Crossing the Black Périgord and the Purple Périgord, the Dordogne River is lined with an unusually high number of important places of interest. The famous Castelnaud castle, a true medieval fortress, the Beynac-et-Cazenac castle, the Milandes castle, the Montfort castle, and the Fénelon castle, are magnificent stopping points along the route. The charming villages of Beynac-et-Cazenac and La Roque-Gageac, with their exceptional riverside settings, are an absolute must. The loops of the Dordogne River – the Trémolat, Montfort and Limeuil meanders – can be observed from viewpoints along the river. There's nothing like a barge trip to discover the Dordogne valley from a different angle!

Perched on a limestone cliff in Vézac, in the heart of the Black Périgord, the Gardens of Marqueyssac overlook the Dordogne from a remarkable rocky spur. This 22-hectare estate, awarded the Remarkable Garden label and protected as a listed site since 1969, offers more than 6 kilometres of shaded walks. Its peaceful, fragrant paths wind through woodland, rock gardens, waterfalls, dry-stone huts and Mediterranean vegetation.

The history of the property dates back to 1692, when Bertrand Vernet de Marqueyssac acquired the estate and had terraces laid out around the residence. Altered between the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the castle retains an older central tower and an imposing stone-slab roof. From 1861 onwards, Julien de Lavergne de Cerval devoted some thirty years to creating the present-day Romantic park, planting tens of thousands of box trees, as well as cypresses, umbrella pines and Naples cyclamens. Restored in 1996, the gardens opened to the public in 1997.

Marqueyssac's most distinctive feature is its approximately 150,000 box trees, largely planted in the 19th century and hand-trimmed into rounded, undulating shapes. Around the Bastion, these billowing forms create a spectacular display of topiary art. Three routes lead to the Dordogne Belvedere, located about 800 metres from the castle and 130 metres above the river. From there, the view encompasses La Roque-Gageac, Domme, Beynac, Castelnaud, Fayrac and the valley's lush green meanders. A magnificent panorama!

Families can enjoy a maze, treehouses, playgrounds and a net course, while more athletic visitors can try a via ferrata built into the cliff, subject to access conditions. The Nature Pavilion, the woodturner's workshop, which operates during the tourist season, and the skeleton of Kan the allosaurus round off the visit. The estate is open all year round; allow at least an hour and a half for your visit. An easy route of about 1,600 metres is suitable for pushchairs and makes part of the estate accessible to people with reduced mobility. A restaurant and tearoom also occupy one wing of the castle, and dogs on leads are welcome.

Nearby, the villages of La Roque-Gageac and Beynac-et-Cazenac, Castelnaud Castle and the fortified town of Domme offer delightful opportunities to continue exploring the valley. Every Thursday in summer, the "Candlelight Evenings" bathe the paths in the gentle glow of candles...

Perched on a rocky spur in the Black Périgord, the bastide of Domme rises approximately 150 metres above the Dordogne Valley. Listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, this honey-coloured stone town offers superb views from the Barre Esplanade over the river’s meanders, La Roque-Gageac, Beynac-et-Cazenac and Montfort Castle.

Founded in 1281 by King Philip III, known as “the Bold,” this royal bastide was adapted to the contours of the plateau. Its streets, which mostly intersect at right angles, lead to Market Hall Square, Rode Square and the ramparts, which are listed as Historic Monuments. Towers Gate, flanked by two imposing 14th-century towers, features several hundred old examples of graffiti, traditionally attributed to imprisoned Knights Templar, although this origin has not been proven.

As you stroll around, you will discover the ramparts, Del Bos and Combe Gates, the washhouse, the remains of Roy Castle, Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Church and beautiful medieval and Renaissance residences. The Paul Reclus Museum, awarded the Museums of France designation in 2003, traces the history of the Domme region from prehistoric times to the modern era through archaeological artefacts and tools from traditional trades.

Beneath Market Hall Square lies Domme Cave, discovered in 1912. Its approximately 450-metre guided route descends 20 metres beneath the bastide, winding among stalactites, flowstone curtains and pools, before returning to the village via a panoramic lift. A light jacket is recommended, as the underground temperature remains between 13 and 15°C. Every Thursday, the market also showcases local produce from Périgord.

Nearby, Sarlat-la-Canéda is about twelve kilometres away, while La Roque-Gageac, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle and Beynac-et-Cazenac provide wonderful opportunities to continue exploring the Dordogne Valley.

Twelve kilometres from Sarlat-la-Canéda, La Roque-Gageac stretches along a narrow strip of land between the Dordogne River and an imposing south-facing limestone cliff. A member of the Most Beautiful Villages of France association, this village in the Black Périgord reveals golden-stone houses, stone-slab roofs, cobbled lanes and narrow passageways offering beautiful views over the valley.

