The river Dordogne runs from the mountains of the Massif Central to the claret-growing Gironde estuary north of Bordeaux. En route, it flows beneath limestone cliffs, past the walls of medieval towns, and over shingle banks below castle ramparts. In the side valleys, prehistoric people decorated caves with depictions of horses, bison and deer, and later painted frescoes in their fortified churches.;The Dordogne is a gastronomic and viticultural centre, has a good climate, and is well provided with hotels, gites, fermes-auberges and campsites. This guide covers the length of the Dordogne river, from the Cevennes and Cantal in the Massif Central, to the wine regions of Bordeaux and St Emilion and the Lot valley. It includes features on food, wine, historical and archaeological points of interest, architecture, natural history and activities (such as bicycling), plus recommendations on accommodation and restaurants and practical advice on getting there and getting around.