Welcome to Sainte-Alvère, a small medieval town surrounded by valleys and forests situated in the west of the Périgord Noir region in Dordogne. Sainte-Alvère, formerly spelled Saint-Alvère, takes its name from Alvéréna, a martyr killed by the Normans in the 9th century. Look at the guide for more information !
Sainte-Alvère, a charming Périgord village
👉 The history of Sainte-Alvère is closely linked to that of its 13th-century castle, Château de Lostanges. Until the 18th century, this ancient fortress, fiefdom of the de Lostanges family, was one of the most beautiful and vast nobleresidences in Périgord. Burnt down during the Revolution, only some remains still exist, but its imposing tower can still be admired from the garden Jardin Es Liens, from the banks of the Louyre river.
THE PLACE TO BE 😋 Every year, the gardens next to the church, the Jardin Es Liens, hosts some wonderful summertime events, notably a gourmet market, Les Tablées Gourmandes, selling local products with seating for everyone to share an open air meal together.
👉 Right next to the remains of the castle, you’ll come across the Saint-Pierre-es-liens church. Before the present church was built, another Romanesque one existed on the same site, but it was demolished for safety reasons in the 18th century by the de Lostanges family, who then began building the present church. Even though work remained to be done, it was consecrated in 1783 and in 1876, major works began again on the nave, façade, central cupola, aisles and apse.
AN UNUSUAL TALE 📌 A 14th-century reliquary was found by chance in the church, containing the skull fragments of a young girl. Legend has it that this was the young Alvéréna (after whom the village is named), a virgin killed during the Norman invasion of Supposedly, the Normans, who were eager to collect Christian hair to decorate their helmets, beheaded the unfortunate young woman. But instead of falling to the ground as did the others, her head bounced seven times, giving rise to the seven fountains of Sainte-Alvère.
Sainte-Alvère, a great place to stroll around
👉 Take time to wander around the small lanes and look at the beautiful stone houses bedecked with flowers. There’s a permanent, open-air display, the “truffière pédagogique” where you can find out all about truffle cultivation, along with a reconstruction of a truffle farm in its natural environment. There is also a permanent, indoor exhibition at the Tourist Information Office in Sainte-Alvère if you want to learn even more about truffles.
OUR FAVOURITE 🔎 Don’t miss the truffle trail ! It unfolds along an easily accessible path, suitable for all ages and with the added bonus of information panels in brail. An excellent initiative !
The famous truffle market of Sainte-Alvère
👉 Sainte-Alvère is well known for its truffle market. Every Monday morning, from the end of November to the end of February, truffle farmers bring their precious wares to the market hall to be inspected by the Quality Commissioners and sorted into categories. At 10 a.m precisely, the market opens its doors to the public: private customers, representatives from top restaurants and curious onlookers, who gleefully rush in to inspect the truffles, eager to soak up the atmosphere of this unique experience. In summer, there is also a less well known truffle market held from mid-June to mid-July, selling the Saint-Jean truffle which is more affordable and has a nutty flavour, ideal for summer dishes.
👂Listen to the market atmosphere as if you were there !
Practical information
Market days
- Monday mornings all year round
- From late November to late February: general produce market
- Mid-June to late August: local farmers’ market
- June to mid-July: Summer Truffle Market
Hiking trails
For the sporty amongst you, explore the 2 trails on foot or by bike, the “Boucle de la Louyre” and the “Boucle des truffières”.
The truffle hike or Boucle des Truffières was selected for inclusion in the 2nd edition of the 2022 guide “The ten best walks around the villages of Périgord” (2022).
Where to sleep?
Campsites, gîtes, B&Bs… find your ideal holiday accommodation in Sainte-Alvère, for a relaxing getaway!
Where to eat?
Sit-down Restaurants
Restaurant “La P’tite Factory” | Tel : 05 53 74 91 12 Facebook : Bar & Restaurant La P’tite Factory
Restaurant “le Dix“| Tel: 05 53 61 78 83 | Website: https://fr.dixdordogne.com/
Takeaway
Pizza truck “Pizza Florian” Sunday evenings, Place du Marché aux Truffes Sainte-Alvère | Facebook page : Pizza Florian
Hamburger Food Truck “Sagaro Burger” Wednesday evenings, Place du Marché aux Truffes Sainte-Alvère | Facebook page : Burger Sagaro
Major events
- 2 gourmet markets every summer : 1st Monday evening in July and 1st Monday evening in August
- The traditional July 13 evening picnic at Jardin ès liens
- Tablées gourmandes on the last Monday evening of August at Les Jardins ès liens
- Traditional autumn flea market on the Place du Château and the Christmas market on the main square, Place du Marché aux Truffes
NOTE 👉 The village library offers activities all year round: scrabble, origami, story telling sessions for young children…
