The Tourist Sites the Green Périgord

Auriane, our Blogger visited this place for you, you can find Auriane’s article here and her top tips that may be of help for your own discoveries. Read Auriane’s article (fr)

PUYGUILHEM castle, villars, 16th century

This castle, built at the beginning of the 16th century, presents the characteristic of the Loire castles from François 1st period. It is probably the most beautiful Renaissance castle in Périgord, at least the most original and the richest in sculptures. (Crédit Photo : F. Tessier, OT Périgord Dronne Belle)

VISITS : OPENING

• Closed on 1 January, 1 May, 1 and 11 November and 25 December.
• From 2 May to 31 August: 10.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 6.30pm
• From 1st September to 30th September: 10.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 5.30pm / closed on Mondays
• From 1st October to 30th April: 10.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 5.30pm / Reservation recommended / Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

RATES

• Individual : €6
• Free - 18 years old (in family and out of school groups) / disabled person and his/her companion / jobseeker / education pass
• Group (more than 20 people) : €5

Auriane, our Blogger visited this place for you, you can find Auriane’s article here and her top tips that may be of help for your own discoveries. Read Auriane’s article (fr)

BOURDEILLES CASTLE (13th and 16th centuries)

Bourdeilles Castle is built on rocks dominating the Dronne.

Former barony of Périgord, it is a feudal fortress and a un logis de la Renaissance. It offers a painted decoration from the 16th century and the 17th centuries.

Authentic museum of artefacts. 

VISITS : OPENING

• Closed on 25 December and 1 January
• Closed on Mondays outside school and public holidays.
• From 08 February to 3 April: from 10am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 5.30pm
• From 04 April to 05 July: from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm every day.
• From 06 July to 28 August: from 10 am to 7.30 pm every day
• From 29th August to 1st November: from 10am to 1pm and from 2pm to 6pm every day.
• From 02nd November to 03rd January: from 10am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 5pm

RATES

Individual

• Adult : €8.80
• Children (from 5 to 12 years old) : €5.90
• Young children (under 5 years old) : free of charge

Group

• Adults and schoolchildren (over 12 years old) : €7.10
• Schoolchildren (up to 12 years old) : €3.60

Auriane’s tip : audio-guides in many languages, including occitan. A booklet of games is available for the kids and educational workhops around calligraphy and heraldic allow to have fun. Read Auriane’s article

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LA CHAPELLE FAUCHER castle (XIIIÈME-XVÈME century) (between BRANTÔME ET THIVIERS)

Domaniating the Côle Valley, Château de la Chapelle Faucher belongs to the same family since 500 years. The castle is a legacy of 800 years of history. Devastated in 1916 by a fire created by a lightning, it preserved its curtain walls and its poster gate.

GROTTE DE VILLARS

Shady car park, shop, bar, covered or shady picnic area.

VISITS : OPENING

• Open every day from 1st April to 1st November
• April, May, June, September : from 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 7pm
• July, August : from 10 am to 7.30 pm
• October, 1st November : from 2pm to 6pm
• Last departure of visits 30 minutes before closing time.

RATES

Individual

• Adult : €9.20
• Student : (under 25 with student card) : €7.60
• Children from 5 to 15 years old : €6

Group

• Adults (from 20 people) : €7.60 (driver and 1 accompanying person free)
• School (basic rate) : primary : €4.80 (1 accompanying adult free for every 10 children)
• School fees (basic rate) : secondary : €5.30 (1 accompanying adult free for every 10 children)

Auriane’s tip : The Cro-Magnon theme garden displaying its environment and lifestyle. It is possible to visit only the park and enjoy the various workshops parietal art or prehistoric spear-thrower. Read Auriane’a Article (fr)

TOURBIÈRES DE VENDOIRE (near VERTEILLAC)

10,000 years ago, there was only a big basin full of water. Century after century, in 10 times 1,000 years, men assisted to its natural filling and inscribed their history in the fragile soil. 

You will discover the peat making process, the pit exploitation by men through time and the precious souvenirs left over the years. You will learn how to date grounds and to reconstitute the geology and human history. 

You will see a world before there was pollution. Plants will count their secrets through the discovery trails. Signpost routes will provide you with novel information that cannot be found anywhere else. 

