Chateau Carbonneau, Pessac-sur-Dordogne

A great place for a family day out and to escape the pre-historic world of the Dordogne...instead, enjoy the family atmosphere and displays of this fresh water aquarium.

For over 25 years this park has allowed visitors to come into close (and safe!) encounter with crocodiles, cobras and more than 200 other reptiles and venomous species.

Not only can you take a relaxing journey down the Dronne river in a canoe but you can try your hand at stand up paddle boarding or take to the cliffs and trees for some adventure above ground.

Aerial adventures including treetop ladders, zip lines, cave routes and rocks faces to climb. This adventure park offers a mix of everything to keep the whole family entertained.

Enjoy a single or multi-day trip down the river Dordogne to town such as Beynac, Castelnaud, Montfort and Fayac.

This traditional wooden barge will take you on a picturesque cruise down the river Dordogne from La Roque-Gageac to the Castelnaud bridge.

This elegant and sophisticated two Michelin star restaurant offers creative dishes designed by chef Cédric Béchade, who plays with colours and textures in his cuisine.

The dining rooms allow for views of the surrounding vineyards and rolling hills. Drinks can also be enjoyed in the small library or among the chestnut trees.

Located in an old kindergarten in the heart of the enchanting village of Saint-Medard, on a hillside overlooking the Vallee du vert, with a beautiful terrace for dining in warm weather or taking refuge by the fire on chillier days. 

Perched on a cliff, the Hôtel l'Esplanade has a great setting with good rooms and more importantly, a fantastic restaurant. 

Within the hotel grounds of the picture perfect Moulin de l'Abbaye hotel, set alongside the River Dronne and with a dining room oozing class and a waterside terrace with shaded trees, it would be difficult to find a spot in the world more idyllic than this!

Set inside a 106-hectare estate Castle, the restaurant setting alone is worth a visit, but with beautiful stone walls, painted wooden beams and decorated in traditional fashion, it is very much worth taking a step inside.

The remains have been partly excavated (only about a tenth) and are a magnificent archaeological example.

The home and birth place of Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592), he was one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance, known for popularising the essay as a literary genre. 

Situated in one corner of the main square in Sainte-Foy-la-Grande, facing the Mairie (town hall), this church has an imposing steeple that reaches high about the streets.

This impressive church was built in 1740 under the patronage of the Marchal of Turenne, count of Castillon, who had left money to the city in his will.

Originally built in the 12th century, this château was transformed in the 14th century into an impregnable fortress with the support of Pope Clement V and his nephew and namesake, Bertrand de Got, then owner of the château. In the 17th century, it was enhanced even further, losing its defensive aspects but gaining stables, formal gardens ad a new reception rooms. Though its interior is a little sparse, you can see the original bakery, some impressive ceremonial rooms and its pretty inner courtyard. It holds festive cultural events throughout the year.

Sited to the west of Saint-Emilion, the impressive square stone keep of this grand King's castle is all that now remains. The views of the city from the tower are well worth the 118 steps.

Sainte-Foy-la-Grande sits on the south bank of the Dordogne river. This attractive walled bastide town still has some of its medieval houses and is a good base for visiting the surrounding Sainte-Foy-Bordeaux wine region and nearby Château de Montaigne, home of Michel de Montaigne.

You get a sense of this town's history as soon as you arrive, with are flags and coats of arms lining the roads that lead you to the main square.

Vineyards were planted around this old town in Roman times and whilst most people associate the name with the wine, the town itself is worth a visit for its ramparted old centre with interesting Romanesque churches and an incredible underground monolithic church.

Very much a textbook bastide village, it's laid out in a grid fashion around a central square. Eymet, as it exists today, was founded by Alphonse de Poitiers in 1270. 

The largest town in the area, Bergerac, still retains a quaint old feel, with a change in pace in the summer months.

Couze used to be a paper-making village and a number of its old mills are still in existence, using the power of the Couze river to turn the water wheel.