Exploring the Dordogne: Secret Villages, Local Tips & Authentic French Travel

Join Us in France Travel Podcast

Annie Sargent

History, Art, Lifestyle, Travel, Paris, Places & Travel, Culture, Tour, Language, Monuments, Society & Culture, Visit, France

4.6 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 31 August 2025

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Have you ever dreamed of exploring French villages at your own pace? In this episode, Village-Hopping in the Dordogne and Beyond: A Traveler’s Guide with Jackie Barnes, host Annie Sargent talks with traveler Jackie Barnes about her recent road trip through one of France’s most beautiful regions.

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Jackie shares how she and her family designed a flexible Dordogne road trip that let them visit charming towns, sample local food, and enjoy the landscape without feeling rushed. From famous stops like Sarlat and Rocamadour to less crowded villages along the river, Jackie explains what made each place special. She also talks about driving in rural France, finding parking in small towns, and the importance of leaving room in your schedule for spontaneous discoveries.

Annie and Jackie compare notes on French markets, restaurants, and the kind of authentic encounters that happen when you stay in smaller inns or gîtes instead of big hotels. They also highlight cultural differences, from the rhythm of French mealtimes to how Sundays feel completely different compared to North America.

This episode is packed with practical tips for anyone planning to go beyond Paris and explore provincial France. You’ll hear why renting a car is essential, how to balance sightseeing with relaxation, and which Dordogne villages Jackie would happily return to again.

If you are searching for advice on exploring the Dordogne, planning a Dordogne road trip, or simply want inspiration for your next journey to France, this conversation will help you see what’s possible.

Subscribe to the Join Us in France Travel Podcast to get weekly episodes with trip reports, itineraries, and deep dives into French culture and history. Don’t just visit France—experience it like a traveler who knows where to look.

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Transcript

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0:48.8	sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at Indeed.com slash show. Just go to Indeed.com slash show right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this1. Bonjour, I'm Annie Sargent, and join us in France, episode 561. 561.
1:28.9	Bonjour, I'm Annie Sargent, and join us in France is the podcast where we take a conversational
1:34.0	journey through the beauty, culture, and flavors of France.
1:38.2	Today I bring you a conversation with Jackie Barnes about her enchanting visit to the
1:43.5	Dordogne. She went village hopping, and not just the Dordogne. She went village hopping. And not
1:46.5	just the Dordogne, she went further as well. I think, you know, if you're dreaming of cobblestone
1:51.8	streets and medieval castles and wonderful local cuisine, you're going to enjoy this episode.
1:58.7	This podcast runs on Chocolatine, caffeine, and the support of lovely humans like you.
2:04.3	You book my itinerary consults, take my voice map tours, ride shotgun in my electric car,
2:11.6	come to the boot camp or slip me a few euros on Patreon, and I love you for it.
2:17.1	Want to keep me going and skip the ads?
2:19.6	There's a link for that in the show notes as well.
2:23.0	And for everything else, head to join us in France.com for a slash boutique where you can
2:28.3	purchase any of my products or services.
2:32.0	For the magazine part of the podcast, after my chat with Jackie today, I'll discuss
	...

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