Why Is Dordogne So Popular? Secrets Behind the Obsession

A Slice of France That Feels Like a Fairytale

Well, if you've ever stepped foot in Dordogne, you probably get it. But if you haven’t—oh man, you’re in for a surprise. This part of southwestern France feels like someone took all the clichés of “charming French countryside” and just... made them real. Rolling hills, medieval villages, castles that literally look like they belong in a Disney movie, and food that could make you cry (in the best way).

I still remember my first trip there with my buddy Lucas—he’s a chef, very picky about where we go. We booked a random Airbnb near Sarlat-la-Canéda, and from the very first morning, I knew I was hooked.

The Medieval Magic of Dordogne’s Villages

Sarlat, Beynac, Domme... each one a postcard

Honestly, walking around these towns feels unreal. The cobblestone streets, the golden stone houses, the flower boxes overflowing with geraniums—it’s like stepping into a period drama (without the corsets, thankfully).

Sarlat especially blew my mind. We went on a Saturday, market day. It was packed, chaotic, and smelled like cheese, truffles, and roasted walnuts. I even tried to haggle for a goose pâté (bad idea—I am not good at haggling in French).

And then there’s Beynac. Perched on a cliff above the Dordogne River, it’s like a movie set. I mean it—Chocolat with Johnny Depp was filmed just around the corner.

Food and Wine That’ll Ruin You (In a Good Way)

It’s not just duck and truffles… but yeah, lots of duck and truffles

Let’s talk food. Because, I’m not gonna lie, this is half the reason I keep going back. Dordogne is duck country. Confit de canard, magret, foie gras—you name it. And every little bistro acts like their grandmother invented the recipe.

One night, Lucas cooked dinner using ingredients we grabbed from a roadside stand—fresh walnuts, wild mushrooms, and this insane goat cheese from Rocamadour. We paired it with a Bergerac red wine (underrated as hell, by the way), and just sat on the terrace watching the sun dip behind the hills. Might’ve teared up a little. No shame.

Dordogne Is Basically France’s Best-Kept Secret… That Everyone Knows About

Crowds? Yeah. But not like Paris

So here’s the weird part. Dordogne’s popular, sure, but it doesn’t feel overwhelmed (yet). You’ll see a lot of Brits—like, a lot. They’ve been onto this region for ages. I asked a British couple in La Roque-Gageac why they keep coming back, and the woman just smiled and said, “Because it’s perfect.”

But it’s not just tourists. There’s a sense of calm here. Locals still run the markets, kids still swim in the rivers, and restaurants close when they feel like it. It’s real life—not the polished tourist version.

Prehistoric Caves and a Real Sense of Time

Lascaux: More than just drawings on a wall

Oh, and then there’s the caves. I almost didn’t go, thought it’d be boring (big mistake). But the Lascaux cave replica? Blew my mind. The paintings are over 17,000 years old and honestly more expressive than some modern art I’ve paid €12 to see in Paris.

You leave places like that with this strange mix of awe and humility—like, “Wow, humans have been making art forever, and I can barely draw a cat.”

So... Why Is Dordogne So Popular?

Honestly? Because it hits all the right notes. Nature, history, food, peace. It’s romantic without being cheesy, rustic without being rough. The kind of place where you can go canoeing in the morning, explore a castle at noon, eat something that changes your life at lunch, and finish the day with a sunset that looks photoshopped.

I used to think it was overhyped. I mean, how many people can say “You have to visit Dordogne” before you roll your eyes?

But now… I’m one of those people. So yeah, sorry not sorry—you have to visit Dordogne.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.