PERIGUEUX

Capital of the Dordogne, the history and buildings date from the Roman era of Vesunna to the medieval and Renaissance, not forgetting the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Perigueux has over 2000 years of history and 39 buildings classed as “Monuments Historiques”.

In the centre of one of the largest listed town centres of France lies the Byzantine Cathedral of Saint Front, one of the major halts along the pilgrim route of Saint Jacques de Compostelle and listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO since 1998.

There are several major museums in Perigueux which reflect the prehistory of the location, the early beginnings of the city in Roman times and the military significance of the middle ages.

In the centre of the Roman city of Perigueux is the Museum of Vesunna which exhibit’s the archaeological finds of the Roman occupation and is unique in the region of Aquitaine.

The museum of Art and Archaeology houses a collection of treasures from the past, including the second largest exhibition of  prehistoric artefacts in France.  It also covers the Roman period, the Middle-Ages and Renaissance.

An exceptional collection of arms and armaments from the Middle-Ages which reflects the military history of the region can be found at the Military Museum.

The markets are to be found in the centre of the medieval city in several market places around the Cathedral. The farmers market is open everyday from 8 am to 1 o’clock at the Place du Coderc. The ‘Grande Marche’ takes place in the same area on Wednesdays and Saturdays, expanding into the Place de la Clautre and Place de la Marie

The  ‘Marche de Gras’, literally the market of fat, is the venue for all the locally produced products preserved traditionally in tins with duck grease, all natural with no artificially preservatives or colouring. From November to March this market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 to 1 in the Place Saint Louis in the heart of the city.