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Sarlat

Known simply as Sarlat, this lovely Renaissance town in Périgord grew up around a Benedictine abbey founded in the 9th century. Sarlat retains a medieval flavor with its ochre-coloured sandstone buildings and enticing streets. Among Sarlat's architectural treasures is the Cathédrale Saint Sacerdos, originally part of the Benedictine abbey. Behind the cathedral is the town's first cemetery, containing the Lantern of the Dead, a 12th-century tower built to commemorate St Bernard. The town's other main focus is the Saturday market. Sarlat also makes an excellent base for trips to nearby Vézère Valley, which is peppered with nearly 200 prehistoric sites.