Domme
A bastide on a cliff over the Dordogne, whose gate tower holds graffiti cut by imprisoned Templars.
Updated 19 October 2026
AI illustration
Philip III founded Domme in 1281 as a bastide on a cliff about a hundred and fifty metres above a bend of the Dordogne, and the belvedere on the edge gives a long view over the valley with Beynac and La Roque-Gageac in it. The Porte des Tours, the main gate, held Templars imprisoned after the order's suppression in 1307, and they covered the walls of the guard rooms with carved graffiti of crosses, figures and symbols, some of the most extensive such marks known. Under the market square, a cave system runs for several hundred metres and is entered from the hall, exiting by lift on the cliff face.
History
Philip the Bold founded Domme as a stronghold in 1281, after his campaign along the Dordogne, and granted it the right to mint its own coins. In 1307 many Knights Templar were imprisoned here during their trial, and hundreds of their graffiti survive, in a code of geometric figures. During the Hundred Years' War the English first took the bastide in 1347, and it changed hands repeatedly until it returned to France for good in 1437; in the Wars of Religion Protestants climbed the cliffs at night to open the gates in 1588, holding the town until 1592, and peasant revolts of the Croquants followed in 1594 and 1637. Domme prospered in the 17th century and declined afterwards, which helped preserve it (Wikipedia, Domme, Dordogne).
What's there
- The Templar graffiti - carvings cut by prisoners in the gate tower.
- The belvedere - a long view over the Dordogne valley from the cliff.
- The cave under the square - a system entered from the market hall.
- The bastide plan - a thirteenth-century grid within surviving walls.
When to go
April to October; the cave and tower have seasonal hours. Morning light suits the belvedere view. Summer is crowded and parking inside the walls is very limited.
Things to know
The Templar rooms are visited only on guided tours at set times and the carvings are faint. The cave exit lift can queue. Village parking is difficult in season.
Nearby
La Roque-Gageac lies below; Sarlat is north.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q243111, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Domme
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Head torch + spare batteries - Hands-free light is essential; caves are truly dark. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Grippy closed shoes - Cave floors are wet, muddy and slick with formations. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
