La Farge

Visit the historic market town of Argentat, with its fine wooden-galleried houses on the riverside. The cobbled quayside with its three landing stages is the perfect spot to enjoy a cool drink or an ice cream down by the water. The town also has a good choice of shops, supermarkets and excellent restaurants.

Beaulieu is a little further down the river and is renowned for its wonderful, fragrant strawberries. It is a charming medieval town with a Romanesque Abbey, half-timbered houses and old, narrow streets.

Brive-la-Gaillarde is a town famous for its food, its rugby team and its rich historic past. Stroll along the streets to absorb the town’s bustling atmosphere, eat and drink at the cafés and restaurants along tree-lined avenues and discover the many squares and gardens which make this town such a delight.

Rocamadour is an easy drive from La Farge. The town was once the centre of the most famous pilgrimage in the Christian West - now it is one of the most important tourist sites in France. Built in a spectacular canyon, the town has been carved out of the limestone rocks, making a stunning vista.

Further on are the popular tourist sites of the west Dordogne. Souillac, Sarlat, Domme and La-Roque-Gageac are all well worth the trip.

La Farge has some of the "plus beaux villages" in the Corrèze and the Lot on its doorstep. The red sandstone buildings and châteaux of Collonges-la-Rouge are a striking contrast to the surrounding lush countryside. The village also has bars, restaurants and quality craft shops to visit.

Other "plus beaux villages" include Turenne, Curemonte, Carennac, Autoire and Loubressac. Turenne has developed around a rocky outcrop and still has the ruins of a château above it. Curemonte is a medieval jewel with two impressive châteaux - and Carennac continues to be timeless and sleepy. The charming villages of Loubressac and Autoire, with its cascades, are especially worth visiting.

Everywhere you go, you will see châteaux of all sizes and significance. Most magical are the historic ruins of the Tours-de-Merle. Most notable is the massive red-stone château at Castelnau-Bretenoux, with its gorgeous views over the Dordogne valleys. The château is the second-largest fortress in the south of France, now housing exhibitions of art and furniture which date back to the Middle Ages.

The mountains of the Auvergne National Park are just over an hour’s drive from La Farge - the stunning scenery having evolved from extinct volcanoes. And there are so many caves and chasms (grottes and gouffres) in the area, you won’t have time to visit them all... Lascaux with its famous cave paintings, Les Grottes de Presque, La Grotte des Merveilles, Gouffre de la Fage and Gouffre de Padirac (which has a mysterious river navigation 100 metres underground).

Argentat

A little history...
Argentat is situated on the River Dordogne and borders three regions - the Limousin, Auvergne and Quercy. From the 10th century until 1615, the town was financed and run by the church and the Vicomte de Turenne. In 1263, however, the Vicomte de Turenne allowed the town to hold a market on the day of Saint-André each year. The town gained importance during the 18th and 19th centuries as cargoes of wood started to be transported along the river. During the 20th century, the town flourished as a tourist destination.

Architecture
Argentat has many interesting original architectural features and buildings, including La Maison du Patrimoine where you can discover the town's history; Le Manoir de l'Eyrial; Le Château Neuville; the 17th-century Couvent des Récollets; La chapelle Saint-Sacerdos; the ancient streets of Rue Sainte-Claire & Rue du Portail-Lavergne.

Things to see
Guided walks of the town; the "gabares" & "courpets" - traditional wooden boats for transporting wood on the river; the quayside; bridges over the river; traditional riverside houses.

Things to do
Swimming pool & leisure park; canoeing; cycling; fishing; microlight flying; 26 walking and cycling routes.