You will plunge in a very old cultural past. You will be amazed in front of this small natural sanctuary where the peatland carries on living with his multi millennia pace. 

BRANTÔME Abbey - the older bell tower of france

Charlemagne founded Brantôme Abbey in 769. It was destroyed by the Normans and rebuilt in the 11th century by Abbot Guillaume. It is mainly the Abbot Pierre de Mareuil who built the most characteristic buildings in the 16th centuries. 

After an important refurbishment in the 19th century, you will visit today the Abbey’s church, the monastery complex, and the Museum Fernand.

VISITS : OPENING

• The Caves of the Abbey and the Fernand Desmoulin Museum : Open from mid-February to the end of December.
• The Cloister, the Abbey Church and the Bell Tower : Guided tours from Easter to All Saints' Day, times vary according to the celebration of religious services.

RATES

• Free for children under 12 years old

Caves of the Abbey and Museum Fernand Desmoulin

• Full price for self-guided tours : €6.50 for individuals and €4.50 for groups (from 15 people, by reservation)
• Full price for a guided tour : €8 for individuals and €6.50 for groups (from 15 people, by reservation)
• Reduced rate* for self-guided tours : €4.50 for individuals and €4 for groups (from 15 people, by reservation)
• Reduced rate* for guided tours : €6 for individuals and €5 for groups (from 15 people, by reservation)

Cloister, Church and Bell Tower (guided tour)

• Full individual rate : €8
• Full group rate :  €6.50
• Reduced rate* individual : €6
• Reduced rate* group : €5

Caves of the Abbey and Fernand Desmoulin Museum (free visit) + Cloister, Church and Bell Tower (guided tour)

• Full individual rate : €10
• Full group rate : €9
• Reduced rate* individual : €6.50
• Reduced rate* group : €5.50

* Jobseekers, disabled people, 12-18 years old, students, inhabitants of the Dronne and Belle Community of Communes (on presentation of proof).

Auriane’s tip : a combined ticket is proposed for the visit of the cave and the cloister, church and tower bell. Tickets on sale at the Tourist Office. Read Auriane’s article (fr)

BOSCHAUD Abbey

Nested at the heart of the countryside, the ruins of this old abbey are really touching and worth visiting.

(Crédits Photo F. Tessier, OT Périgord Dronne Belle)

D98 then on the left at St Crépin de Richemont.

BERNARDIERES castle

(Photo credit Château des Bernardières)

VISITS : OPENING

• Open from the beginning of July to the end of September from 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 6pm.
• Closed on Tuesdays

RATES

• Free visit

VARAIGNES castle

Atelier-Musée des Tisserands et de la Pantoufle Charentaise (Weavers and Charentaise slippers workshop/museum): situated in the castle, in which the stones are trace back from the evolution of architecture from the 14th century to the end of the 16th century, this workshop/museum shows the jobs, the technologies and the history of the textile felt and the weaver–peasant. 

RICHEMONT castle

A beautiful castle close to Brantôme, Richemont castle offers guided visits in July and August. Built from 1564 by Pierre de Bourdeille aka Brantôme, Richemont Castle presents deux main buildings in an angle iron. It is in Richemont Castle that Brantôme wrote "Les dames galantes" (The Gallant Ladies), Brantôme lived in Richemont until his death; you will visit the writer’s room...

(Crédit Photo Château de Richemont)

VISITS : OPENING

• Open from 14 July to 30 August from 10am to 6pm.
• Compulsory guided tours

RATES

• Adult : 5€
• Children : 3€
• Groups : 4€

SENTIER D'INTERPRÉTATION DES MEULIÈRES

natural site of the ARGENTINE PLATEAU

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beaussac cave

Accessible from 9 years old. 

VISITS : OPENING

• Commented visits only, in July, August and September. 
• For the visiting dates, contact the Tourist Office of PÉRIGORD Dronne Belle. 

THE auvezere gorge

They are fitness trails and a good pair of hiking shoes is recoomended.  

During your walk through the rocks, you will admire the cascade and enjoy the calming noise of the river, which can be tumultuous at time. Many other loop walks go along the river, some of the walks allow to see different landscapes. 

Auriane’s tip : There is no network on most of the hiking trails. It is therefore recommende to do it as a group. Do not forget water, hat, solar cream and especilally the mosquitoes repellent. Read Auriane's article (fr)