If you live outside of Western Europe, you may not have heard of the Dordogne region of France. The region is in southwest France, south of the Loire Valley with its famous chateaux, east of Bordeaux, the top wine region of France and north of Toulouse, the industrial centre of southern France. It is primarily a rural area, without large cities or Royal residence. Because of its narrow river valleys and limestone cliff, it is a very beautiful part of France. But the region is well known for its prehistoric cave paintings. Historically Dordogne and this area of France was once the possession of England. Dordogne was effectively a troubled frontier between England and France. It was here where the Hundred Years’ War took place, from 1337 to 1453. So fortified villages, chateaux and churches are common. Dotted across this once frontier area are strategic located towns, on hill top, designed to control the fertile valleys.