Tourism: Heatwave disrupts the leisure sector

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Cactus, sun, and stifling heat. The Dordogne had the air of a tropical country on Tuesday, August 12. It was already 31 degrees at 10 a.m. on the quays of Périgueux. "We're going to try to enjoy the fresh air before the heat of this afternoon," shared a tourist. One last dose of freshness before closing time, because at 1:30 p.m., activities stop, a decision made by the town hall to avoid heatstroke. "It's very hot, especially on the white cobblestones; it's very chalky. It's over 40 degrees in the afternoon, it's unbearable," notes Louise Verger, events coordinator in Périgueux.

Unbearable heat for tourists, but not only. The famous birds of prey at the Château des Milandes are grounded due to the heatwave. On Tuesday, August 12, there was no flight, but only a meeting to see the stars up close. Their well-being comes first, and visitors are understanding. "It's even normal, I would have found it cruel to make them fly and I think, on the contrary, that we were offered a pretty good alternative," comments one tourist.

And between visits, showers are mandatory for the birds of prey. This allows the temperature to drop by almost eight degrees in the aviary, and the château is also planning other, more permanent improvements. "We're going to install shade structures so we can continue to let our birds evolve," explains Patrick Mercier, head of animals at the Château des Milandes in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle (Dordogne).

On Wednesday, August 13, temperatures should be a little more bearable. The Dordogne region is back on orange heatwave alert.