From the Middle Ages onwards, this naturally defensive position encouraged the development of a fortified settlement overlooking navigation on the river. The cave fort, developed in several phases between the Early Middle Ages and the 12th and 13th centuries, features a moat, arrow slits, loopholes and a wall walk, all part of its defensive system. Reached by a staircase running along the cliff face, it offers a 180° panoramic view over the Dordogne River. Below stands Tarde Manor, built in the 15th century, whose façades and roofs are listed as a Historic Monument. This private property can be admired from the outside. The village was also marked by the 1957 rockslide, which destroyed several houses and claimed three lives.

Near Saint-Donat Church, a former Romanesque castle chapel, the microclimate allows an astonishing exotic garden to thrive. Palm trees, banana plants, fig trees, cacti, bamboo and citrus trees grow freely along the lanes and terraces. On the Dordogne River, traditional flat-bottomed boats recall the former port, which from the 15th century onwards was used to ship timber, wine, walnut oil and barrels to Bordeaux. Today, a guided cruise offers views of the village’s built-up riverfront from the water. Good to know: the lower part of the village is the most accessible, while the upper lanes and the fort feature slopes, uneven cobblestones and numerous steps.

Nearby, Castelnaud and Beynac Castles, as well as the fortified town of Domme, offer further opportunities to explore the landscapes and heritage of the Dordogne Valley.

Located on the right bank of the Dordogne, around ten kilometres from Sarlat-la-Canéda, Beynac-et-Cazenac is listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France. Its medieval village, tiered between the old quays and limestone cliffs rising to around 60 metres, forms a remarkable ensemble of honey-coloured stone houses, stone-slab roofs and steep lanes.

Built from the 12th century onwards on a promontory overlooking the valley, Beynac Castle was the seat of one of Périgord’s four great baronies. During the Hundred Years’ War, this stronghold, loyal to the King of France, faced Castelnaud Castle, which was aligned with the Anglo-Plantagenet side. Listed as a Historic Monument in 1944, the fortress reveals its square keep, machicolated curtain walls, guardroom, Hall of the Estates, grand Renaissance staircase and former kitchens. From the terraces, the view extends across the Dordogne and the Valley of the Five Castles. The building has also served as a setting for several films, including "Joan of Arc" and "The Visitors II".

A walk through the village offers views of former knights’ houses, the Widow’s Gate, flower-filled little squares and the old suburbs, districts once associated with river transport, fishing, woodworking and hemp processing. Near the castle stands the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, a 12th-century building extensively altered in the 14th century and listed as a Historic Monument in 1912. Around five kilometres away, Cazenac, administratively merged with Beynac in 1827, retains Saint Martial’s Church in the heart of a rural setting.

Below, the quays recall the work of the barge operators, who transported timber and various goods along the Dordogne until the 19th century. In season, a trip aboard a traditional flat-bottomed barge offers views of the village and its fortress from the river. Around 300 metres long and marked by 13 information panels, the Artists’ Trail highlights Paul Signac, Félix Vallotton and other painters associated with Beynac. Every July, the Beynac Musical Nights festival presents chamber music concerts.

Good to know: the climb from the quays to the castle follows steep, cobbled lanes interspersed with steps. Sturdy footwear is recommended, especially in wet weather; several designated parking areas provide access to the village from either below or above.

Nearby, the Marqueyssac Gardens, Castelnaud Castle and the village of La Roque-Gageac offer further opportunities to explore this magnificent Périgord valley.

Situated in the heart of the Black Périgord, Sarlat-la-Canéda is an essential place to visit for the architecture fans. Its medieval old town is the perfect place to wander around with its maze of picturesque narrow streets and Gothic and Renaissance mansions, such as the Plamon mansion, the Magnanat mansion, and the Vassal mansion. The Saturday market is particularly lively and should not be missed!

Set on the heights of Salignac-Eyvigues, thirteen kilometres from Sarlat-la-Canéda, the Gardens of Eyrignac Manor extend across ten hectares of landscaped compositions in the heart of a 200-hectare wooded estate. Awarded the Remarkable Garden designation, the ensemble formed by the manor, its outbuildings and its gardens has been listed as a historic monument since 2016. This Black Périgord property has been home to 22 successive generations of the same family.

