus.


~~~In Conclusion~~~

Worth a visit, if only for the shopping, the shop and stall staff are generally very friendly and helpful. Visit if, and only if you are in the area, do not make a day trip of this place, you will be disappointed.

It is one of those places that if it was not in this area would be more than it is.....as it is, with Bergerac, Sarlat and Brantome, all much prettier and with more to do in the area, Perigueux has much to catch up on.....and hasn't.

Summary: Perigueux.