Villa Corisande B&B, Eymet

A full day tour for those interested in wine, the terroir, the makers and other local products of the Dordogne region.

This pretty church in the minute village of Allemans-du-Dropt originally dates to the 10th century, though there have been many changes and additions over the years. The reason for visiting it to see its frescoes which date to the 15th century and are in impressively good condition. They feature the Last Supper, Crucifixion, Last Judgement and a rather grim view of Hell.

A magical world located in the heart of the 'Purple Perigord', hosted by the fairy mothers and created from fields of maize you can lose yourself here for hours.

Now privately owned by restoration aficionados Catherine and Jacques Guyot, this castle has been partially restored and opened for the public to enjoy.

This 16th-century château combines medieval defensive fortifications and Renaissance exuberance.

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.

Housed in the Maison Peyrarède, the tobacco museum in Bergerac tells the 4,000 year history of tobacco growth in the region when it used to be a major crop.

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.

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.

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.

Founded in 1261, Lalinde was the first English bastide. Situated on the banks of the Dorgdogne, the town is also crossed by the Canal de Lalinde, constructed to bypass the dangerous rapids of Grand Thoret.

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.