What to do with children in Périgord?

Big question, Périgord is a true paradise for children ! Among our 4 Périgord, there is necessarily one where you will put your suitcases, to explore the tourist sites, the scenic beauties, the pretty villages and without forgetting the gastronomy because children are greedy ! Here is a non-exhaustive list but already very strong, for a multitude of activities to do with children, of all ages, all styles and for all budgets.

Activities to do with older children and adolescents in Périgord

The Escape Game at Bourdeille Castle

After visiting the two castles (and yes, there are two! Fantastic!), offer teens an escape game in the rooms of the castle, but in Augmented Reality mode. With a helmet on their eyes and ears, they must complete fun missions. It's very original ! There are also workshops for the whole family to discover in the summer season.

Biron Castle

School holidays are the perfect opportunity to discover this incredible castle, which offers a varied program of events. While the rooms, furnished with fairy-tale décor, are ideal for games of hide-and-seek for the whole family, treasure hunts and medieval activities allow visitors to immerse themselves in the Middle Ages. With shows, night tours, and exhibitions, there is something for everyone at Biron Castle.

A canoe trip

From 6 years old (by prefectural decree on our rivers) and when the children can swim, come for a canoe trip on one of our rivers! We are good in a canoe or kayak, because it is cool on the water, we are in nature and we can take breaks to swim or have a picnic! The Vézère, the Dordogne...
>>> Here are all the canoe rental companies offered by the Guide du Périgord.

Boat trip on traditional barges

An undeniable, timeless and adored of Périgord: walks in Gabarres! The Gabarres are flat-bottomed boats that were used (by the gabariers therefore) to transport food along the river, from one point to another or to the mouth towards Bordeaux. Today, we no longer sail in barges for freight, but to transport themselves for pleasure and appreciate the Périgord seen from the Dordogne, the Dronne or the Vézère. Several routes are available, from La Roque Gageac, or from Bergerac or even Brantôme in Périgord Vert. Click to choose your excursion. I recommend going with curious kids who can sit for at least 45 minutes, enjoy the scenery and listen to the explanations.

A ride on an electric scooter

Do a sporting activity (from 8-9 years old) that will propel you quickly and well, through the vines of Périgord Pourpre! You are going to have fun like crazy. I promise you that after the ride, your kids won't want the Switch anymore, they'll want a trott '!

La Roque Saint-Christophe with the family

La Roque Saint-Christophe is one of the largest sites in the department and during the summer, there is entertainment. During the holidays, there are guided tours, which will fascinate older children and teenagers, because the guides know how to be educators by imagining their story of the history of this cliff ... Occupied for 55,000 years!

A day of tree climbing

Take the kids and teens to tree climbing and tree climbing ! It's a great activity for the summer, because in the forest perched in the trees, it is very cool. Discover the Conquil in Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, with routes for the whole family and even the most intrepid, who think they are not afraid of heights!
>>>>> Click to see all the leisure parks in the trees in Périgord.

The Miniature Port of Bergerac

And here is something almost unique (there are 2 or 3 parks like this one in France): the Port Miniature de Bergerac! Become a captain for a stroll on a lake. Give the bar to the kids. It is a REAL boat, designed and built by an enthusiast (in Charente Maritime), who has an eye for detail. Parents will love it too. On site, ice creams, games and drinks.

The Grand Roc Cave in Les Eyzies

Visit a very educational concretions cave! The Grotte du Grand Roc in Les Eyzies can be discovered on a guided tour, with passionate people. It is intimate, we get as close as possible to the concretions and as a bonus, a magnificent view of the Vézère Valley. I recommend the ticket paired with the Abris de Laugerie Basse just next door and call to ask for the dates of the workshops in season! Children will love making a shelter out of animal skins ...

Activities with children of all ages

Visit to the Château de Tiregand in Creysse

This is a new site in Périgord Noir near from Bergerac! A sumptuous castle, which is in full renovation and offers you, to continue this titanic work of getting back on your feet, an Escape-Game in the castle and its park, unprecedented and bucolic!

Lascaux IV

Children are amazed every time they visit! Specially designed for children aged 5 to 12, the storytelling tour offered during school holidays is an incredible journey through time narrated by a costumed and made-up guide. Torches, sound effects, dim lighting... Everything is done to capture their attention with fun activities and digital games.

