This is the region from the Carcasson over the land mass to the Atlantic beaches at Bordeaux, from the border with Spain up to just south of Limoges, home of porcelain. Like Provence, it is a massive region of high, cruel mountain peaks to rolling hills, from fairytale valleys with golden chateaux around every corner in the Perigord to empty beaches as far as the eye can see at Bordeaux.

It is the land of the black truffle, the walnut, the foie gras or goose liver. Here you find confit de canard (duck preserved in its' own fat). Duck and goose fat is used for cooking just as olive oil is used in Provence and butter and cream in northern France. The locals claim is has the same health qualities as olive oil.

The world famous wine regions of Bordeaux, Medoc, St. Émilion are here as are lesser known regions like Bergerac, Cahors, Côte de Buzet and many others.

Rivers abound such as the Dordogne, the Tarn and Lot. Some leading to the Atlantic, others to the

Mediterranean. The Moors and the British at different times conquered these regions, and to this day you can see their influence.

Some of the oldest human remains are here. Cro-magnon man in Les Eyzies-de-Tayac. The cave art at Montignac. The building style of the region is some of the most picturesque in all of France. High peaked roofs made of flat field stone weighing a ton per square meter. Wall at least 3' thick to support the roofs. Stone of golden sand and lime stone.

On top is usually perched like an eagle a chateau whole battlements controlled the use of the river. Richard the Lionheart, (who it seems managed to stay in every spot in Europe on his way to the Crusades!) is reputed to have lived for a time at Beynac. The crusaders seemed to have had the leisure to build imposing castles all along their route to the holy lands. It is a wonder thay actually engaged in combat at all.