Sarlat-la-Caneda Audioguided Walking Tour 1h and 15 reviews

Here you are in the Little Rigaudie square, one of the gateways to the historic centre of Sarlat. Just a stone’s throw from the medieval streets and blond stone houses, this square offers an interesting contrast: it belongs to the 19th century urban planning, quite different from the old heart of the city.

Nestled in a natural cave built in the 12th century, it is recognized by its wide arched vault and its four hydrants that still flow today.

Here, everything breathes history and Perigord traditions. Look around: the square is surrounded by magnificent mansions from the 15th and 16th centuries. On the right, the manor of Gisson, a listed historical monument, plunges you into the world of the Sardinian bourgeoisie with its mullioned windows, lauze roofs and sculpted portals.

Right there, sitting nonchalantly on his low wall, a young bronze man is watching you. He is the Badaud, one of Sarlat’s most endearing figures. With his enigmatic smile, he has been contemplating the square for more than twenty years.

You are standing in front of the old church of Sainte-Marie, a building that at first glance still seems charged with its religious past... And yet he hides another life altogether. Built between the 12th and 16th centuries, this church has long been a place of worship in the heart of the city.

You are here in Freedom Square, the true beating heart of Sarlat. It is the great scene of the city, the place where everything intersects: inhabitants, travelers, traders, artists... Since the Middle Ages, this square has been the nerve centre of the city.

On the Place du Peyrou, each facade tells a page of history, and the whole forms an exceptional architectural decor. In front of you stands the Maison de La Boétie, undoubtedly one of the most famous jewels of the city.

In front of you stands the Cathedral of Saint-Sacerdos, a monument that alone embodies more than a thousand years of history. Initially a mere abbey in the 9th century, it became a cathedral in 1317 when Pope John XXII created the diocese of Sarlat.

Here is a building that sums up Sarlat’s entire history: the old Bishop’s Palace, which has become City Inn, Court, Prison, Theatre... and today Tourist Office.

Enter Munz Street, which is on your left, and you will arrive in the Courtyard of Fountains, a place intimately linked to the origins of Sarlat. It is here, around this natural spring, that the Benedictine monks chose to found their abbey in the 9th century.

You are here on the Great Rigaudie Square, a vast space that marks the transition between the medieval centre of Sarlat and the modern city.

You are on the Rue de la République, which the locals simply call the Traverse. This wide artery, pierced in the 19th century, profoundly transformed Sarlat’s face.

Here is the place André Malraux, a space that tells alone the rebirth of Sarlat in the 20th century.

As you climb the steps of the Toulouse coast, let’s take a moment to dive back into Sarlat’s past. Its history dates back to the 9th century, with the founding of a Benedictine abbey around a spring, the Court of Fountains.

On your left is the White Penitents Chapel, a place that alone concentrates four centuries of religious, social and cultural history in Sarlat.