The Water Gardens of Carsac-Aillac

The gardens are sometimes blah blah for the children, when there are too many complex plants and the like they do not project… This is not the case at the Jardins d'Eau in Carsac Aillac. Here, it is a completely visual universe and perfectly adapted to children. In addition, thanks to the pools, it is cool. There are fun walkways, the whole site is wide and secure, it's a real treat for the whole family.

Le Parc du Thot

Przewalski's horses, bison, deer, aurochs... Species from prehistoric times take center stage in this open-air animal park. Children fascinated by these impressive animals follow their parents as they encounter the animals, sometimes coming across keepers in the middle of feeding time. Break up your visit with workshops, where craft activities are offered to children aged 3 and up to discover prehistoric skills.

The Milandes Castle

The Château des Milandes is the home of Joséphine Baker. The little ones and even those under 30 surely don't know her, but her castle is a marvel. It was the habitat of her Rainbow Tribe, she lived there with her adopted children all over the world. Today, we visit magnificent gardens with aviaries of multicolored birds. In season, there are very impressive raptor shows and of course, the visit of the castle which is quite visual and will appeal to everyone.

The Cloister of Cadouin

This little gem of Gothic architecture, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a wonderful setting for combining a family outing with a cultural excursion. Children are involved in the visit with a visitor's booklet adapted to their age, allowing them to discover the secrets of the Cloister of Cadouin through drawings, puzzles, and crossword puzzles. A fun and creative molding workshop allows them to get their hands dirty, while guided tours for children and treasure hunts are organized in the summer.

The Périgord Rail Bike

The timeless Vélorail du Périgord Vert, it is formidable! You are sitting on a strange machine, and forward your legs to make it move forward! Along the rails of an old railway line, with your family (up to 5), you can enjoy the scenery and you can take yourself for a little train… tchoutchou! Children want more.

Une journée sur une base de loisirs

Leisure centers are great in Périgord! And no, we don't have the sea, but that doesn't prevent us from knowing how to have fun and enjoy the aquatic pleasures. Come and discover the leisure centers like that of Rouffia c, which offers a Wake Board course (a kind of water ski pulled by a cable, it's great to do and also to watch), there is a beach, walks by boat, a tree climbing, a campsite ...

>>> Read our article on lakes and leisure centers.
>>>>>>> Make your choice and look at the detailed sheets!

The village of Bournat

Visit the Village of Bournat. Day and evening during the nocturnal, it is a village that remained frozen in 1900. Riding schools, small farm, old know-how. You can easily spend a day there, you will enjoy yourself and the children too.

Free activities to do in Périgord with children

There are so many things to do for free in Périgord (read our article)! You sometimes hear that it's an expensive destination, but only if you spend your time in places with an entrance fee. Do not hesitate to come to Périgord and go out, control your budget by discovering lots of great things to do for no penny!

• Discover the greenways of the Dordogne. There is a great greenway, cycle-road, to be done on foot, by bike or by scooter, near Bergerac.
• There is a very beautiful greenway in Périgueux, which follows the course of the L'isle river and extends downstream and upstream from the capital of Périgord Blanc.
• The Greenway from Sarlat to Cazoulès is pleasant, especially in summer because it is very shaded.
• The fantastic Céou cycle route which begins at the foot of the Château de Castelnaud is a delight for all. It's flat, pretty and diverse.
• There is a very pretty green way in Périgord Vert, from Saint-Pardoux la Rivière to Thiviers!

Visit the towns and villages of Périgord. And spice up the visit by going on a treasure hunt with Terra Aventura ! Download the app, choose your route and go in search of the Poïz (badges)! It's 100% free and a lot of fun. Call the Tourist Offices, or look on their website, they very often have visit itineraries dedicated to children to suggest.

Go meet the artisans, in villages like Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, Bugue, Limeuil, in Périgueux or Bergerac, in Nontron, there are many artisans in Périgord. They share the fruit of their know-how and offer you eclectic and unique objects. Children love beautiful things and the gestures that go into making them!

Take a walk in the Périgord Limousin Natural Park, or in the Gorges de l'Auvézère, two natural regions in the north of the department which offer many hiking trails. There are many paths in Périgord, it is a real Gruyère! The Tourist Offices offer topo guides and walking ideas for free. Everywhere in Périgord, there are very well marked paths, you just have to follow the signs, the durations are indicated (but it is better to know the exact route before leaving, especially with children!)

This is just a tiny sample of all the things to discover in Périgord. We will take this opportunity to write another article on the subject, soon ... with other ideas!

See you soon and have a good vacation.

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