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.

Practical informations.

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) Practical informations.

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.

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. 

Visiting hours and Practical informations.

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.

Practical informations.

GROTTE DE VILLARS

Grotte de Villars is situated in the heart of the Green Périgord, where the concretions are especially remarkable. The cave is decorated with beautiful and different paintings from the Magadlenian period; showing especially horses as well as a scene man/bison.

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

Visiting hours and Practical informations.

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.

TOURBIÈRES DE VENDOIRE (PRÈS 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. 

Practical informations.

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.

Practical informations.

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.

BOSCHAUD Abbey

Abbaye de Boschaud is situated very close to Château de Puyguilhem. Come and discover this 12th century Cistercian abbey, destroyed during the One Hundred Years War and the religious wars. Sadly abandoned for a very long time, the “Monuments Historiques” (National French Heritage) take it in 1950 and start to clear and consolidate the ruins.

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.

Practical informations.

BERNARDIERES castle

BERNARDIÈRES castle sits on the rocks dominating the Nizonne River. Lookout tower or outpost, it does not matter for Bertrand du Guesclin who chase the English in Septembre 1377.

(Photo credit Château des Bernardières)

Practical informations.

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. 

Practical informations.

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)

SENTIER D'INTERPRÉTATION DES MEULIÈRES

On this archeologic site, you will walk along a 2.7km path d'interprétation de tailleries de meules à moulins. A 1h30 min walk approximately). Open visits but guided on demand at the Toutist Office of Périgord Dronne et Belle. Parking. Hiking shoes recmmmended. (Photos credit: Sentier des Meulières) Lieu dit "Les Brageots" à Saint Crépin de Richemont

natural site of the ARGENTINE PLATEAU

Along a path, perfectly indicated by many explanative boards, you will discover the many teasures of the Argentine limestone plateau: fauna and flora, limestone quarries, mushroom farms, perched village... This site is classified "Natura 2000" (network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union). Car park. 6km walk (around 2h30 min). (Photo credit: PNR Périgord Limousin) Close to La Rochebeaucourt

beaussac cave

Beaussac cave is a cave with natural concretions. During the visit, different thematics are approached: speleology genesis, subterranean fauna, concretions, prehistoric man and cave man. The accessories for the speleology initiation are provided. Do not forget to bring your welly boots and some spare clothes. 

Accessible from 9 years old. 

Commented visits only, in July, August and September. 

For the visiting dates, contact the Tourist Office of PÉRIGORD Dronne Belle.

THE auvezere gorge

The Green Périgord has many various landscapes with a remarkable fauna and flora. Go on hiking trails in the Auvézère gorge (river canyon) to discover a natural, preserved and healthy environment. Many hiking trails are possible – maps on sale at the Excideuil Tourist Office

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.