Rebuilt between 1653 and 1660 after the former castle was destroyed during the Fronde, the manor features elegant Périgord architecture in golden stone, topped with high slate-covered roofs. A formal garden was laid out in the 18th century before being transformed into an English-style park in the 19th century. From 1965 onwards, Gilles Sermadiras completely redesigned the grounds: in the absence of any old plans, he drew on a few remains found on the site and created a personal work inspired by French and Italian gardens from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The gardens have been open to the public since 1987, while the manor, which is still inhabited, is not included in the standard visit.

More than 300 plant sculptures, shaped by hand from boxwood, yew, hornbeam, cypress and ivy, punctuate the vistas, reflecting pools and fountains. The Hornbeam Walk, approximately 100 metres long, the Vase Walk, the embroidered parterres of the French formal garden and the boxwood maze illustrate this remarkable mastery of topiary art. The walk also reveals the white rose garden and its flowering garlands, the spring garden, the vegetable garden, the flower garden and four country garden plots: the Wanderers’ Garden, the Intoxication Plot, the Daughters of the Wind Garden and the Reflection of the Sky. The topiary farmyard, populated by geese, rabbits, a peacock and other boxwood animals, is particularly popular with children.

Open all year round, the gardens generally take an hour and a half to explore. Two botanical trails, measuring 2.5 and 4.5 kilometres, extend the visit into the woodland estate. A shaded car park, picnic area, shop and seasonal restaurant are located at the entrance; dogs on leads are welcome. The route is accessible to pushchairs, while some of the paths are adapted for visitors with reduced mobility.

Thirteen kilometres to the south-west, Sarlat-la-Canéda offers a delightful opportunity to continue exploring the Black Périgord.

Old Tayac Castle in the municipality of Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil, at the heart of the Vézère Valley and near the Lascaux cave, is home to the National Prehistoric Museum in Dordogne, which has one of France's most extensive Palaeolithic collections with over 12,000 exhibits.

In a resolutely contemporary building, you can see all the oldest traces left by humankind: stone tools, art objects, and life-sized reconstructions of prehistoric people and extinct animals, from the first hunter-gatherers living in Aquitaine, circa - 500 000, to the end of the Ice Age, circa - 10 000.

The lower gallery is about the big cultural and environmental changes linked to Homo sapiens and Neanderthal man. The upper gallery is dedicated to their ways of life: gathering, hunting, fishing, raw material processing, habitat, burial, etc.

A specific programme of activities, updated every 6 months, enables the museum to diversify its approach, while also teaming up with big cultural events like the Heritage Days to offer special themed activities.

There are dedicated activities for families, such as tours on the theme of Neanderthal man, or drawing workshops where visitors can "sketch" the museum in real life.

Founded in 1284 in southern Périgord, Monpazier is regarded as a model among the approximately 300 bastide towns of southwestern France. It was established following a joint lordship agreement between Jean de Grailly, representative of King Edward I of England, and Pierre de Gontaut, Lord of Biron. Listed among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, the town retains a regular layout measuring approximately 400 metres long by 220 metres wide, consisting of straight streets, orderly blocks and narrow alleyways.

At the heart of this grid, Cornières Square reveals its Gothic arcades, old houses with façades sometimes adorned with climbing roses, and its remarkable market hall. The hall still contains old grain measures, evidence of the bastide town’s role as a trading centre. The market hall and the paved surface of the square have together been listed as a Historic Monument since 1960. Every Thursday morning, a market continues a tradition spanning more than seven centuries.

The walk then leads to Saint-Dominic Church, built and altered between the 13th and 16th centuries before becoming a collegiate church in 1490. Listed as a Historic Monument in 1862, it houses 15th-century choir stalls, a bell dating from 1476 and a revolutionary inscription carved in 1794. Visitors can also discover three of the six former fortified gates, remains of the ramparts and the “Chapter House,” a medieval building that probably served as a tithe barn and was listed as a Historic Monument in 1929. Information panels line the narrow streets, while artists’ and fine craftworkers’ studios invite visitors to linger a little longer.

Housed in part of the former 17th-century Recollect friars’ convent, the Bastideum presents the history and architecture of bastide towns through interactive exhibits, traditional games and a medieval-inspired garden. Self-guided visits to the village are free throughout the year, and parking areas are available near the northern and southern fairgrounds.

Also worth discovering near Monpazier, Biron Castle provides a delightful extension to a visit to Bastide Country.

In the municipality of Montignac, at the foot of the Lascaux hill, which contains the original cave whose interior was closed to the public in 1983 for conservation reasons, the International Centre for Cave Art - Lascaux IV presents a complete replica of the decorated cave classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In this latest replica, open to the public since 2016, new techniques are used to showcase this important prehistoric site. Behind the glass doors of a huge, modern, semi-underground building spanning 8,000 m², none of whose walls are straight, originally-shaped rooms welcome visitors for an unusual experience.

