The Dordogne River, a legendary and unspoiled French river, flows through many French territories in the heart of our regions. Between nature, cliffs, verdant landscapes, and protected flora and fauna, enjoy both the Périgord region and the wild areas upstream.
The origins and course of the Dordogne river: river or stream?
Source and history of the Dordogne Valley
The Dordogne River rises in Auvergne, on the slopes of the Puy de Sancy (1,885 m altitude), at the confluence of the Dore and Dogne streams, thus creating the name Dordogne. In Occitan, the river is called Dordonha. It is a very long river, 483 km in length.
A long-standing debate exists regarding whether the Dordogne as a river or a stream. It flows into the Garonne to form the Gironde estuary. For this reason, it is referred to as a river in dictionaries and encyclopedias, but some regional organizations classify it as a stream, considering the Gironde to be a common estuary of the Garonne and the Dordogne. Classifying it as a stream would make it the fifth longest river in metropolitan France.
A journey through the departments and regions: between villages and dams
The Dordogne River flows through six departments, including Corrèze, Lot, and Dordogne in its navigable section, and its drainage basin extends into five others. The six main departments are:
- Puy-de-Dôme,
- Cantal
- Corrèze
- The Lot
- The Dordogne
- The Gironde
Ten dams block the course of the Dordogne River; those upstream of our route are the dams of:
- La Bourboule,
- Saint-Sauves-d'Auvergne,
- Bort-les-Orgues,
- Marèges,
- the Eagle,
- Chastang,
- Argentat
On March 16, 2009, an agreement was signed between EDF, which operates the dams, the Water Agency and the Dordogne interdepartmental public establishment (Épidor) concerning the regulation of water releases for the next three years, in order to improve safety, the environment and water quality.
The Dordogne, an ideal playground for water sports
Water sports: canoeing, kayaking or paddleboarding
On the banks of the river, it is possible to enjoy many activities such as canoeing, kayaking or paddleboarding, either supervised or unsupervised.
For those who wish to enjoy fishing in a natural setting, fishing permits available for purchase directly online allow you to become a weekend angler or a seasoned fisherman. The Dordogne River abounds with various fish species, including salmon, pike, and more.
Relive the golden age of river navigation
It's downstream on the river near La Roque-Gageac, Bergerac, and Domme, or upstream near Argentat and Beaulieu, that you can enjoy delightful barge trips. Often accompanied by storytelling, these outings offer a glimpse into the region's golden age of river navigation. It was on the banks of the Dordogne and in the Cantal region that timber was cut and then transported by river to Bordeaux to make the barrels used for aging Bordeaux wines. For centuries, bargemen and bargewomen navigated the rivers during the winter months when water levels were high, carefully avoiding rocks and other obstacles that could have damaged their barges.
Discover the barge trip in Argentat or Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne.
Ecological importance of the river
Biodiversity, ecosystems and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
It was on July 11, 2012, that the entire watershed was classified as a biosphere by UNESCO to protect its endemic environment.
Also classified as a Natura 2000 site, the 104 riverside municipalities of the Dordogne, from its entry into Périgord at Cazoulès to its confluence with the Garonne between Ambès and Saint-Seurin-de-Bourg, forming the Gironde estuary, have recorded sixteen animal species and one plant species listed under the European Union directive.
Upstream lies another Natura 2000 site, the " Dordogne Valley ," which covers 5,567 hectares and encompasses only the twenty municipalities in the Lot department bordering the Dordogne River. Here, fourteen animal species and one plant species listed in the European Union directive have been recorded.
The Dordogne is a natural area of ecological, faunal and floral interest (ZNIEFF) of type II which concerns 102 municipalities, mainly in Dordogne and Gironde, and with one municipality in Lot, in which eight key animal species and fifty-seven key plant species have been recorded, as well as forty-three other animal species and thirty-nine other plant species.
Immediately upstream of this ZNIEFF, from Astaillac and Gagnac-sur-Cère to the east, are two ZNIEFFs:
- the "Quercy Dordogne Valley" type II, concerning 28 municipalities in Corrèze, Dordogne and Lot,
- “the Dordogne quercynoise” of type I.
How can we contribute to the preservation of this environment?
During your river trip ,you too can participate in preserving "our" environment. A few simple actions are all it takes, yet they make a big difference.
What you can do during your canoe trip on the Dordogne:
- Collect your waste, bring it back and sort it at the designated collection points
- Use a pocket ashtray if you are a smoker and be extremely vigilant in case of a drought alert
- Use a mineral sunscreen and/or one that is safe for wildlife, plants and oceans, or wear a UV-protective t-shirt
- Do not light fires on the riverbanks
- Be responsible at your campsite (minimal footprint)
- Opt for public transport or active travel options to get to our place.
