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Experience Dordogne Culture

With a rich variety of landscapes surrounding the 300 mile-long Dordogne river, the region's unspoiled scenery has remained unchanged for centuries.

Chateaux

The Dordogne Valley is often referred to the as 'The Valley of the 5 Castles’, dating from the 100 years war, and in this historical haven you will see a chateau around almost every corner.

The most noteable Chateaux open to the public offer very different experiences...

Castelnaud-la-Chapelle houses a museum of war in the middle ages, displaying ancient tools and weaponry, included giant catapults mounted on top of the castle.

The beautiful Chateau Milandes was the former home of Josephine Baker, with renaissance architecture, displaying her costumes and lifetime achievements, and offering children's workshops and falconry displays.

The Chateau Beynac is the most authentic and best preserved Fortress of the Perigord. Perched high up on a cliff at breath-taking heights.

Caves

The Dordogne has an extraordinary number of prehistoric cliff dwellings and caves displaying some of the oldest artworks known to man, Lascaux being one of the most famous, with the largest animal cave painting in the world.

Domme is perched upon a network of caves open to the public, with an impressive display of stalactite rock formations and a glass lift bringing you back up to the surface, looking out over the Dordogne valley,

La Gouffre de Proumeyssay and La Gouffre de Padirac allow you embark upon an underground boat trip through deep caverns with atmospheric lighting and music.

Other notable cave dwellings include la Grotte de Font-du-Gaume, Abri de Cap Blanc, and the troglodyte settlement of La Roque Saint Christophe.

Cuisine

Home to lively markets and fine cuisine, the Dordogne Valley is synonymous with some of the most acclaimed foods in France.

The cuisine is often based around duck, with many local restaurants specialising in magret de canard (duck breast), or confit de canard (crispy duck leg). Other regional specialities include Foie Gras (duck liver pate), and truffles. Black Périgord truffles tend to grow near oak and other trees, which are plentiful in the area. These highly-prized mushrooms are very expensive and used sparingly to add flavor to dishes.

The Dordogne is also known for its many walnut trees, and you'll find walnut cake on most restaurant menus. If cheese and wine is more to your taste, the nearby town of Rocamadour is famous for its goats cheese 'cabecou', and the vineyards of Bergerac have plenty to offer.

In summer, the nearby villages have weekly 'marchés gourmands' in the evenings, with food stalls serving local meals and often musical entertainment... a great holiday experience.

Map of local recommendations

The Most Beautiful Villages of France

Officially include Domme, La-Roque-Gageac, Castelnaud, and Beynac.
The historic town of Sarlat, and the beautiful gardens of Marqueyssac are also not to be missed.
...All within a 20 minute drive!

Domme

The walled village of Domme sits at an altitude of 215m, with a magnificent panoramic viewing platform of the valley and the River Dordogne. This small village has a unique architectural heritage, with public footpaths along its medieval ramparts and gardens, and access to the 'Porte des Tours', one of the large fortified entrance gates with towers at either side, where the Knights Templars were imprisoned.

Lurking beneath the village is a natural cave that served as a shelter for the population during the wars of religion, now displaying one of the finest limestone formations in the region, with a glass lift back up to the surface looking out over the valley.

Sarlat-La-Caneda

Sarlat is the most famous town in the region, and is also one of the most attractive, alive with shops and restaurants occupying the beautiful architecture of the ancient town.

During the summer evenings the streets are often full of entertainment and music, and there is a large, bustling market every Saturday, spanning the streets of the old and new town.

Beynac et Cazenac

‘Le Chateau de Beynac’ is one of the best preserved and most renowned in the region. Of medieval construction (XII century), it overlooks the river of the Dordogne and dominates the village. Steep cobbled streets with traditional stone architecture, magnificent views, and riverside cafés and restaurants make this village a ‘must see’.

Castelnaud-La-Chapelle

Castelnaud-la-Chapelle overlooks the confluence between the river Dordogne and the river Céou in a splendid panorama facing its neighbouring villages, Beynac-et-Cazenac and La Roque-Gageac. The village is known for its two castles, Castelnaud, the magnificently restored castle housing the Museum of War in the Middle Ages, and the Chateau Milandes, former property of Joséphine Baker. The village has an exceptional heritage: Traditional stone houses, steep streets, dovecotes, magnificent views, cliffs and rivers make it a favourite spot for outdoor recreation.

La-Roque-Gageac

This stunning village sits beside the river Dordogne, with its houses built into the cliff face. It benefits from a tropical micro-climate, thanks to its southern exposure, allowing the streets to be lined with palm trees, banana trees, agaves, figs, cacti, and bamboos. Many small streets lead to the foot of the cliff, from which one can enjoy a magnificent view of the river and the nearby castles across the valley.

