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Sarlat, France

Sarlat Holiday Rental Cottages, Houses and Apartments

Sarlat-la-Canéda, or simply Sarlat, is a pretty town nestled in the Dordogne department in the Aquitaine region in south-western France. Sarlat is, rightly referred to as one of the most attractive and alluring towns in south-western France. Stay in Sarlat self-catering holiday rental cottages and enjoy a medieval town that developed around a large Benedictine abbey of Carolingian origin. The medieval Sarlat Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Sacerdos. When you rent self-catering holiday accommodation in Sarlat, you’ll often hear the area it’s based in referred to as the Périgord Noir.

Modern history has largely ignored Sarlat, and as a result it has remained preserved. It boasts the reputation of being one of the towns most representative of 14th century France. The centre of the old town consists of impeccably restored stone buildings and is largely car-free - dating from both medieval and renaissance times it is a pleasure to visit.  Don't miss the streets around the cathedral and the streets to the north of the old town. Remind yourself to look up at the medieval stone carvings you’ll spot everywhere! You’ll soon become lost in the maze of narrow lanes, with something new to see around every corner. Market day in Sarlat is a Saturday.

When you holiday in Sarlat you’ll notice that agriculture has long been of importance in this area of the Dordogne. Tobacco has been grown here since 1857 and has historically been a major commodity for the area. Today gastronomic delights dominate the area and these include: walnuts, walnut oil, cheeses, wine, cèpes and truffles.

If foie gras whets your palate then look no further! There are several large foie gras artisans in the area, as well as a number of small producers of geese and ducks in the region that make foie gras and other cherished products, including confits and pâté, from these birds - well worth testing when renting a holiday rental house or cottage in Sarlat, France.

The town and region have featured in two major Hollywood films: Ridley Scott's The Duellists (1978) based on Joseph Conrad's Napoleonic tale; and more recently Timeline (2003) adapted from Michael Crichton's time-travel novel, set in 14th century France.

Bergerac is served by the Bergerac-Roumanière airport, which has internal flights, and routes to UK airports including Southampton, Bristol, East Midlands, Luton, Edinburgh, Exeter, Liverpool, Birmingham, Leeds-Bradford and London Stansted Airport. Ryanair and Flybe operate out of this airport. Sarlat railway station offers train services to Bergerac and Bordeaux. To drive to Sarlat from Cherbourg is a good day’s drive.

Sarlat enjoys a climate that is much like the majority of the south of France which is mild with short winters, longer summers and no real temperature extremes.