Hôtel de ville de Sarlat-la-Canéda

The Town Hall of Sarlat-la-Canéda stands on Place de la Liberté, right at the heart of one of the best-preserved medieval towns in France. Sarlat-la-Canéda sits in the Dordogne department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, and is widely regarded as the unofficial capital of Périgord Noir — a corner of France famous for foie gras, truffles and walnuts. Warm, ochre-toned stone buildings, narrow winding lanes and a dense cluster of medieval and Renaissance townhouses draw close to two million visitors here every year.

How did the town come to be?

Sarlat grew up around a Benedictine abbey with Carolingian roots; the monastery was the seed from which the settlement expanded into an important trading and administrative centre for the Périgord region. The town's current name reflects the merger of two formerly separate communes, Sarlat and La Canéda, which were combined into a single municipality in March 1965. The town hall on Place de la Liberté now houses the local council, but the square around it has been the beating heart of civic, commercial and political life for centuries.

Why is the old town so remarkably intact?

Sarlat holds a record for France: the town centre contains roughly 65 protected historic monuments, one of the highest concentrations anywhere in the country. Back in the 1960s, Sarlat became one of the first towns in France to be designated a "secteur sauvegardé" (protected sector), a status closely tied to the 1962 Malraux law aimed at saving historic town centres from demolition and haphazard modernization. Rather than tearing down old buildings, the town restored them, preserving the original street layout, stone façades and characteristic lauze roofs — turning Sarlat into something of a living laboratory for heritage conservation.

What's worth seeing around the town hall?

Place de la Liberté and the surrounding lanes make a natural starting point for exploring the old town. Nearby stand medieval and Renaissance merchant houses, narrow covered passageways, and churches that trace the town's long history as a religious and commercial centre. It's in this part of town that the well-known weekly market takes place, where local producers sell cheese, truffles, cured meats and duck and goose specialities — the products Périgord Noir is famous for. Thanks to its remarkably preserved backdrop, Sarlat is also a frequent choice of location for period films.

How should you go about visiting Sarlat-la-Canéda?

The best way to experience the town is on foot, without hurrying — the old town's narrow streets reveal their charm gradually, one alley and courtyard at a time. Place de la Liberté and the area around the town hall make a good starting point, from which you can branch out toward the cathedral, the former abbey, and the rest of the historic townhouses. It's worth setting aside at least half a day for a visit, and staying into the evening if you can, when the old town's illuminated stone façades take on an entirely different character.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Sarlat-la-Canéda located? The town lies in the Dordogne department, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of southwestern France, and is considered the capital of the Périgord Noir area.

Why is Sarlat so well known? It has one of the best-preserved medieval old towns in France and holds a record for protected historic monuments — around 65 of them — making it a standout example of architectural heritage conservation.

Where does the name Sarlat-la-Canéda come from? It combines two formerly separate communes, Sarlat and La Canéda, which were administratively merged in March 1965.

What else is worth seeing near the town hall? Wander the lanes around Place de la Liberté, visit the former abbey and the old merchant houses, and catch the weekly market selling local Périgord specialities.