July in Dordogne: What's on and weather

July is the hottest, driest month in the area and is the height of the season. Average temperatures generally sit between a low of 20ºC in the evenings and a high of 27ºC during the day. There is very little chance of rain and the sun shines for roughly 15 hours a day, with sunrise around 06:00 and sunset after 21:00. You get the picture: it's hot - day and night!

Tous sur le Pont
If you're after a crazy festive atmosphere on the Dordogne, head to Argentat on 6 July 2023 for this hugely popular local festival held on the river with rafts of all shapes and sizes being sailed. The town centre is pedestrianised and you'll see people walking around in costumes and general merriment everywhere - the party is all over town.

Bastille Day
Bastille Day is celebrated across the whole of France with a bang on 14 July. Well, several bangs in fact, as fireworks always feature heavily.

Classical Music
The country's most famous wine region brings music and wine together at the Grandes Heures de Saint Emilion. Hosted on various dates in May, June, July and September, these classical music concerts are held in the beautiful wine estates of Saint-Emilion. Reservation in advance is essential.

Theatre Festival
The streets of Sarlat-la-Caneda - the unofficial capital of the Dordogne region and one of the most bustling market towns in the area - comes to life in July and August with the Festival des Jeux du Theatre. With a rich and diverse programme of events, including shows, lectures and discussions, this three-week theatre festival is one of the best in France. The programme covers traditional and contemporary exploratory theatre performances by the likes of Shakespeare, Étienne de La Boétie and Molière.

Festival de Saint-Céré
A smorgasbord of entertainment from opera, dance and classical music, plus theatrical performances in Saint-Céré. There is also a free OFF festival where musicians and artists tour the smaller villages in the area to give performances and meet festival-goers.

Historic Battles
Going back in time now, the amazing battle re-enactments of Castillon are one of the main cultural draws of the region. The Battle of Castillon sealed the end of the Hundred Years' War, and during July and August you can enjoy this dramatic re-enactment just a stone's throw from the original battlefield.

Markets
Some markets in Dordogne are held week in, week out, throughout the year. However, many more pop up in towns and villages all over the valley in July and August, especially farmers' markets with produce fresh from the farm.

There are also night markets, usually starting late afternoon and lasting into the early hours of the following morning - these are a fun night out with kids up past bedtime and accordion music and laughter drifting on the breeze. Tuck in and enjoy the festivities.

Alternatively you may be after a rummage and a bargain at a brocante or vide-grenier. The upmarket ones features antiques and professional dealers, whereas elsewhere you'll find a village car boot sale with locals getting rid of stuff. Generally held on Sundays, get there early, elbows out for that must have take home treasure. You'll find more information at the tourist office, or keep an eye out for signs whilst driving around.

As one of France's most important food regions, no visit here would be complete without tucking into some genuine local cuisine, whether it be a local café's plat-du-jour or a top-notch restaurant's tasting menu. Paired with a fine local wine, it's the perfect excuse to indulge.