🇫🇷 France · Places to discover
What to see in Sarlat ?
18 places curated by Hozy - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities. Click to discover each address in detail.
Landmarks & heritage (9)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SALandmark
Sarlat Saint-Sacerdos Cathedral
Gothic and Renaissance cathedral at the heart of the old town, with construction spanning the 12th to 17th centuries. Its Romanesque bell tower and imposing nave dominate the listed historic centre.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SALandmark
Présidial of Sarlat
Former royal law court from the 17th century with a distinctive baroque domed roof unique in Périgord. Now a performance hall, it hosts notably productions from the Festival of Theatre Games.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SALandmark
Rue de la République (La Traverse)
Thoroughfare cut through the medieval fabric in the 19th century, nicknamed 'La Traverse' by locals who shun it. It separates the upper town from the lower town and remains an essential landmark for orientation.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SALandmark
Maison de La Boétie
16th-century Renaissance dwelling and birthplace of Étienne de La Boétie, friend of Montaigne and author of Discourse on Voluntary Servitude. Its mullioned window façade is an architectural gem.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SALandmark
Hôtel Plamon
Architectural complex of Gothic and Renaissance periods from the 14th to 16th centuries, former residence of a draper family. Its ogival windows and superimposed loggias attest to the rising fortune of Sarlat's merchant class.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SALandmark
Chapel of the White Penitents of Sarlat
Small Romanesque chapel from the 12th century, restored and now a cultural space and exhibition hall. Hidden behind the cathedral, it reveals the richness of Sarlat's medieval religious heritage.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SALandmark
Lanterne des Morts de Sarlat
A twelfth-century Romanesque cylindrical tower, one of France's most mysterious – its funerary purpose remains debated. Nestled in the Enfeus garden, it offers a striking medieval setting.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SALandmark
Breuil Huts
Hamlet of dry stone huts with slate roofs dating from the 18th century, at Saint-André-d'Allas near Sarlat. These perfectly preserved Périgord bories bear witness to a rural building craft now lost.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SALandmark
Hôtel de Maleville
Splendid Renaissance mansion from the late 16th century, built by Jacques de Maleville, minister to Henri IV. Its sculptured façade is among the most elegant in the town.
Nature & parks (4)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SANature
Marqueyssac Gardens
Suspended gardens from the 17th century overlooking the Dordogne at 130 metres' height, with 6 km of pathways lined with hand-clipped box hedges. The viewpoint offers one of the finest panoramas of the entire valley.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SANature
Beune Valley
Enclosed and unspoilt valley south of Sarlat, crossed by a path running alongside the river beneath the limestone cliffs. Ideal for observing grey herons, otters and the wetland vegetation of Périgord Noir.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SANature
Lac de la Plane
Small reservoir lake a few minutes from the centre, favoured by Sarlat families for swimming and fishing in summer. Far from tourist circuits, it is the go-to local spot for a cooling dip.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SANature
State forest of Sarlat-la-Canéda
Forest massif of pedunculate and downy oaks surrounding the town, dotted with marked trails for hikers and mountain bikers. In autumn, the colours and mushrooms make it an ideal playground for locals.
Viewpoints (2)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAViewpoint
Marquay cliffs and Pech Merle viewpoint
Limestone promontory overlooking the Beune valley south of Sarlat, accessible on foot from Marquay. Clear views over the truffle oak groves and walnut fields typical of Périgord Noir.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAViewpoint
Barre Viewpoint
Natural terrace above Sarlat offering a panorama of the slate roofs of the old town and the wooded hills beyond. Accessible from the town rampart path in 20 minutes' walk from the centre.
Activities (3)
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAActivity
Sarlat Saturday Morning Market
One of the finest markets in south-west France, taking over the entire old town each Saturday. Black truffles in season, preserves, walnuts, sheep's cheese and cèpes – a sensory spectacle as much as a shopping experience.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAActivity
Sarlat Theatre Games Festival
Among France's oldest theatre festivals (since 1952), transforming the courtyards and alleyways of the old town into open-air stages each summer. An event deeply rooted in Sarlat's cultural identity.
Wikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SAActivity
Dordogne Valley Cycle Route - Green Way
Purpose-built cycle path along a former railway line, running alongside the Dordogne between Sarlat and Souillac. Perfect for a half-day family bike ride, with stops in white-stone villages.