IGP Périgord

The Périgord region, which is synonymous with the Dordogne department, lies on the 45th parallel. It is a transitional region between the eroded Massif Central and the vast Aquitaine sedimentary basin. It is crossed from the northeast to the southwest by a network of rivers, including the Isle, the Vézère, and their tributaries, but most notably, in the southern part of the department, by the Dordogne.

The Périgord is characterized by four distinct regions: The Green Périgord in the north corresponds to the first metamorphic terrains of the Massif Central and is an area of arboriculture and livestock farming with significant forest cover; The White Périgord in the center extends over secondary limestones and corresponds to a very open area of cereal crops; The Black Périgord in the eastern part of the department, on marine limestone covered with sandy silt, is a landscape of moors and coppices where walnut and chestnut trees share the space; The Purple Périgord in the southwest, on Tertiary molasse, is a region of viticulture and fruit cultivation, such as the Ente plum.

The Périgord fully benefits from Atlantic influences in terms of both temperature and precipitation. The temperature gradient decreases from the southwest toward the northeast as the elevation rises. For precipitation, the opposite is true.