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TheDordogne (French pronunciation:[dɔʁdɔɲ]ⓘ;Occitan:Dordonha) is a river in south-central and southwestFrance. It is 483.1 km (300.2 mi) long.[1] The Dordogne and its watershed were designatedBiosphere Reserve byUNESCO on 11 July 2012.[2]
The river rises on the flanks of thePuy de Sancy at 1,885 metres (6,184 ft) above sea level in the mountains ofAuvergne, from the confluence of two small torrents above the town ofLe Mont-Dore: theDore and theDogne. It flows generally west nearly 500 kilometres (310 mi) through theLimousin andPérigord regions before flowing into theGironde, its commonestuary with theGaronne, at theBec d'Ambès ("Ambès beak"), north of the city ofBordeaux.
The Dordogne is one of the few rivers in the world that exhibit the phenomenon of atidal bore, known as amascaret.[3]
The upper valley of the Dordogne is a series of deep gorges. The cliffs, steep banks, fast flowing water and high bridges attract both walkers and drivers. In several places the river is dammed to form long, deep lakes. Camp sites and holiday homes have proliferated wherever the valley floor is wide enough to accommodate them.
BelowArgentat and aroundBeaulieu-sur-Dordogne, the valley widens to accommodate fertile farmland, well-watered pasture and orchards. In the towns, which are major tourist attractions because of their history and architecture, the quaysides are lined with eating and drinking places. In Périgord, the valley widens further to encompass one of France's main gastronomic regions, with vineyards, poultry farms and truffle-rich woodlands.
The main season fortourism in the Valley of the Dordogne is from June to September, with July and August being high season. The lifestyle and culture of the Dordogne valley attract both visitors and incomers from all over France, but also from many other countries, particularly Britain and Germany.
The Dordogne atArgentat inCorrèze, part of the Limousin region
Thedépartements of France through which the Dordogne runs, together with some towns in thosedépartements that are on or quite near the river, are as follows:
Aside from the usual activities such as tennis and golf available in many areas of France, there are a number of water-related activities related to the Dordogne, including:
Fishing, an age-old pastime for the locals and for visitors;
Canoeing andkayaking, very popular (canoes & kayaks are easy to rent);
Boating in aGabare (a traditional skiff peculiar to the Dordogne);
