Domme
A bastide on a cliff over the Dordogne, whose gate tower holds graffiti cut by imprisoned Templars.
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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.
What you actually see
- 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.
Honest expectations
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.
What to pack for Domme
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
