Domme is a 13th-century bastide perched on a cliff 150 metres above the Dordogne river, and the views from its ramparts are among the finest in the Périgord. On a clear day you can see the river winding through a patchwork of walnut orchards, tobacco fields, and stone villages as far as the eye can follow.
The town itself is small but full of character — narrow streets lined with honey-coloured stone houses, a central square with cafes under the arcades, and a covered market hall built over the entrance to the Grotte de Domme, a large cave system of stalactites and stalagnites. The fortified gateway, the Porte des Tours, still bears graffiti carved by Knights Templar who were imprisoned there in the early 14th century — crosses, symbols, and possibly portraits of the men themselves, scratched into the limestone over eleven years.
The Belvédère at the southern edge of town is widely considered the finest viewpoint in the entire Dordogne, with La Roque-Gageac, Beynac, and Castelnaud all visible from the same terrace. From Domme you can easily reach Château de Castelnaud, the best-preserved medieval fortress in the region, and La Roque-Gageac, the cliff-side village visible directly below in the valley.
Domme is 8 kilometres south of Sarlat on the D46. The town itself takes half a day to explore; allow more if you're combining it with the valley sites.