Early morning mist seen from La Garde

 

Visits and sporting activities

The Dordogne is renowned for its chateaux, fortified villages, caves either with art treasures left by pre-historic man or natural rock formation and of course its natural beauty. Here is a small selection with some links and the approximate distance from our gites.

Chateaux
 Beynac (20kms)
Biron (45kms)
Castelnaud (22kms) www.castelnaud.com
Milandes (23kms) www.milandes.com
Puymartin (25kms)
 
Fortified villages (bastides)
 Monpazier (40kms)
Domme (25kms)
Molieres (20kms)

Pre-historic caves with paintings or engravings.
Lascaux 2 (45kms) -world renowned masterpiece of prehistoric art
Font de Gaume(15kms)
Grotte de Combarelles (17kms)
Grotte de Rouffingnac (15kms) www.grottederouffignac.fr
Abri de Cap Blanc(16kms)
 
Natural caves and cavernes.
Gouffre de Proumeyssac (5kms)
Grotte de Grand Roc (10kms) www.grandroc.com
Les Grottes de Maxange (15kms) www.lesgrottesdemaxange.com

Troglodytique sites.
La Roque Saint Christophe www.roque-st-christophe.com - natural cavities occupied since prehistoric times and were altered to become a fort in the middle ages.
Gottes du Roc de Cazelle www.rocdecazelle.com - reconstructions of the life of prehistoric man.

Museums
National museum of the prehistory www.musee-prehistoire-eyzies.fr
Vésunna - gallo-roman museum at Périgueux.

Gardens
Les Jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac(40kms) www.eyrignac.com
Les Jardins de Marqueyssac (22kms)  www.marqueyssac.com

Other sites/visits.
 Village du Bournat (4kms) reconstucted village to show how our great grandparents might have lived.
Aquarium du Perigord Noir (4kms)  www.parc-aquarium.com
Les Gabares (20kms) www.norbert.fr   www.gabarre-beynac.com sail down the Dordogne on a gabare - traditional flat-bottomed boats used on the Dordogne for transporting goods between the Massif Central and the ports of Bergerac, Libourne and Bordeaux.

Towns-vllages of interest.
Sarlat(35kms)
Perigueux(45kms)
Limeuil (10kms)
Belves(20kms)
La Roque-Gageac(20kms)

Markets.
Where ever you are, whatever the day there is a market nearby! Markets with local produce that smells and tastes so good. Here is a list of the nearest.
Monday: Les Eyzies, Saint Alvere.
Tuesday: Le Bugue.
Wednesday: Bergerac, Perigueux, Sarlat.
Thursday: Lalinde, Domme.
Friday: Le Buisson.
Saturday: Le Bugue, Sarlat, Bergerac, Perigueux.
Sunday: Rouffingnac, Saint Cyprien.

Gastronomy.
The Dordogne is one of the gastronomic centres of France, famous for its foie gras, duck, truffles and mushrooms. There are many excellent inexpensive restaurants in the area using traditional cooking and recipes. It is also a region well known for its wines. The world famous vineyards of Medoc and St Emilion are close by and the local wines of Bergerac, Percharment, Monbazillac and Cahors are also excellent.
Bergerac wines
Chateau de Monbazillac
Gastonomy

 For the more active.
Walking on the quiet country lanes or on the marked trails through the woods and forests.
Cycling is an agreeable way to visit the region but be warned there lots of hills! You can follow the marked paths in the woods. Possible to hire bikes in the village tel: 05 53 07 22 27
Horseriding
Fishing in the rivers or lakes.
Canoe or kayak down the Dordogne or the Vezere - you are taken by minibus to your chosen place of departure and you float down with the current.www.asso-horizons.com/canoeric
www.canoesvalleevezere.com
Golf - there are several courses to choose from the nearest at 12kms www.marterie.fr
at 15kms www.golfdelolivarie.com  at 20kms www.rochebois.com
Adventure trail in the trees - tarzan swings, rope bridges pulley rides www.appel-de-la-foret.com   www.airparc-perigord.com

Tennis - possible to hire tennis courts in the village