Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Dordogne Markets
Markets are a big deal in rural France, and nowhere more so than in the Dordogne. I've
listed good markets for every day of the week, so there's no excuse for drivers not to ex-
perience one. Here's what to look for:
Strawberries
(fraises):
For the French, the Dordogne is the region famous for the
very tastiest strawberries. Available from April to November, they're gorgeous, and they
smell even better than they look. Buy
une barquette
(small basket), and suddenly your
two-star hotel room is a three-star. Look also for
fraises des bois,
the tiny, sweet, and less
visually appealing strawberries found in nearby forests.
Fresh Veggies:
Outdoormarketsallowyoutomeetthefarmer,andgiveyouachance
to buy direct. (See what's fresh, and look for it on your menu this evening.) Subtly check
out the hands of the person helping customers—if they're not gnarled and rough from
working the fields, move on.
Cheeses
(fromages):
The region is famous for its Cabécou goat cheese (described
earlier), though often you'll also find Auvergne cheeses (St. Nectaire and Cantal are the
