Les Parmeries makes an excellent base for discovering the Dordogne by bike. Quiet country roads, rolling hills, woodland and the Dordogne Valley provide a wonderful variety of routes for both leisurely rides and more challenging cycling.
The area around Carlux, Sarlat and the Dordogne River offers opportunities for road cycling, cycling along the valley and exploring the villages and countryside at a slower pace.
After a day in the saddle, return to Les Parmeries, cool off in the swimming pool and relax with a drink while enjoying the views. Bike storage available.
If you are looking for a destination that combines beautiful cycling routes, quiet country roads, spectacular scenery and excellent food, the Dordogne is hard to beat.
From gentle rides through the Dordogne Valley to more challenging climbs through the hills of the Périgord Noir, cycling is one of the best ways to discover this beautiful part of southwest France.
And for cyclists choosing their accommodation, there is another consideration that is often overlooked until you arrive: where will you safely store your bike?
At Les Parmeries, we understand that your bicycle is an important part of your holiday. That's why our 14-acre property near Carlux includes a large barn where guests can securely store their bicycles, giving you peace of mind while you relax and enjoy your stay.
The Dordogne offers an exceptional variety of cycling experiences.
You can follow quiet country lanes between stone villages and walnut orchards, cycle beside the Dordogne River, explore medieval towns or take on some of the region's hillier roads.
The landscape constantly changes.
One moment you might be riding through woodland, the next passing a tiny hamlet of golden limestone houses. Around the next corner there could be a château, a riverside village or a spectacular view across the valley.
For many cyclists, that's what makes cycling in the Dordogne so enjoyable. The destination itself becomes part of the ride.
Les Parmeries is ideally positioned for exploring the Périgord Noir by bike.
The area around Carlux offers a mixture of quieter roads, rolling countryside and access to some of the Dordogne's most beautiful landscapes.
Depending on your interests and fitness level, you can plan anything from a relatively gentle half-day ride to a longer route taking in several of the region's famous villages.
Popular destinations for cyclists include:
The roads between these destinations provide plenty of opportunities to create your own routes and explore beyond the main tourist attractions.
One of the highlights of cycling in the area is the Dordogne Valley itself.
The river winds through some of the most beautiful scenery in the region, passing limestone cliffs, castles, forests, farmland and historic villages.
Cycling gives you the freedom to stop whenever you see something interesting.
Take a break beside the river. Stop for coffee in a village. Visit a market. Take photographs from a hilltop viewpoint.
You can travel at your own pace rather than trying to see everything from behind a car windscreen.
For road cyclists, the quiet rural roads of the Périgord Noir offer an enjoyable combination of scenery and challenge.
The terrain is not completely flat, and some routes include rewarding climbs through the surrounding hills.
That makes the Dordogne particularly appealing to cyclists who enjoy a mixture of steady riding, climbs and descents rather than long stretches of flat road.
The rewards are often worth the effort.
After a climb through the countryside, you may find yourself looking across a wide valley towards a medieval château or one of the region's famous hilltop villages.
You don't have to be an experienced cyclist to enjoy a cycling holiday in the Dordogne.
The area offers opportunities for a wide range of abilities.
For those who prefer a relaxed pace, choose shorter routes through the valley and along quieter roads.
Stop for lunch, visit a village and take plenty of time to enjoy the scenery.
An e-bike holiday in the Dordogne is an excellent option for exploring more of the region without worrying quite so much about the hills.
Electric assistance can make it possible to tackle longer routes and enjoy some of the beautiful viewpoints without turning the day into an endurance event.
Experienced road cyclists can plan longer rides incorporating some of the more challenging climbs around the Périgord Noir.
The variety of terrain means there is always another route to discover.
The Dordogne also has dedicated cycling routes and Voies Vertes, offering a different way to explore the region.
These routes are particularly appealing to families and leisure cyclists looking for a more relaxed ride away from busy roads.
The Voie Verte Sarlat–Cazoulès follows a former railway line through the Dordogne countryside and is one of the region's best-known cycling routes.
Its relatively gentle gradients make it suitable for a variety of cyclists, while the scenery provides plenty of reasons to stop along the way.
If you have travelled with a good-quality road bike, gravel bike or e-bike, you know that simply leaving it outside isn't really an option.
A bicycle can represent a significant investment, and after a day on the road the last thing you want to worry about is whether it is secure overnight.
This is particularly important when choosing cycling-friendly accommodation in the Dordogne.
A rack outside the front door may be adequate for some holidaymakers, but serious cyclists often look for something more secure.
At Les Parmeries, we provide exactly that.
Our large barn provides secure storage for guests' bicycles during their stay.
You can bring your road bike, mountain bike, gravel bike or e-bike and know that it can be stored safely away from the weather and out of sight when you are not riding.
This means you can concentrate on enjoying your cycling holiday rather than worrying about your equipment.
For cyclists travelling with several bikes, the large space is particularly useful.
There is also plenty of room to organise your equipment before and after a ride, rather than having bikes taking up valuable space inside your holiday cottage.
For anyone searching for bike-friendly accommodation near Sarlat, secure bike storage is an important advantage.
Les Parmeries is located near Carlux, approximately 15 minutes from Sarlat-la-Canéda.
This gives cyclists the best of both worlds.
You are close enough to explore Sarlat and the famous villages and attractions of the Périgord Noir, while staying in a peaceful countryside setting away from the centre of town.
After a day in the saddle, you can return to Les Parmeries, secure your bike in the barn and relax.
Take a swim in the heated pool, enjoy dinner on your terrace or simply sit back and enjoy the views across the countryside.
One of the great advantages of cycling in the Dordogne is that you don't have to choose between a cycling holiday and a sightseeing holiday.
You can combine the two.
Ride through the countryside in the morning, stop at a market or château during the afternoon and enjoy a leisurely meal in the evening.
The region's famous villages make excellent destinations for a ride.
Cycle towards Domme for its spectacular views over the Dordogne Valley. Head towards La Roque-Gageac and follow the river. Visit Beynac-et-Cazenac and admire its dramatic château above the Dordogne.
Or simply choose a quiet country road and see where it takes you.
If you are planning a cycling holiday at Les Parmeries, consider bringing:
And, of course, don't forget to make use of the secure bike storage in our large barn when you arrive.
A cycling holiday in the Dordogne is about much more than covering kilometres.
It is about quiet roads, beautiful landscapes, medieval villages, riverside cafés, local food and discovering places that you might otherwise drive straight past.
Les Parmeries provides a comfortable base from which to experience it all.
Set within 14 acres of peaceful countryside near Carlux, our three characterful holiday cottages offer easy access to the Dordogne Valley and the Périgord Noir.
And when the day's cycling is over, your bike has somewhere safe to go.
Our large barn provides secure bicycle storage, so you can lock away your bike at the end of each ride and relax, knowing your equipment is safely stored.
For cyclists looking for bike-friendly accommodation in the Dordogne, a cycling holiday near Sarlat, or a peaceful gîte in the Périgord Noir with secure bike storage, Les Parmeries makes an excellent base.
Whether you are an experienced road cyclist, an e-bike enthusiast or simply enjoy exploring the countryside on two wheels, the Dordogne offers an extraordinary variety of routes and landscapes.
Come for the cycling.
Stay for the countryside, the food, the villages and the relaxed pace of life.
And at the end of every ride, leave your bike safely in the barn and enjoy everything else that Les Parmeries has to offer.