According to Julius Caesar, the Gauls took refuge in these caves during the resistance.Īfter Guienne province was transferred to the English Crown under the Plantagenets following the remarriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152, Perigord was transferred to English suzerainty. These subterranean refuges and lookout huts were large enough to shelter entire local populations. The earliest cluzeaux (artificial caves either above or below ground) can be found throughout the Dordogne. Concentrated in a few major sites are the vestiges of the Gallo-Roman period – the gigantic ruined tower and arenas in Périgueux (formerly Vesone), the Périgord museum's archaeological collections, villa remains in Montcaret, and the Roman tower of La Rigale Castle in Villetoureix. The Petrocores took part in the resistance against the Roman occupation of France. The river Dordogne near Castelnaud-la-Chapelle Périgord Noir ( Black Périgord) surrounding the administrative center of Sarlat, overlooks the valleys of the Vézère and the Dordogne, and takes its name from the nearby oak and pine forests.Périgord Pourpre (Purple Périgord) with its capital of Bergerac, is a wine region.Périgord Blanc (White Périgord), situated around the department's capital of Périgueux, is a region of limestone plateaux, wide valleys, and meadows.Périgord Vert (Green Périgord), with its main town of Nontron, consists of verdant valleys in a region crossed by many rivers and streams.Its inhabitants became known as the Périgordins (or Périgourdins), and there are four Périgords in the Dordogne. It was originally home to four tribes, and since "four tribes" in the Gaulish language is "Petrocore", the area eventually became known as the county of Le Périgord. The county of Périgord dates back to when the area was inhabited by ancient celtic Gaulish tribes. ( May 2013) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. You'll also hear the term referred to in reference to food, and the cuisine of Périgord, characterized by truffles, foie gras, and other goose and duck products, is world renowned.This section needs additional citations for verification. Périgueux, the administrative center of the Dordogne département, is in the Périgord Blanc. Périgord BlancĪnd the central Périgord Blanc, or White Périgord, is named for the abundance of white limestone in the area. The Périgord Vert, or Green Périgord, is the northwestern part of Périgord, known for its lush green fields and valleys and beautiful gardens. The Périgord Pourpre ( Purple Périgord), so named because of the abundant wine from the area, is centered on Bergerac-et-Cazenac. The Périgord Noir ( Black Périgord) is where most places of touristic interest are, including Sarlat-la-Canéda, the prehistoric caves of Lascaux, the medieval town of Domme, and other towns on the Dordogne and Vézère Rivers. Périgord/the Dordogne is/are also part of the région of France known as Nouvelle-Aquitaine, which also includes Bordeaux.Īnd to make things more complicated, the Périgord has been further divided into four "colorful" regions: Although the département has been known as the Dordogne for years, many people still use the term Périgord. What we commonly refer to as the Dordogne region is also referred to as Périgord, the historic name of the area-dating back centuries. It can get confusing trying to keep the various régions of France straight, especially when some are known by more than one name.
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