The Dordogne ( French pronunciation: [dɔʁdɔɲ] ; Occitan : Dordonha ) is a river in south-central and southwest France . It is 483.1 km (300.2 mi) long. The Dordogne and its watershed were designated Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO on 11 July 2012.
6-660: The river rises on the flanks of the Puy de Sancy at 1,885 metres (6,184 ft) above sea level in the mountains of Auvergne , from the confluence of two small torrents above the town of Le Mont-Dore : the Dore and the Dogne . It flows generally west nearly 500 kilometres (310 mi) through the Limousin and Périgord regions before flowing into the Gironde , its common estuary with
12-475: A number of cable cars and ski lifts ascend the mountain. Skiing has been practised on the mountain since the early 20th century; two local priests traversed the Puy de Sancy on skis in 1905. In 1936, a cable car link was built from Mont-Dore to one of the needles just below the summit. On Christmas Day in late 1965, a cable car accident on a newer line injured ten passengers and killed seven others. Super-Besse
18-829: A number of water-related activities related to the Dordogne, including: Puy de Sancy Puy de Sancy ( US : / ˌ p w iː d ə s ɒ̃ ˈ s iː / , French: [pɥi d(ə) sɑ̃si] ; Auvergnat : Puèi de la Crotz [ˈpœj də lɔ ˈkɾu(ts)] , lit. ' 'Mount of the Cross' ' ) is the highest mountain in the Massif Central , in Puy-de-Dôme departement of south central France . It is part of an ancient stratovolcano which has been inactive for about 220,000 years. The northern and southern slopes are used for skiing , and
24-587: The Garonne , at the Bec d'Ambès ("Ambès beak"), north of the city of Bordeaux . The Dordogne is one of the few rivers in the world that exhibit the phenomenon of a tidal bore , known as a mascaret . The upper valley of the Dordogne is a series of deep gorges. The cliffs, steep banks, fast flowing water and high bridges attract both walkers and drivers. In several places the river is dammed to form long, deep lakes. Camp sites and holiday homes have proliferated wherever
30-528: The Valley of the Dordogne is from June to September, with July and August being high season. The lifestyle and culture of the Dordogne valley attract both visitors and incomers from all over France, but also from many other countries, particularly Britain and Germany. Main tributaries from source to mouth: N.B. : (R) = right tributary; (L) = left tributary Aside from the usual activities such as tennis and golf available in many areas of France, there are
36-530: The valley floor is wide enough to accommodate them. Below Argentat and around Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne , the valley widens to accommodate fertile farmland, well-watered pasture and orchards. In the towns, which are major tourist attractions because of their history and architecture, the quaysides are lined with eating and drinking places. In Périgord, the valley widens further to encompass one of France's main gastronomic regions, with vineyards, poultry farms and truffle-rich woodlands. The main season for tourism in
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