Perigueux Property guide

The city of Perigueux is a gourmet capital full of markets selling truffles, chestnuts, walnuts and foie gras and with an International Gourment Book Fair every 2 years, attended by famous chefs and writers. The city also values its 2000 years of history; it is the proud owner of the largest cathedral in southwestern France; St-Front Cathedral which was restored in the C19th and it has an impressive medieval and renaissance centre full of distinct white limestone buildings.

Access
Perigueux is situated on the bank of the river Isle in the Dordogne department of the Aquitaine region. The nearest airport is Bergerac, which can be reached in 55mins. Limoges airport can be reached in 1h30.

History
Périgueux was founded on a hill shaped by the curving River Isle and the name Périgueux comes from the Gallic Petrocorii tribe that settled there. The Romans then worked hard to develop the town; evidence of this can be found in the architecture still standing today. The last remaining arches of the amphitheatre on the boulevard des Arenes for example. For centuries after this the city, protected by its defensive wall, remained unchanged. Then from the 18th century onwards, the city began developing once again so that by the 19th century, the number of inhabitants increased a lot and the city spread along the river Isle. Then in 1856, the city expanded due to the railway.

Activities
Walking along the winding C15th and C16th lanes, sights to see include: a market every Wednesday and Saturday, when people come from all over the region to display their goods and browse for the latest bargains, the Musee du Perigord, which has an extensive display of local findings, including a number of fantastic frescoes, mosaics and jewellery, items dating from 2 BC and three skeletons, which are ranked among the oldest ever found, the pedestrianised Rue Limogeanne which is where the locals have been doing most of their shopping since the Middle Ages, the amphitheatre, the temple of a Gallic goddess, Vesunna the Gallo-Roman museum and extraordinary Romanesque Churches such as the Saint-Front Cathedral which was built after 1120 AD and restored in the C19th. Descending to the river, there is an ensemble of particularly attractive medieval houses - the 'maison Lambert', the 'maison des consuls', and the 'hotel de Lur'. These are best admired from the bridge that crossed the river at this point.

Perigueux is a cultural centre and offers many festivals, exhibitions and concerts, especially during the summer months. There is a summer stage for example, where everyone has the chance to act; ‘the whole town is a show, the Macadam jazz festival, a singing contest, carnivals, night markets and a mime festival which is perhaps the biggest and best in the world; the streets comes alive with a free performances and there are numerous workshops for people to learn the art of miming. There is even a ‘mim’off’ where the public can vote their facvourite act.

Food
Locals are always guaranteed fresh fruit in the supermarkets as the region is a major producer of apricots, plums, nectarines, melons, peaches, strawberries and apples. Truffles and pies are also local specialities.

Restaurants
 Aux Berges de L’Isle, 2 rue Pierre Magne, tel: 05 53 09 51 50, menu 16-38€
L’Estaminet, 2 impasse Limogeanne, tel : 05 53 06 11 38, menu 15-30€
Restaurant de Laugerie Basse, Laugerie Basse 24620, tel : 05 53 06 97 91, menu 12-22€

Guesthouses
www.cottages4you
Regina Hotel, 14 rue Denis Papin, www.france-hotel-guide.com/h24000regina.htm , rooms 51€
Bristol Hotel, 37 rue Antoine Gadaud, www.france-hotel-guide.com/h24000bristol.htm ,rooms 61€

Our team of sale advisers at Sextant Properties will be happy to help you to find a property in Aquitaine. We have a large network of estate agents in Dordogne. All of them are registered French real estate agents and speak both French and English. Whatever kind of property you are looking for: farmhouse, longere, barn, gite, B&B, country house, mill, castle or chateau, we will do our best to find a property in Aquitaine matching your requirements. Do not hesitate to contact us to find out more about our selection of properties for sale near Perigeux