Dordogne ( , <small>or</small> ; ; ) is a large rural department in southwest France, with its prefecture in Périgueux. Located in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region roughly half-way between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees, it is named after the river Dordogne, which runs through it. It corresponds roughly to the ancient county of Périgord. In January 2023, Dordogne had a population of 417,614. among others.

Geography

The department is part of the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and is surrounded by the six départements of Haute-Vienne, Corrèze, Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, Gironde, Charente-Maritime, and Charente. Dordogne is the third-largest department of metropolitan France, as well as the largest landlocked department in the country. In total area, it is larger than Cyprus and smaller than Cape Verde.

Principal towns

The most populous commune is Périgueux, the prefecture. As of 2023 there are nine communes with more than 5,000 inhabitants:

{| class=wikitable

! Commune

! Population (2023)

|-

| Périgueux

| style="text-align: center;" | 29,055

|-

| Bergerac

| style="text-align: center;" | 27,110

|-

| Boulazac Isle Manoire

| style="text-align: center;" | 10,759

|-

| Sarlat-la-Canéda

| style="text-align: center;" | 8,763

|-

| Coulounieix-Chamiers

| style="text-align: center;" | 7,832

|-

| Trélissac

| style="text-align: center;" | 7,372

|-

| Terrasson-Lavilledieu

| style="text-align: center;" | 6,218

|-

| Montpon-Ménestérol

| style="text-align: center;" | 5,866

|-

| Saint-Astier

| style="text-align: center;" | 5,376

|}

Demographics

The population peaked at 505,789 in 1851 according to that year's census. After that the population declined to 373,000 by 1975. This reflected the long term population decline observed in many of the rural departments resulting from changes in agriculture and the lure of higher industrial wages available in more urbanized regions. After 1975, the population increased again, reaching 417,000 by 2023.

Politics

The President of the Departmental Council is Germinal Peiro of the Socialist Party.

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

! colspan="2" | Party || Seats

|-

! style="background-color: " |<span style="color:#fff; font-size:140%;">•</span>

|Socialist Party || align="right" | 25

|-

! style="background-color: " |<span style="color:#fff; font-size:140%;">•</span>

|French Communist Party || align="right" | 2

|-

! style="background-color: " |

|Miscellaneous right || align="right" | 7

|-

! style="background-color: " |

|The Republicans || align="right" | 5

|-

! style="background-color: " |<span style="color:#fff; font-size:140%;">•</span>

|Sans étiquette || align="right" | 4

|}

Current National Assembly Representatives

{| class="wikitable"

|-

!colspan="2"|Constituency!!Member!!Party

|-

|style="background-color: " |

| Dordogne's 1st constituency

| Nadine Lechon

| National Rally

|-

|style="background-color: " |

| Dordogne's 2nd constituency

| Serge Muller

| National Rally

|-

|style="background-color: " |

| Dordogne's 3rd constituency

| Florence Joubert

| National Rally

|-

|style="background-color: " |

| Dordogne's 4th constituency

| Jacqueline Dubois

| The Ecologists

|}

Tourism

  • Château de Mauriac (Douzillac)
  • Maison forte de Reignac

<gallery widths=200 heights=200>

File:Perigueux Cathedrale Saint Front.jpg|Périgueux

Image:Beynac chateau 1.jpg|Château de Beynac

File:Lascaux, horse.JPG|Lascaux

File:Canoe Dordogne.jpg|Canoeing on the Dordogne River

File:La Roque-Gageac Dordogne.jpg|La Roque-Gageac

File:Cabanes du Breuil 1.jpg|Cabanes du Breuil

</gallery>

There are more than 1,500 castles in Dordogne, making it "The Other Chateau Country", including:

  • Beynac
  • Biron
  • Manoir de la Borie-Fricart
  • Bourdeilles
  • Castelnaud-la-Chapelle
  • Chantérac
  • Chatenet
  • Commarque
  • Hautefort
  • Manoir de Jaillac
  • Jaurias
  • La Besse
  • La Mothe
  • La Petite Filolie
  • La Renaudie
  • La Roche
  • La Roque
  • Manoir de Mitonias
  • Milandes
  • Monbazillac
  • Manoir de Grézignac
  • Manoir de la Vermondie
  • Manoir des Pautis
  • Pécany
  • Puymartin
  • Saulnier

The famous caves of Lascaux have been closed to the public, but a replica of Lascaux II is open to visitors and is a major tourist attraction. Périgueux has important Roman ruins, including an arena which is still visible inside a public park located near the town centre.

Dordogne is particularly popular with Britons as well as people from a variety of other countries, as a location for second homes.

See also

  • Arrondissements of the Dordogne department
  • Cantons of the Dordogne department
  • Communes of the Dordogne department
  • Coderc Plaza
  • Le Monument vivant de Biron

References

  • Préfecture website
  • Departmental Council website