To discover the village from the river, you can embark aboard one of the famous "Gabarres", the traditional flat-bottomed boats which were once used to transport goods along the river. These boats offer guided sightseeing cruises along the river launching from both La Roque Gageac and Beynac. View the amazing architecture built into the cliffs whilst passing by the canoes and kayaks.

Les Jardins de Marqueyssac

The Dordogne valley is abundant in lush green vegetation, allowing the creation of astonishing gardens and reserves.

Our absolute favourite is Les Jardins de Marqueyssac, with an enchanting swirl of box hedge topiary, art work, and even peacocks, set high above the Dordogne river.

Children's entertainment, crafts, climbing lessons, and a via-ferrata (cliff traverse) are all included in the entrance fee, and there is an on-site cafe and children's play area.

In summer, arrive on Thursdays at sunset to experience a magical evening of candle-lit footpaths serenaded by live music throughout the gardens.

And that's not all... Visit Lascaux Caves, La Gouffre de Padirac, Les Eyzies, and Rocamadour ...all within an hour's drive.

Extraordinary Nearby Activities

Crystal clear rivers and lakes, dense forests, walking and cycling trails,
river activities and so much more...

Canoes/Kayaks

The River Dordogne flows gently, winding through beautiful villages and towns built into the cliffs, and lined with beautiful beaches.

We have canoes and kayaks for our guests to hire. There are also numerous canoe companies beside the river. Paddle the river at a comfortable rate, stop off to explore the local villages, or lounge on the riverside beaches.

Prefer to stand? Stand-up paddle boards can be hired at Cenac Bridge (5 mins away).

Climbing

Feeling adventurous?

The area has a fantastic selection of epic limestone cliffs and caves where you can take climbing or caving lessons with professional guides.

If you plan to visit the gardens of Marqueyssac, we would recommend trying the Via Ferrata (cliff traverse). Participants traverse around the cliff on wires attached to the rock face, and secured by a harness. This unforgettable activity is included in the entrance fee to the gardens.

Cycling

A great way to explore the area!

There are numerous cycling routes surrounding Taire du Grel, exploring the neighbouring hills and valleys, with stunning scenery.

We can provide maps of local routes, and recommend our favourites. Routes are easy to follow, available for all abilities and vary in length. We also have a variety of bicycles for our guests to hire, a child seat and a bike rack. Bikes can also be hired locally.

Walking

The best way to see the scenery... Taire du Grel is surrounded by numerous well marked walking trails, with breathtaking viewing points, be sure to take a camera!

We can provide maps of local trails, and recommend our favourites. The trails are easy to follow, available for all abilities and vary in length.

There is even a woodland footpath from Taire du Grel to the centre of Domme.

Flying

Why not see the sights from the sky? Our local airport at Domme offers a selection of voyages through the sky. You can take a tour in an aeroplane, try paragliding or even a tandem sky dive.

Hot-Air Balloon rides are very popular in this area, and are often scattered across the skies above Taire du Grel, it is a wondrous sight to see. Some balloons drop down over the river to touch the water before gliding back up again.

Hot-Air Balloon voyages can be booked at La Roque-Gageac.

Beaches & Picnic Sites

The river Dordogne is lined with picturesque beaches, perfect for a relaxing day in the sun.

The plan d'eau at Grolejac has a beautiful lakeside sandy beach, with a lifeguard on duty in summer. You can hire pedalos, walk the footpath around the lake, explore the nature reserve and feed the swans. There is a children's play area, exercise stations and designated fishing areas.

If you are looking for an unforgettable picnic, walk beside the river Ceou from the bridge at St-Cybranet to some enchanting fairy pools and a rope swing. There are also two picnic areas beside the river Ceou at Daglan, with small waterfalls, play areas and stone BBQs.

High Ropes Courses

A great day out for the whole family!

There are 2 high ropes courses in Sarlat, both offering different levels of activities for all abilities. With on-site refreshments, its easy to spend the day swinging through the trees.

Fishing

The Dordogne is one of most renowned areas for angling in France and is very sought-after by both locals and visitors. Home to grayling, pike, trout, shad and zander, the river is particularly good for fly fishing. Permits are required, and can be purchased in Cenac.

The plan d'eau at Grolejac also has designated fishing areas.

Horse Riding

The traditional way to travel...

There are numerous equestrian centres in the area offering lessons for all ages and abilities. Why not spend a day riding through forests and the surrounding countryside?

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