The centre uses its preferred medium of digital technology to show off and enhance the cave art. From the heights of the belvedere, equipped with your digital tablet, you can leap back 20,000 years to admire the Vézère Valley and the wildlife of the time. Then in the shelter, take a trip to 1940 and follow the four teenagers who started this fabulous adventure, contemplating their amazing discovery as if you were there yourself.

In the Lascaux Studio (Atelier de Lascaux), discover eight big walls in a huge room, displaying the cave's main works of art. Several scenographic exhibits are on offer: swipe your tablet screen to discover the various works in virtual reality, share the tactile experience of the first humans by using their tools and techniques, become aware of the fragile balance of the cave through an immersive experience, and handle objects from the archaeological excavations carried out in Lascaux.

The Theatre of Cave Art will take you into a series of small rooms where a play in three chronological acts is staged. Topics covered include 19th-century doubts about the authenticity of the decorated caves, the working practices of two famous Prehistory specialists, and the techniques used by contemporary archaeologists.

With your 3D glasses on, in front of two giant screens, continue your journey in the underground realm by watching the film "Lascaux and the World", to admire Lascaux and other decorated caves around the world. Finally, in the Imaginary Gallery, you can explore the ties that have been formed between cave art and contemporary art by admiring images and artworks exhibited on a wall of 90 screens.

At Lascaux IV, you will find a unique experience that will shake up your temporal reference points, combining the mystery of an ancestral art form and the contribution of technology. An in-depth exploration for all ages that puts Lascaux back on the world cave art stage.

The Lascaux Cave, in Montignac, Dordogne, was discovered by chance in 1940 by four teenagers, one of whom had seen his dog slip into a nearby hole. He went after it and inadvertently uncovered one of the most important decorated caves of the Palaeolithic. This incredible cave, known as "the Sistine Chapel of Prehistory", was closed to the public in 1963 for its own protection, then became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

Open to visitors since 1983, Lascaux II, the first replica of the original cave, presents the two most famous galleries: the Hall of Bulls and the Axial Diverticulum, where you can admire 90% of the paintings. The two museum areas tell the fascinating story of human evolution and tools, with recreations of prehistoric Lascaux. Step back in time on the same hill as the original cave, in the authentic natural setting of the Vézère Valley.

Not far from here, the International Centre for Cave Art - Lascaux IV, at the foot of Lascaux hill, is a complete replica of the famous cave. Since 2016, visitors have been invited to step inside the surprising architecture of its huge, semi-underground building, where they can contemplate, understand and really gain a feeling for cave art. New technology offers a unique experience by immersing you in this exceptional world in a very original way. Trained guides, digital tablets, themed rooms, games, and films on a big screen will all help you travel back in time to be immersed in the captivating atmosphere of early humans' underground world!

To complete your visit, Le Thot Park in Thonac offers a chance to discover cave art by exploring various areas on the theme of humans' relationship with animals in Prehistory. Just 9 kilometres from Lascaux, the exhibition area, animal park and various workshops invite you on an unforgettable journey through time and space. You can explore the daily life, gestures and techniques of Cro-Magnon man. The interactive time mirror experience will show you the species that he lived alongside, hunted and painted in his cave galleries, and the animal park offers an educational walk amid the living descendants of animals from that time. Plenty for visitors of all ages to enjoy!

Sacred town and important pilgrimage site, the village of Rocamadour is perched on the side of a limestone cliff and towers majestically over the Alzou canyon. What a wild and unspoiled environment! Famous for its sanctuaries and more especially for its Black Virgin, Rocamadour attracts every year a large number of visitors and pilgrims. Moreover, the village of Rocamadour is the second most visited attraction in France after Mont-Saint-Michel! Having climbed 216 stairs of the main staircase leading to the church square, pilgrims and walkers discover the seven sanctuaries of Rocamadour, among which the Notre-Dame chapel, the Saint-Sauveur basilica and the Saint-Michel chapel. Unmissable, the Notre-Dame chapel or miracles chapel contains a statue of the Black Virgin dating from the 12th century. Near this chapel is Saint-Amadour's tomb. The former popes' palace, whose entrance is also situated on the square, is home to the Sacred Art museum and its collection of religious works from the town. From the top of the medieval village, or to be precise off the ramparts of the ancient fort, the view of all of Rocamadour, the Alzou canyon and the unspoiled landscapes surroundings the Regional Nature Park of the Quercy Limestone Plateaus is amazing.

In Rocamadour, walkers can also admire beautiful mineral concretions, as well as 20,000 year-old cave drawings during the visit of the Cave of Marvels (Grotte des Merveilles).