Marrying in Dordogne
The Dordogne is the most underplayed mainstream destination in this series. The Vezere and Dordogne rivers cut through limestone gorges, past cliff-face villages and below chateaux built into the rock. Beynac, Domme, La Roque-Gageac and Castelnaud rank among the most beautiful villages in France.
British couples have been finding the Perigord for decades through property ownership and family holidays, so local English-speaking knowledge and supplier contacts run deep. The food, built on truffle, foie gras, confit and walnut, is strong and local.
Privately owned chateau and manor properties dominate the venue pool, mostly open for exclusive hire. That suits close, immersive celebrations in which the property and landscape are central.
The seasons
- Best
- Shoulder
- Peak
- Quieter
5 Star view Our reading of the wedding year, from the months below.
- Best months
- June, July, and September
- Shoulder season
- May and September to October
- Peak season
- July and August
Summer is warmer than in Provence, and the river valleys run very hot in July and August. June is widely preferred: green landscape, manageable heat and a tourist season not yet at peak. September is the harvest for walnuts and truffles, and autumn colour arrives by mid-October. September and October are arguably the most atmospheric months, with valley mist.
Daylight and sunset
The bar runs from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of each month. A ceremony is usually timed an hour or two before the sunset shown.
Calculated From the coordinates of Dordogne, local time, for 2027.
Ramadan and Eid
For couples and guests who observe them, the dates to plan a wedding around.
| Year | Ramadan | Eid al-Fitr | Eid al-Adha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 8 Feb to 8 Mar | 9 Mar | 16 May |
| 2028 | 28 Jan to 25 Feb | 26 Feb | 5 May |
Calculated From the Umm al-Qura calendar. The observed dates follow the sighting of the moon and can fall a day either side.
The areas of Dordogne
Perigord Noir (Sarlat and the river valleys)
The limestone heartland. Sarlat-la-Caneda is the most complete medieval market town in France and the main guest base. The river loop below Domme and Beynac holds the most chateaux and manors.
The Vezere Valley
North from Les Eyzies, the prehistoric capital of France, with Lascaux nearby. Narrower and more wooded, with secluded chateaux for couples who want remoteness.
Perigord Blanc (Perigueux area)
The flatter northern Dordogne. Venue costs are lower and summer weekends less contested. Suits couples who know the region.
Bergerac and the Dordogne wine country
The western plateau, where Bergerac Airport is the practical gateway. Estates producing Bergerac red and Monbazillac offer the Bordeaux estate format at lower cost.
What venues are like
Château
Usually medieval, built on a cliff or river promontory for defence, and unlike the classical Loire chateaux. Many are restored for events, with exclusive hire for the full weekend.
Manoir
A smaller country house in a park of walnut or oak woodland, with warm limestone and a steep roof. The most characterful properties fall here and give the most personal wedding.
Moulin (converted mill)
River mills along the Vezere and Dordogne. Water, stone and stillness set them apart.
Airports and transfers
- Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
- Paris Orly (ORY)
- Nice Cote d'Azur (NCE)
- Bordeaux Merignac (BOD) Year-round direct routes from all major UK airports, for guests needing guaranteed connections.
- Marseille Provence (MRS)
- Lyon Saint-Exupery (LYS)
- Nantes Atlantique (NTE)
- Toulouse Blagnac (TLS) Southeast of Sarlat and less used. Serves guests arriving through southern European connections.
- Paris Beauvais (BVA)
- Angouleme Cognac (ANG)
Bergerac has seasonal direct routes from London and several UK regional airports, and Bordeaux-Merignac is the most reliable gateway from major London airports. Many UK guests drive through the Channel Tunnel or by ferry as part of a longer road trip.
Marrying legally in France
Civil marriage in France is held at the town hall, in public, before the mayor or a deputy, and a religious ceremony may not come before it. At least one of the couple, or one of their parents, must have a home or an established residence of at least one month in the commune on the day the banns are published. Two foreigners with no home in France can marry only at the consulate of one partner's country or in an overseas collectivity.
- 1After one month of residence in the commune
File with the town hall
Both partners attend to lodge the file at the town hall of the chosen commune, with original identity documents, proof of address dated more than one month earlier, birth certificates (under 6 months old if issued abroad; apostille or legalisation may be required), sworn translations, and where asked a certificate of custom and a certificate of celibacy.
- 2Ten days of banns, then the prosecutor's review
Banns and hearing
Banns are posted for 10 days and the wedding cannot take place before the 10th day after publication; it must take place within one year after that period ends. The registrar hears the couple, usually together, and alerts the prosecutor to any serious sign of fraud, who has 15 days to allow or oppose the marriage.
- 3The day
The civil ceremony
At the town hall in a room open to the public, before the mayor or a deputy, with the couple's witnesses. The mayor may use another communal building, which the prosecutor may oppose.
- Residence
- 1 month in the commune before banns
- Banns
- posted 10 days
- Where
- town hall, open to the public
- Religious ceremony
- never before the civil marriage
Already married at home?5 Star view
French law allows only the civil ceremony to carry legal effect, and a religious marriage must not be celebrated before it. Many couples therefore marry in their own country or at a town hall and hold the blessing or celebration at the venue; a ceremony with no legal effect needs none of the steps above and the venue and planner arrange it.
Who needs a visa
Travelling from the United Kingdom
British passport holders visit France without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across the whole Schengen area. The passport must have been issued less than 10 years before arrival and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave. The European Union's Entry/Exit System registers fingerprints and a photograph at the border on a first visit.
Other nationalities
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals need no visa. Other nationalities check with the French embassy or consulate in their country. Overseas departments and territories have their own entry rules; check with the French embassy.
Reference service-public.gouv.fr: Marriage in France (F930, read 2026-10-21). gov.uk: France entry requirements (travel advice, read 2026-10-21). European Union entry rules for visa-exempt visitors (EES, ETIAS) and European Commission implementing decisions on multiple-entry visas for Saudi, Bahraini and Kuwaiti nationals. Checked 21 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the authority that will marry you before you book.
Accommodation
Couples come for unspoiled rural France: limestone cliffs, medieval villages and river valleys. Exclusive-use chateau and manoir rentals suit house-party weddings.
At the table
Among the richest cooking in France, built on duck, goose, truffles, walnuts and foie gras, little changed for centuries.
Confit de Canard
Duck legs cooked and preserved in their own fat. With sarladaise potatoes, it is the definitive Perigord main course.
Foie Gras du Perigord
The Dordogne is the centre of French foie gras. Served as a terrine with fig chutney or pan-seared, it is regular on wedding menus.
Truffe du Perigord Noir
Harvested from December to March and shaved over eggs, pasta and risotto. A winter wedding can include a market visit in Sarlat.
Noix du Perigord
The AOP walnut appears as oil, in cakes and with cheese. Walnut cake with Monbazillac is an elegant dessert pairing.
What planners tell couples
Getting There
Bergerac is the most convenient gateway for most couples. Bordeaux-Merignac has year-round UK connections, and Brive-Vallee de la Dordogne covers the north.
Car Hire is Essential
There is no meaningful public transport, so every guest needs a car or a coordinated minibus, especially where venues have single-track lanes.
Truffle Season Timing
Black truffles peak in the depth of winter. A wedding then can include a market visit or a private truffle hunt near Les Eyzies.
Cave and Prehistory Access
Lascaux IV and the painted cave at Font-de-Gaume are major cultural visits. Font-de-Gaume admits few visitors a day, so tickets must be booked far ahead.
