Upper Dordogne Valley
The Dordogne in the Corrèze
The source of the Dordogne River is in the Massif Centrale on the Puy de Sancy in the Auvergne Region. It then flows south-east along the border between the Cantal and Corrèze départements, through magnificent gorges before heading east under the Pont de Chambon and via the Barrage de Chastang where the river is dammed, till it reaches the Quercy and the confluence with the river Cère just inside the Lot département.
Along the river there is much of interest from ‘les Orgues’, cliffs which resemble organ pipes, in the north, the fine suspension bridge and the massive dam mentioned above, and the charming old riverside towns of Argentat and Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne. Here and there you can catch glimpses of the heavily wooded Gorges through which the river flows.
Just north of the river is the magnificent and unmissable red stone village of Collonges-la-Rouge. Moreover, nearby is the impressive stronghold of Turenne.