Visit the Périgord Noir in 3 days: between culture and gastronomy!

Are you planning a 3-day getaway in the Dordogne, in the heart of the Périgord Noir? It's not easy to choose among the multitude of pretty villages to explore, culinary specialities to taste, castles and fortresses to visit in the Vallée de l'Homme! It is said that the Dordogne is the land of 1001 castles... Périgord is a very attractive destination turned towards qualitative, cultural and varied tourism. Follow us for some ideas for short stays in Périgord!

A short family stay in Dordogne

With a long weekend, a bridge or 3 days free, visiting the Périgord Noir with your family is a very good idea. There are a multitude of child-friendly tourist sites, leisure parks and very pretty and interesting villages to explore.

To stay, choose a strategic location, between the Dordogne valley and the Vézère valley. Children do not like to drive too many kilometers and during a long weekend, you have the possibility of sailing between the 2 valleys.

Day 1: Prehistory in the Vézère Valley

Start your first day in the charming Vézère valley. Visit Lascaux IV, the International Center of Parietal Art and take the opportunity to take a twin ticket with the Parc du Thot (fr) to walk among the animals and participate in workshops in season, so you will have a great day around Montignac in the Vézère Valley.

Option 2: Children also love Roque Saint-Christophe, an ancient troglodyte city, a real little town hanging on the cliff. You are visiting a large fault in the rock over 400m long! The guided tours during the holidays and upon the return of sunny days are fantastic. For fun and excitement, go to Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère (fr), either to the Le Conquil park to visit troglodytic shelters, or to the nearby Le Préhistobranche tree park, as well as a dinosaur park. Take the opportunity to eat an ice cream by the river, along the bank in the shade of willows and do not miss the magnificent view of the Côte de Jor, 200m high over the valley!

Day 2: The magic of the Castles in the Dordogne Valley

Do you like fairy tales? Just a stone's throw from Castelnaud-la-Chapelle is the Château des Milandes, the home of Josephine Baker. It is a marvel to discover, with beautiful landscaped gardens with water features, a large park, birds in aviaries and a breathtaking bird of prey show, not forgetting the visit to the château which retraces the life of this extraordinary woman. You are not far from La Roque-Gageac, the ideal place to go for a Gabarre ride in the morning or at the end of the day, to admire the valley from the water. You can also visit the Fort de la Roque-Gageac and discover its impressive history! There is also a cycle track in the area, which runs from Castelnaud to Daglan in the Céou Valley, perfect for families!

Option 2: The Château de Beynac in the village of the same name, will please you for its grandiloquence and for its pretty niche towers! Children like this village, straight out of a book. It climbs, there are small alleys and mysterious cellars... Do not miss the magnificent viewpoint, taking the small road above the parking lot of the castle. You can see the whole valley there… You can then continue your day with a canoe trip in Vézac.

Day 3: Gastronomy of the Périgord Noir

We never tire of it, eating well is important and you will not tell us the opposite on vacation in Périgord Noir! How about visiting the Walnut Ecomuseum? After a short film, you will learn everything about walnuts, the wonder of Périgord which gives a sweet and suave, fragrant oil… Take it for summer salads! Those who love nuts will surely want to visit the Walnut Route (fr) to learn all about this fruit and taste it in all its forms. Do not miss a visit to Sarlat, the capital of gastronomy in Périgord. The ideal is to go there on Saturday morning for the weekly market, but also on weekdays, there are gourmet food to find. Take a good look at the Tourist Office program to plan your vacation and end your day with a walk at the top of the panoramic elevator. If you are in need of sport, there is even a cycle path in Sarlat to walk (fr) along the valley towards the Lot.

A weekend under the sign of prehistory

Easy in Périgord Noir! History has left its traces in our villages, in caves, cave shelters... It is a haven of knowledge for enthusiasts and a real history book open for the curious. Here are some ideas, not easy to choose again…

For this type of stay, stay in Montignac or Les Eyzies, to be in the heart of the Vallée de l'Homme.

