Gourmet holidays at campsites in the Dordogne

The Dordogne is, first and foremost, all about flavour. People come here for the châteaux and the rivers, but they stay for the food. And when you pitch your tent or park your mobile home at one of the campsites in the Périgord Noir, between Sarlat and Saint-Cyprien, fine dining is never far away: it begins at the market stalls, continues along the paths of some campsites, and often ends up on your plate at the on-site restaurant.

The markets of the Périgord: an outing in their own right

It’s hard to stay at a campsite in the Dordogne without spending a morning at a market. Sarlat on Wednesdays and Saturdays is almost a must-visit: the market halls and medieval streets fill with foie gras, walnuts, strawberries and farmhouse cheeses. But it’s not just Sarlat. The market in Issigeac on Sundays, the one in Brantôme on Fridays, or the markets in Bergerac are all worth a visit, each with its own character.

What makes these markets so appealing to a food-loving camper is that you can find everything you need to cook on the spot. A duck breast to grill in the evening, a sheep’s milk tomme, porcini mushrooms, a few cabécou cheeses, a jar of confit: everything you need to turn a dinner under the awning into a real holiday treat. Many campsites in the Dordogne are situated just a few kilometres from these villages, often in the heart of the valley near the water, in a wooded park, which makes it easy to pop back and forth early in the day, before the crowds arrive.

A tip from someone who’s been there: arrive early. At the most famous markets in the Périgord, the best producers are swamped from 9 am onwards in peak season. And make sure you bring a cool box if your pitch is a bit of a walk away, because foie gras doesn’t like waiting in the sun.

When the campsite brings the producers to you

Not all holidaymakers want to get in their car at every opportunity. Some campsites have realised this and organise their own local farmers’ markets, right in the heart of the site, on the central square, once a week during the high season. It’s one of the most popular services of the season.

The idea is simple and rather clever. The campsite invites local producers – a market gardener, a beekeeper, a duck farmer, and sometimes a winegrower from Bergerac or Monbazillac – and sets them up for an evening near reception or the bar. Campers do their shopping on foot, chat with the producers and sample the goods before buying. For children, seeing where honey or cheese actually comes from offers a tangible experience that a supermarket can never replicate.

These events often become the highlight of the holiday. You bump into your neighbours from nearby pitches, head home with a basket full of local specialities, and the atmosphere is much more relaxed than at a large city market. For a family, it’s also an easy way to spend an evening: the little ones dash off to the play area, the water park or the slides at the heated swimming pool whilst the parents head back to the mobile home to put the shopping bag away. It’s also a way for these campsites to support the local economy.

Campsite restaurants showcasing local cuisine

For some, a holiday means doing nothing at all. We’ve got the solution for that too: let others do the serving. More and more campsites in the Dordogne have a restaurant, and many have chosen to feature Périgord specialities on their menus alongside the ever-present pizza-and-chips combination.

You’ll find the great classics here – the dishes for which the region is renowned far beyond its borders, throughout France. Duck confit with Sarladaise potatoes, browned in goose fat and garlic. Grilled duck breast, a porcini mushroom omelette in autumn, and Périgord salad with gizzards and foie gras. And to finish, a slice of walnut cake or a few strawberries when they’re in season.

The advantage is obvious after a day canoeing down the Dordogne or climbing the steps of a château: you don’t always have the energy to cook. A campsite restaurant offering honest regional cuisine, with a short à la carte menu, served on the terrace at the heart of the site in a beautiful setting overlooking the swimming pool, saves quite a few evenings. Price-wise, the menu is often reasonable, and the setting does the rest. Some sites even go so far as to source produce directly from the farmers they meet at their own markets: the duck from Tuesday’s market ends up on your plate on Friday.

Choosing the right gourmet campsite in the Dordogne

Ultimately, choosing a campsite in the Dordogne means accepting that good food is part of the holiday experience. Before booking your accommodation, take a look at the reviews, the facilities and the dining options: a site with a good restaurant, a farmers’ market and genuinely comfortable accommodation already ticks a lot of boxes. Between the markets in the villages of the Périgord Noir, around Sarlat, the guest producers and the kitchens that champion local produce, the ideal gourmet break comes together effortlessly. All you need is a bit of an appetite. The Périgord will take care of the rest.