Out & About

The Périgord area is rich in history, activities and beauty, with lots to explore for all ages. Below is just a handful of popular daytrips, and places to visit. If there is any specific activity you are looking for, just let us know and we can help get it organised for you.

Places to see:

  • Not far away from the campsite is the village of Saint-Jean-de-Côle, one of the most beautiful villages in France.
  • A little further on you’ll find Brantôme, the ‘Venice of Périgord’ with its stunning Benedictine Abbey right on the River Dronne.
  • Jumillhac-Le-Grand – home to the Chateau de Jumillhac, a 12th century fortress known as the ‘Black Pearl’ of the Green Périgord.
  • St Yrieix la Perche – wander around the old town, perhaps stop for a drink or meal in the medieval streets.
  • Sarlat still looks like a town from the middle ages and was the first city in France to have a preservation order placed on it.
  • La Roque Gageac is situated right on the river Dordogne and was built partly into sheer rock walls. With its unusual location this village is known as ‘one of the most beautiful villages in France’.
  • The fortress town of Domme is situated on a rock high above the Dordogne. The view over the Dordogne Valley is incredible and here you’ll find cobbled streets with shopping and cafés.
  • Not far from the Grottes de la Cave you’ll find Rocamadour, another beautiful Dordogne village, well worth a visit.

Châteaux:

  • Château de Jumilhac known as the ‘Black Pearl’ thanks to its unusual black slate roof
  • Château de Hautefort fully restored, and surrounded by beautiful gardens whose colours change depending on the season. Without a doubt the most stately castle in the Périgord.
  • Château de Puyguilhem is an exceptional building and characteristic of the late gothic/early French Renaissance period.
  • Château de Beynac is built on the edge of a precipitous rock face, enjoying a wonderful view over the Dordogne Valley.
  • Maison Forte de Reignac is an incredible fort built in the 14th century into the side of a cliff. It offered superb protection from its elevated position.

Caves:

  • Grotte de Villars. The Grotte de Villars is an impressive cave system with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites and several ancient cave drawings. The visitor centre has been recently refurbished and gardens added.
  • Gouffre de Padirac The Gouffre de Padirac is a must-see with stunning rock formations and the subterranean boat trip into the cave is something you’ll never forget.
  • La Roque St. Christophe is an amazing cave system, 1km long and 80m high first inhabited 55 000 years ago. See how it changed over the years and witness the ingenuity of man!
  • Font-de-Gaume is a magnificent cave near Les Eyzies. Discovered in 1901, the cave contains some 200 prehistoric engravings and multicoloured paintings dating back over 14 000 years.
  •  Gouffre de Proumeysac the biggest cave in the Périgord. Inside you will see breathtaking stalactites and stalacmites.
  • Grottes de la Cave a train ride takes you several hundred metres into the cave. Then follows a 40 minute guided tour in which you’ll see marvellous stone formations and Stone Age paintings.
  • The Stone Age Park is at Le Thot, where you can visit the Lascaux II cave and see prehistoric animals at the Stone Age Animal Park.

Canoeing

  • Dronne: An hour, half-day or full-day trip on the Dronne at Brantôme. Suitable for beginners, but you will get wet! After your tour you will be picked up and returned to base. More information at www.brantome-canoe.com.
  • Vézère: A full-day trip on the Vézère, starting in Montignac and leading 30 km downriver. Also suitable for beginners and again return transport is provided by the canoe rental company.
  • Dordogne: There are many canoe rental companies on the Dordogne, suitable for all levels. Return transport will be provided.

Swimming Lakes

Swimming Pools

Zoo/Aquariums

Vélo train

Golf

Espace Hermaline: Busière Galant – aswell as the excellent swimming lake, Espace Hermaline offers tree-top climbing courses, zip wires, crazy golf, mini-train rides, a great, fun day out.

Trampolining: The Jump, Limoges – indoor trampoline park

Wine-tasting: Visit the world-famous town of St. Emilion, surrounded by many famous vineyards, where you can go wine-tasting. On your way back to the campsite you can stop at Bergerac with its picturesque Old Town and the Château de Monbazillac. As you travel back through the Dordogne Valley, there are many other vineyards where you can taste and buy. (Remember in France the drink-drive limit is 0,5%)

Cognac: Visit the town of Cognac where you can visit the production facilities of Hennessy and Napoleon. Don’t miss the opportunity to taste Pineau, a mixture of wine and cognac…!

Seaside: The nearest access to the sea is Royan – due east, it will take you about 2.5 hours.

Markets:

Tuesday Brantôme
Wednesday Piégut-Pluviers, Périgueux
Thursday Excideuil
Friday Brantôme
Saturday Thiviers, Nontron, Périgueux
Sunday St Pardoux la Rivière
Markets start early morning and end around 12.30