Few regions pack so much into a half-hour radius: an almost intact medieval town, decorated caves listed as World Heritage sites, a handful of France’s most beautiful villages, a river made for canoeing and a cuisine that made the Périgord famous. The course is an ideal base for all of it.
Sarlat-la-Canéda
Sarlat has one of the highest concentrations of protected monuments of any town in France. Its medieval centre escaped the demolitions of the 19th century, and in the 1960s it became one of the first conservation areas created in France. The result: golden stone lanes, stone-slab (lauze) roofs and Renaissance mansions, all within a few hectares.
The Saturday morning market fills the old town all year round. In winter there is also the truffle market, and in summer the night markets.
Prehistory in the Vézère valley
The Vézère valley has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 for its prehistoric sites and decorated caves. This is where Cro-Magnon man was discovered, and where four teenagers stumbled upon Lascaux in 1940.
The original cave is closed to the public, but Lascaux IV, in Montignac, offers a full-scale replica. In Les Eyzies-de-Tayac, the Musée national de Préhistoire puts it all into context. Add Font-de-Gaume, Rouffignac and the rock shelters of the valley.
The most beautiful villages
The Dordogne has more villages listed among the “Plus Beaux Villages de France” (Most Beautiful Villages of France) than almost any other département, including several 13th-century bastide towns. Here are the ones not to miss around the golf course.
- Belvès, the closest, a hilltop village with seven bell towers.
- La Roque-Gageac, set against the cliff with its feet in the river.
- Monpazier, founded in 1284, one of the best-preserved bastides in France, with its covered market square and arcades.
- Domme, a clifftop bastide with one of the finest views over the valley.
- Beynac-et-Cazenac and Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, two castles that have faced each other since the Hundred Years’ War.
- Limeuil, where the Dordogne and the Vézère meet.
- Trémolat and its cingle, the most spectacular meander of the Dordogne, best seen from the viewpoint.
The Dordogne river
The Dordogne basin is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Here the river winds in wide loops beneath the cliffs, between châteaux and villages.
You can paddle down it by canoe from April to October, for a few kilometres or for the whole day. For something gentler, the gabares, flat-bottomed boats once used to carry goods, leave from La Roque-Gageac and Beynac for an hour’s guided trip on the water.
Food in the Périgord
The Périgord is a region that loves its food, where the markets matter as much as the monuments. Foie gras and confit, ceps in autumn, black truffles in winter, Périgord walnuts with their own protected designation, strawberries and goat’s cheeses.
For wine, Bergerac and Monbazillac are about an hour away. Farmers’ markets are held almost every day in one village or another nearby.
Google reviews
We thoroughly enjoyed 2 games at Lolivarie golf club. We enjoyed our first experience so much we went back for a second! Very friendly staff who made us so welcome. An interesting and varied course, well maintained, with a lovely outdoor shaded area post golf for refreshments. All in all a great experience.
I played 18 holes on vacation may 2024, very nice course , been some rain and the lower lying areas were a little soft. Had a lovely time , the owner Julian very kindly dropped me back to my accommodation , thanks for the round .
Nice seating area outside. Suuuuuper friendly people!
Great course, well maintained and well kept greens. Relaxed atmosphere. Best to book in advance. Yearly tradition to golf at Lolivarie!
Pros- nice friendly staff at the reception and easy booking for tee time. Relaxed atmosphere around the clubhouse and restaurant. Good driving range facility. The course layout is nice, fairly challenging and mostly flat. Good value for money esp. for golf addicts with their day pass! My “local” preferred course in Dordogne.
Cons- tee boxes could be better, most are uneven and some with tall grasses.