La Riviera Limousine Hostel

Location

There is no train service directly to Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne. From the train station in Biars-sur-Cère, take the D940 north about 4.5 miles to Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne. From the very center of town, turn right on the Rue de la Republique. Follow it towards the river, and it will turn into the Rue de la Chapelle. The next intersection is the Place de Monturuc. The hostel will be on your left, opposite the river.

Amenities

Check-in is available from 4pm to 8:30pm. They will keep your HI membership card during your stay, so remember to pick it up at check-out. Breakfast is on the later side at 8:30am, and is not included in the price. The hostess is very friendly and speaks some English. The common room, kitchen and dorm rooms are functional and also full of character and charm.

Atmosphere

This hostel's location near the grassy banks of the Dordogne river gives it the all the charm that Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne is known for (the town's name translates literally to "nice place on the Dordogne"). The hostel can be rather quiet before the July-August student rush. The scenic roads along the Dordogne river valley attract many cyclists to this hostel.

Attractions

Beaulieu lies at the eastern end of the most popular stretch of the Dordogne river valley and when bookended with the hostel in Cadouin, it's a great way to explore the beautiful villages like La Roque-Gageac and chateaux like Beynac. It's also surrounded by wonderful villages and towns like Bretenoux, Carennac, and Autoire. A little further from the river is the stunning cliffside village of Rocamadour. And let's not forget the charming town of Beaulieu itself!

Price

This hostel compares very well to other accommodations in the area, as well as hostels around France and the rest of western Europe.

Overall Value

This is a hostel that will most likely wind up on your "return to" list. For the money, there's no better base to explore the upper Dordogne and surroundings!

— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
May 2008