DORDOGNE, FRANCE - Lace is an important element of authentic Occitan costumesÑusually handmade by the participantsÑat La Flibre which is held in a different town in Dordogne each July.

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Urban Bordeaux and the rural Dordogne: Alike yet different

Early summer in France’s Dordogne region is the time to participate in la Félibrée, a celebration of Occitan culture. Lace is an important element of authentic Occitan costumes. (David Lansing)

DORDOGNE, FRANCE - A boat passes by the 9th-century Benedictine abbey in Brantme, Òthe Venice of Dordogne.Ó

Brantôme is known as the “Venice of Dordogne.” A 9th century Benedictine abbey is one of the city’s charms. (David Lansing)

DORDOGNE, FRANCE - A hotel, Le Moulin de LÕAbbaye, sits on the edge of the Dordogne river in Brantme.

In Brantôme, the hotel-restaurant le Moulin de l’Abbaye occupies a particularly lovely spot along the Dronne river. (David Lansing)

DORDOGNE, FRANCE - Old accordions, most handed down from generation to generation, are popular instruments at the annual Flibre Festival in Dordogne.

Accordions, most handed down from generation to generation, are popular instruments at the annual la Félibrée in the Dordogne. (David Lansing)

DORDOGNE, FRANCE - Flibre dancers, in traditional costumes, pass beneath strings of colorful paper flowers strung overhead.

Félibrée dancers, in traditional costumes, pass beneath strings of artificial flowers. (David Lansing)

DORDOGNE, FRANCE - A tram passes by the Bordeaux opera house, right, one of the oldest and most elegant theaters in Europe.

In chic, urban Bordeaux, the city’s opera house, right, is one of the oldest and most elegant in Europe. (David Lansing)

DORDOGNE, FRANCE - Rounds of fresh goat cheese in the food hall at BordeauxÕs Les Halles de Bacalan.

Rounds of fresh goat cheese are among the temptations sold in the Bordeaux food hall les Halles de Bacalan. (David Lansing)

DORDOGNE, FRANCE - Bottles of vintage Armagnac cognac line a bar at a restaurant in Les Halles de Bacalan, a food hall across from Cit du Vin in Bordeaux.

Bottles of vintage Armagnac line a shelf at a restaurant in les Halles de Bacalan, across from Bordeaux’s temple to wine, la Cité du Vin. (David Lansing)

DORDOGNE, FRANCE - The Cit du Vin, BordeauxÕs glamorous new wine museum, is said to resemble a swirling glass of vino.

La Cité du Vin, Bordeaux’s glamorous new wine museum, is said to resemble a swirling glass of vino. (David Lansing)

DORDOGNE, FRANCE - Visitors choose from a selection of 20 world wines to sample on the 8th floor of La Cit du Vin in Bordeaux.

On the eighth floor of la Cité du Vin, visitors can sample from a selection of 20 world wines. (David Lansing)

DORDOGNE, FRANCE - Thousands of handmade paper flowers are strung over the heads of traditional Occitan dancers at the in St Cyprien.

La Félibrée, a celebration of Occitan culture, is held beneath strands of artificial flowers. The festival rotates among cities in the Dordogne. In 2018, St Cyprien hosted. (David Lansing)

DORDOGNE, FRANCE - A hurdy-gurdy player cranks out an old melody at La Flibre, an annual festival celebrating the local Occitan culture.

A hurdy-gurdy player cranks out an old melody at la Félibrée, a celebration of Occitan culture. (David Lansing)

DORDOGNE, FRANCE - Just a few tram stops from BordeauxÕs city center, Chteau les Carmes Haut-Brion offers group or private tours of the idyllic estate.

Le Château les Carmes Haut-Brion is just a few tram stops from Bordeaux’s city center. (David Lansing)