Day 1: Les Eyzies

This is the best place to start your getaway, visit the National Prehistory Museum (fr) to get your knowledge before other visits. Les Eyzies is also a pleasant village to discover, along the Vézère. Do not miss the pretty waterfall along the river towards Sarlat, on foot! You can also go and see La Aberie de Laugerie Basse (fr), an ancient excavation site that presents artifacts from prehistoric life. Don't miss the visit with Marie of the Fort du Roc de Tayac.

Day 2: Rock paintings

Visit the Font-de-Gaume cave (fr), one of the only caves in Périgord with real paintings, which for conservation reasons, has restricted visits… It is a pearl, who knows how long it will be open for visit? Take advantage! You must go there the same day to buy a ticket and you will be given a visit schedule. A few tens of minutes from Les Eyzies is Rouffignac which is also the host of an intact and original cave: the Rouffignac Cave (fr), which you can visit in a little train, you will love it!

Day 3: Take advantage of this third day to visit smaller but exceptional sites

To go into detail, take the time to deepen your subject:

The Prehistoric site of Castel-Merle in Sergeac and its rock shelters occupied for 85,000 years.

The shelter of Cap Blanc (fr), tickets are to be picked up at Font-de-Gaume. We see paleolithic sculptures, in limestone, cut with flint...

The Cave of the Sorcerer (fr), decorated 17,000 years ago and which offers one of the only representations of a human being in cave painting.

A weekend to stroll through the bastides and pretty villages

There are so many in Périgord! Take walking shoes and meet in our pretty villages. For Treasure Hunt lovers, download the Terra Aventura app and do Geocatching to find the Poiz hidden in the villages!

Day 1: Limeuil

Limeuil (fr) is a charming village which is located at the confluence of the Dordogne and the Vézère, it is installed on a hill, you will enjoy a breathtaking view at the top, as well as during the visit of the Panoramic Gardens. Take the opportunity to enjoy a nice view of Limeuil and the rivers, on the other side of the village from the bridge. In summer, take a trip to the nautical base of Trémolat nearby!

Day 2: Saint-Léon and Saint-Amand

Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère: Discover this pretty village, classified among the Most Beautiful Villages in France, on the banks of the Vézère, stroll through the couredoux (narrow alleys), eat in its delicious restaurants… Have a picnic with the local products from the grocery store and leave with a full basket to enjoy on the banks of the Vézère, in the shade of the willows. In fine weather, it is a very lively and joyful village. In winter, walking there is an intimate delight to savor! Take a Canoe tour with APA Canoë, or Kanoak.

Coly-Saint-Amand: Another village classified among the most beautiful villages in France. You will enjoy walking there, visiting its medieval village and its cathedral, touching the beautiful stone village houses. The village is below, but in Saint-Amand there are also many hiking trails, which lead you to the heights, from where to enjoy a very nice view. Continue your visit to Coly, where there is a craft brewery that is worth a detour: Brasserie La Chavagn'.

Day 3: Monpazier and Domme

Monpazier (fr) is one of the oldest country houses in the region and one of the best preserved. Take a walk in its perfect grid, stroll through the square with the arcades and imagine yourself life centuries ago, in this perfectly geometric set. Nature is beautiful around Monpazier, come for a walk!

Ahhhhhhhh Domme (fr), perched and dominating the entire Dordogne valley. It is a majestic village, which in its basement shelters a cave that we recommend you to visit. Good restaurant, beautiful shops, it is also a chic place that can be appreciated by taking your time, to smell the scent of dolce vita in Périgord. Taste the Domme wine, it's an exquisite drink!

We hope you will have a wonderful stay in Périgord, don't forget to join us on the Facebook page of the Guide to Périgord or on our Instagram page @guideduperigord to plan your stay.to organize your stay.

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