Souillac on the Dordogne River

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Souillac is located along the A20 motorway, which runs from Paris to Toulouse. The town is centrally located between Brive-la-Gaillarde and Cahors, and close to touristic hotspots such as Rocamadour, Sarlat-la-Canéda, Domme, Belvès and the caves of Lascaux. The Dordogne river flows through Souillac. From your holiday park in the Dordogne - Lot region, go to Souillac and visit the abbey, the distillery of Louis Roque with its famous plum brandy and stroll through the narrow streets of the historic city centre. If it is hot, you can go for a swim in Aquaparc Quercyland, the Dordogne river, in your private pool or in the swimming pool of your holiday park. Those who love jazz music must visit Souillac in July for the annual jazz festival. Be sure to explore the beautiful nature and take in the stunning views over the valley from the comfort of your holiday home.

Our parks in this region         Our houses in this region

Nature and surroundings of Souillac

The surroundings of Souillac are beautiful and very versatile. This region is characterized by valleys with fortresses and castles, interspersed with caves, ravines and cliffs. The area is also home to limestone plateaus, especially in the Limousin region. The Dordogne river flows through the area, which makes the area popular for boat trips and to go swimming. A cycle path runs along the river towards Sarlat. Did you not bring your bicycle with you? You can rent one in Souillac at La Bicicleta Ravito. The region has special green routes that are only accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. These routes offer beautiful views over the Dordogne River and the surrounding landscapes. Have you ever heard of Caselles and Gariottes? These are small stone huts that blend in seamlessly with the landscape and give a unique character to the environment. This combined with the Viaduc de la Borrèze, one of the seven viaducts that make Souillac famous,  and the water mill of Cougnaguet, which highlights the traditional water mill techniques of the region, shows you that it is just impossible to see everything the Dordogne region has to offer in only one holiday.

The Dordogne Region

  • Dordogne River
  • Limestone Plateau
  • Valleys with castles and fortresses
  • Caves and cliffs
  • Caselles and Gariottes
  • Walking and cycling
  • Horse riding
  • Canoeing and kayaking
  • Touristic places

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Abbey Sainte-Marie

The Abbey Sainte-Marie is the big eye-catcher in Souillac. It is a beautiful example of Romanesque and Byzantine architecture in southwestern France and was built between 1075 and 1150. The abbey was built in the 7th century but was then destroyed. In the 10th century, Benedictine monks from Aurillac founded the Sainte-Marie monastery on its current site. The abbey quickly grew into an influential centre, partly thanks to its strategic location near Rocamadour and due to the fact it lies on the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela. The church is inspired by the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Some notable highlights are the choir with three radiating chapels, the transept with a large dome, the impressive chevet with three domes on stone pillars, a remarkable trumeau with mythical beasts and lions, a unique image of the prophet Isaiah and reliefs depicting the sacrifice of Abraham and the story of Theophilus.

Souillac en Jazz

Every year, usually in the third week of July, a large Jazz Festival is held in Souillac, also called the "Festival Sim Copans". The American Sim Copans founded this event in 1976 after he helped with the liberation in the Second World War and continued to live in the Dordogne. It is one of the most important music events in the Dordogne valley. Many Jazz lovers from all over the world book a holiday home in the Dordogne, to go to this event. The main stage is located in front of the 12th-century medieval abbey on the Place Pierre Betz, there are also additional stages such as the caves of Lacave. There are free concerts during the day and paid concerts in the evening. The Souillac en Jazz festival not only offers music, but also various other activities such as walks or workshops for children.

Shops and markets

Although Souillac only has 3500 inhabitants, there are still quite a few shops in the Dordogne due to the regional function and the large number of holiday homes. There are three supermarkets: a large Leclerc, Lidl and Casino. In addition, there are a couple of organic shops, three bakeries, four butchers and three wine shops. Souillac also has various hardware stores, garages, pharmacies, bookstores, glasses shops and other specialty stores. For most daily purchases you can go to Souillac. For extensive shopping you are recommended to go to Cahors or Toulouse. There is a large market hall in Lecler, called the "Marché des Halles”,  where fresh products are sold. The large market of Souillac is on Friday morning at Place Doussot and Place St-Martin. In addition, there is also a smaller market in front of the tourist office on Wednesday evenings from 17:00. On Saturday morning there is a weekly market in the main street.

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Water fun in Souillac

For water lovers and families who want to enjoy a refreshing dip whilst on their holidays in France, Souillac is a good holiday destination. Souillac is home to Aquaparc Quercyland. This waterpark has swimming pools, slides, play equipment in the water, sun terraces, a jacuzzi and a playground with trampolines and a climbing course. Along the river Dordogne there are beaches where you can swim. Keep an eye on the current and make sure you put on sufficient sun protection. You can rent canoes at many places along the Dordogne. The rental period can range from a few hours to a few days or even for a whole week. There is also a rental point in Souillac near Copeyre. There are over 120km for you to explore by canoe on the Dordogne, from Argentat all the way to Beynac. If you want to make the most of the Dordogne river with minimal effort, we recommend taking a boat trip by Gabarre.

Musée de l'Automate in Souillac

The Musée de l'Automate in Souillac is home to a wide range of mechanical figures, ranging from charming to funny creations. Located in the Abbey of Souillac, this museum houses the largest collection of automatons in Europe, with around 300 pieces mainly from the 19th and 20th century. Some highlights include:

  • A Charlie Chaplin automaton that’s playfully leaning against a lamppost
  • A jazz band
  • A figure with an irrepressible smile

For lovers of mechanics and nostalgia, this museum is well worth a visit when visiting the Dordogne region.

Louis Roque Distillery

From 1835, the Roque family has been involved in distilling liquor. In 1905, Louis Roque settled in a former convent in Souillac where he specialized in plum brandy. The "Vieille Prune de Souillac" is an amber-coloured eau-de-vie that matures slowly in old oak barrels, resulting in a round, full-bodied and fragrant character. Visitors can visit the distillery's museum for free. After the tour, enjoy a tasting of the diverse products that the distillery has to offer. In the shop you can not only buy drinks, but also local delicacies such as chocolate with Vieille Prune, fruit on brandy, and even mustard and nut oil. A fun visit during your holiday in the Dordogne.

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