Périgueux is a city in the Aquitaine region of southwest France
and the capital of the Dordogne department. It extends over a
valley and an area of upland that rises to Champcevinel in the north
and Coulounieix in the south, and is crossed by the River Isle.
Situated roughly midway between Bordeaux and Limoges, it lies at the heart of Périgord Blanc, one of France's
areas of outstanding natural beauty. Périgueux is not a
large city, but with its historic architecture, museums and surrounding
picturesque countryside, it makes an attractive holiday destination.
Périgueux derives its name from the four Celtic tribes (Petrocorii) who settled in the region around 200 BC. In 16 BC, the Romans invaded the area and built the town of Vesunna, the ruined remains of which are visible around Périgueux today. In the third century AD, the city was fortified and acquired the name Civitas Petrucoriorum. By the Middle Ages, this had become a diocese known as la Cité, which, in 1240, merged with a neighbouring town (Puy-Saint-Front) to form Périgueux. In 1790, Périgueux became the prefecture of Dordogne and in 1813 it grew by merging with the town of Saint-Martin. Today, Périgueux is an important centre of food production and tourism, and also the venue for many cultural events.
The historic centre of Périgueux, with its Medieval streets
lined with wood-timbered houses and Renaissance mansions, bears witness
to the wealth of the town's merchants in former times. Meanwhile,
its abundant Roman remains (which include the ruins of an amphitheatre,
a temple and a luxurious villa) remind us of Périgueux's origins
as an important Roman town. Other landmarks include:
the ruins of le Château
Barrière, a 12th century fortification which played an
important role in the 100 Years War; la
Tour Mataguerre, the last surviving tower of the town's
defensive ramparts; l'Hôtel de
préfecture de la Dordogne, with its elegant Second Empire
façade and strikingly decorated interiors; and le Palais de Justice, which is
distinguished by its neo-classical design. With is straight lines
and wide boulevards, the more recent part of the city (built in the
19th century) has an air of Haussmann's Paris about it.
Périgueux's historic centre is dominated by the 12th century Cathédrale Saint-Front, which was an important stop for pilgrims on their way to Saint-Jacques de Compostelle. Heavily renovated in the 19th century, the cathedral has lost much of its former Byzantine character, although the lavishly decorated interior is stunning. Périgueux's other notable church is the 11th century Saint-Étienne-de-la-Cité, which was the town's original cathedral. Built on the site of a Gallo-Roman temple dedicated to the god Mars, this impressively styled Romanesque cathedral was half-destroyed in a fire caused by the town's Huguenots in 1577. It was restored early in the 20th century.
On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, Périgueux's main squares become a centre of activity with their open-air markets, which are a good place to buy local produce, including truffles, a regional delicacy, and foie gras. The outskirts of the city offer over 200 km of footpaths through some exquisite countryside, including unspoiled woodland and idyllic riverside walks.
Périgueux's three main museums provide an extensive record of the history of the city and its region. The Musée d'Art et d'Archéologie du Périgord has a collection of artefacts which trace the region's history back to prehistoric times. Located in the heart of the ancient town of Vesunna, the Musée Gallo-Romain Vesunna offers a remarkable insight into Périgueux's Roman past, its exhibits including a wide range of ceramics, jewels and architectural décor. Le Musée Militaire du Périgord is dedicated to the region's military history, with a collection of 20,000 objects that include weaponry, flags and uniforms from the Middle Ages to recent times.
Périgueux train station provides a connection to Paris and other French towns, including Limoges, Lyon and Bordeaux. There is also a local bus service which serves the city centre and outlying districts.
Périgueux derives its name from the four Celtic tribes (Petrocorii) who settled in the region around 200 BC. In 16 BC, the Romans invaded the area and built the town of Vesunna, the ruined remains of which are visible around Périgueux today. In the third century AD, the city was fortified and acquired the name Civitas Petrucoriorum. By the Middle Ages, this had become a diocese known as la Cité, which, in 1240, merged with a neighbouring town (Puy-Saint-Front) to form Périgueux. In 1790, Périgueux became the prefecture of Dordogne and in 1813 it grew by merging with the town of Saint-Martin. Today, Périgueux is an important centre of food production and tourism, and also the venue for many cultural events.
Périgueux's historic centre is dominated by the 12th century Cathédrale Saint-Front, which was an important stop for pilgrims on their way to Saint-Jacques de Compostelle. Heavily renovated in the 19th century, the cathedral has lost much of its former Byzantine character, although the lavishly decorated interior is stunning. Périgueux's other notable church is the 11th century Saint-Étienne-de-la-Cité, which was the town's original cathedral. Built on the site of a Gallo-Roman temple dedicated to the god Mars, this impressively styled Romanesque cathedral was half-destroyed in a fire caused by the town's Huguenots in 1577. It was restored early in the 20th century.
On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, Périgueux's main squares become a centre of activity with their open-air markets, which are a good place to buy local produce, including truffles, a regional delicacy, and foie gras. The outskirts of the city offer over 200 km of footpaths through some exquisite countryside, including unspoiled woodland and idyllic riverside walks.
Périgueux's three main museums provide an extensive record of the history of the city and its region. The Musée d'Art et d'Archéologie du Périgord has a collection of artefacts which trace the region's history back to prehistoric times. Located in the heart of the ancient town of Vesunna, the Musée Gallo-Romain Vesunna offers a remarkable insight into Périgueux's Roman past, its exhibits including a wide range of ceramics, jewels and architectural décor. Le Musée Militaire du Périgord is dedicated to the region's military history, with a collection of 20,000 objects that include weaponry, flags and uniforms from the Middle Ages to recent times.
Périgueux train station provides a connection to Paris and other French towns, including Limoges, Lyon and Bordeaux. There is also a local bus service which serves the city centre and outlying districts.
Also in France:
Top tourist attractions in Perigueux, France:
How to lose weight fast
Keeping leopard geckos
What is causing the obesity epidemic?
Fractal art
History of French cinema