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France

Southwest France: Bordeaux and the Perigord

Program No. 14253RJ
Savor history as you enjoy oenologist-led lectures, gastronomic heritage, ancient villages and prehistoric cave paintings in the timeless regions of Southwest France.

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Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Apr 11 - Apr 24, 2024
Starting at
4,499
Filling Fast!
Apr 18 - May 1, 2024
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4,499
May 2 - May 15, 2024
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4,549
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May 9 - May 22, 2024
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4,549
May 16 - May 29, 2024
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4,549
Aug 22 - Sep 4, 2024
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4,549
Sep 5 - Sep 18, 2024
Starting at
4,549
Sep 12 - Sep 25, 2024
Starting at
4,549
Sep 19 - Oct 2, 2024
Starting at
4,549
Sep 26 - Oct 9, 2024
Starting at
4,549
Oct 3 - Oct 16, 2024
Starting at
4,499
Oct 10 - Oct 23, 2024
Starting at
4,499
Oct 17 - Oct 30, 2024
Starting at
4,499
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Apr 11 - Apr 24, 2024
Starting at
5,349
Apr 18 - May 1, 2024
Starting at
5,349
May 2 - May 15, 2024
Starting at
5,419
Filling Fast!
May 9 - May 22, 2024
Starting at
5,419
May 16 - May 29, 2024
Starting at
5,419
Filling Fast!
Aug 22 - Sep 4, 2024
Starting at
5,419
Sep 5 - Sep 18, 2024
Starting at
5,419
Sep 12 - Sep 25, 2024
Starting at
5,419
Sep 19 - Oct 2, 2024
Starting at
5,419
Sep 26 - Oct 9, 2024
Starting at
5,419
Oct 3 - Oct 16, 2024
Starting at
5,349
Oct 10 - Oct 23, 2024
Starting at
5,349
Oct 17 - Oct 30, 2024
Starting at
5,349

At a Glance

Romans of the fourth century tilled the soils around Saint-Emilion and began growing grapes. Today, the region ranks among the world’s foremost red wine producers. From the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, Southwest France resonates with the marvelous consequences of long-ago choices. Discover the Bordeaux wineries with Roman roots, the Dordogne and the living museum town of Sarlat.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Extensive walking on uneven ground and cobblestones. Stairs sometimes without railings.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Explore the Dordogne Valley and the prehistoric cave paintings of Rouffignac and Lascaux IV.
  • Examine a complete retrospective of the works of Toulouse-Lautrec at the museum dedicated to him in Albi.
  • Discover each region’s unique cultural, gastronomic and wine heritage in the Perigord and Bordeaux.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Libby Chandler
Libby Chandler lives in the southwest county of Devon in the United Kingdom, across the English Channel from the Normandy Beaches. At the age of 22, she moved to France to live in the Alps and polish her French for several years. Libby is an addicted traveler with a lust for learning, spending her time in France and across Europe. Leading groups since 1994, she works as a freelance group manager for educational organizations and in the Himalayan mountains during the winter.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Libby Chandler
Libby Chandler View biography
Libby Chandler lives in the southwest county of Devon in the United Kingdom, across the English Channel from the Normandy Beaches. At the age of 22, she moved to France to live in the Alps and polish her French for several years. Libby is an addicted traveler with a lust for learning, spending her time in France and across Europe. Leading groups since 1994, she works as a freelance group manager for educational organizations and in the Himalayan mountains during the winter.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Cave Painters
by Gregory Curtis
In this tale of art, paleontology and discovery, Curtis introduces the masterworks of cave art in France and Spain, visiting Altamira, Lascaux, Les Trois-Freres, Cosquer, Chauvet and others.
South-West France: The Wines and Winemakers
by Paul Strang
South-West France is a wine lover's paradise that cultivates an astonishing array of grape varieties, many that grow nowhere else, and produces a fascinating assortment of wines. In this book, Paul Strang covers the South-West with enthusiasm and keen expertise, providing a history of its wine industry, including a near collapse and unlikely rebirth, and introducing readers to a region that seems to defy globalization.
The Basque History of the World
by Mark Kurlansky
Popular author Mark Kurlansky offers an engaging portrait of the seven provinces of Basque Land, discussing everything from language to culinary heritage and seafaring traditions.
F is for France: A Curious Cabinet of French Wonders
by Piu Eatwell
An alphabetized catalogue of quirky French culture and history tidbits.
Camembert: A National Myth
by Pierre Boisard
Camembert - delectably fragrant, creamy-centered, neatly boxed - is the most popular and most famous French cheese. Originally made by hand in the Norman countryside, it is now mass-produced internationally, yet Camembert remains a national symbol for France, emblematic of its cultural identity. In this witty and entertaining book, Pierre Boisard investigates the history of Camembert and its legend.
Tasting French Terroir: The History of an Idea
by Thomas Parker
This book explores the origins and significance of the French concept of terroir (the specific taste of a particular place), demonstrating that the way the French eat their food and drink their wine today derives from a cultural mythology that developed between the Renaissance and the Revolution.
French Wine: A History
by Rod Phillips
French Wine is the first synthetic history of wine in France: from Etruscan, Greek, and Roman imports and the adoption of wine by beer-drinking Gauls to its present status within the global marketplace. Rod Phillips places the history of grape growing and winemaking in each of the country’s major regions within broad historical and cultural contexts.
Edible French: Tasty Expressions and Cultural Bites
by Clotilde Dusolier
French food-related idioms are explained and delightfully illustrated in this playful meditation on the French language.
The Food & Wine of France: Eating & Drinking from Champagne to Provence
by Edward Behr
Behr seeks out the best of French food, in encounters from Champagne to Provence, to tell the stories of French artisans and chefs who work at the highest level. He shares what he learns from these experts on French traditions and how to best enjoy this food.
Lonely Planet French Phrasebook
by Marie-Helene Girard, Anny Monet
This handy phrasebook focuses on pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary for the traveler.
Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Four Kings
by Amy Kelly
A spirited, meticulously researched chronicle that recreates the life and world of Eleanor of Aquitaine in 12th-century Europe. A Harvard University Press Classic, first published in 1950.
My Life in France
by Julia Child
The touching and famous story of Julia Child in France, where she learned to cook and fell in love with French cuisine, all in her own words.





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If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.