DORDOGNE, an inland department of south-western France, formed in 1790 from nearly the whole of Perigord, a part of Agenais, and small portions of Limousin and of Angoumois. Area 3,55o sq.m. Pop. (1931) 383,72o. It is bounded N. by Haute Vienne, W. by Charente, Charente-Inf erieure and Gironde, S. by Lot-et-Garonne, and E. by Lot and Correze. Situated on the western slopes of the Massif Central, Dordogne consists in the north-east and centre of sterile plateaus sloping towards the west, where they end in a region of pine forests known as the Double. The greatest altitudes are found in the highlands of the north, where many points exceed 1,30o ft. in height. Many beautiful river valleys, of the Dordogne, the Isle, with the Dronne and Auvezere, and the Vezere converge towards the southwest of the department. The climate is mild, but rather humid, especially in the north-east. Agriculture prospers in the south and south-west of the department, especially in the valleys of the Dordogne and Isle, but the rest of its surface is covered to a great extent by woods and heath. Pasture and forage amply suffice for the raising of large flocks and herds. The vine, cultivated mainly in the neighbourhood of Bergerac, and tobacco are important sources of profit. Wheat and maize are the chief cereals and potatoes are largely grown. The truffles of Perigord are famous for their abundance and quality. The plum and cider-apple yield good crops. In the forests the prevailing trees are the oak and chestnut. The chestnuts are much used as food by the people and for fattening hogs, reared in large numbers. The walnut is extensively grown for its oil. The department has mines of lignite, and produces freestone, lime, cement, mill-stone, peat, potter's clay and fireclay. The leather industry and the preparation of pre served foods are important, and there are brick and tile works, earthenware manufactories and iron works. Exports consist of truffles, wine, chestnuts and other fruit, live stock, poultry and minerals of various kinds. Dordogne is served by the Orleans railway; the Dordogne, the Isle and the Vezere furnish nearly 200 m. of navigable waterway. It is divided into the arrondisse ments of Perigueux, Bergerac, Nontron, Riberac and Sarlat, with 47 cantons and 587 communes, and belongs to the ecclesiastical province of Bordeaux, to the academie (educational division) of Bordeaux and to the region of the XII. army corps, which has its headquarters at Limoges. Its court of appeal is at Bordeaux.
Perigueux, the capital, and the other principal towns are treated in separate articles. Bourdeilles has two finely preserved châteaux, one of the 14th century, with an imposing keep, the other in i6th century Renaissance. Both buildings are contained within the same fortified enceinte. The château of Biron (1lth century and later) has a beautiful chapel of late Gothic and early Renais sance workmanship. The château of Jumilhac-le-Grand is of the 15th century. Dordogne possesses several mediaeval bastides, the most perfect of which is Monpazier. At Cadouin there are the remains of a Cistercian abbey. Its church is a fine Romanesque building, while the cloister is excellent Flamboyant. St. Jean-de Cole has an interesting Romanesque church and a château of the 15th, 16th and 18th centuries. In the rocks of the valley of the lower Vezere there are prehistoric caves of great importance for the study of Palaeolithic man. Troglodytic dwellings are to be found in many other places in Dordogne.