House / Gardens Sights in Dordogne — 11 of Our Favourites

Noted as being one of the finest collections of bamboo and other grasses in Europe, this botanical garden covers an area of 1.5 hectares. Originally designed as a botanical conservatory in 1989, the garden was gradually organised into landscaped areas. It now offers visitors the chance to walk around for about one hour in a tropical and exotic setting of lush vegetation.

With stunning collections such as peonies, old roses, grasses, hydrangeas, salvia, daylilies, agapanthus, etc, you will find most plants are in bloom between May to October. Preserving biodiversity is an important issue, so the plants are grown without chemicals and are chosen for their ability attract pollinating insects.

The area is made up of ten distinct garden spaces - The Vegetable Garden, Orchard Cloister, The Pivoineraie, The Labyrinth, The Wild Rose Garden, The Garden of Poetry, The English garden, The Wild Garden, The Tuscan Garden and La Chambre du Sphinx.

You can sample some homemade pastries and other items made from produce grown in the garden in the Tea Room.

Their uniqueness lies in the component elements: diversity of pools, calm waters, waterfalls, streams, lush vegetation enriched by lotus flowers with multiple colors, each one more beautiful than the other. The varieties present, from America and Asia, are perfectly suited to the climate here (most will be in bloom from May to October).

Planted in the late 19th century, the arboretum provides trees and plants of various origins and a newer collection of unusual shrubs. The choice of species evoke memories of Spanish-Moorish gardens. The medieval garden is a square garden overlooking the village of Limeuil is devoted to medieval plants: here you can discover their virtues and their uses. The water garden consists of two pools and two waterfalls overlooking the river confluence. Here you can find all plants related to the river and the aquatic world: rushes, arrowhead, water plantain, irises marshes and water lilies decorate the scene. 

Originally French gardens, but inspired by Italian styles, they were totally remodelled in the 19th century to English romantic gardens in line with current fashion. However in the mid 20th century, the Eyrignad family decided to restore them to their original form. The formal landscaped gardens are complemented by botanical paths and the audio guides available allow you to discover them at your own pace.

Today there are more than 80 different plant species and over 300 plant sculptures, with 50,000 square meters of hedge to be trimmed there is need of the 6 full-time gardeners! The Manor and gardens have now been in the same family for over 500 years.

The gardens are also available for private booking, such as parties weddings and other special occasions.

Les Jardins Zig-Zag

This area has been landscaped in the spirit of the Middle Ages, with several key elements dating back to the time of Charlemagne. Travel to the 13th-century through a maze based on the pilgrimage to Chartres.

Les Jardins du Senechal

Here the butterfly design created by boxwood hedges, along with coloured foliage recreates the Renaissance gardens on the 16th & 17th-centuries. The area is also surrounded by ground fountains.

Le Jardin de Contes de Fees (Garden of Fairy Tales)

This is situated at the Municipal Library in Gourdon. the garden is decorated with wooden figures, based on fairy tales such as Snow White, Tom Thumb and Little red Riding Hod. There is also a 'wicker corner' for young readers to enjoy a good book or play some games.

Much of it was destroyed when a defensive wall was constructed around the city in the 3rd century. It is thought to have been the largest amphitheatre in Gaul, hosting up to 20,000 spectators. The area is now a wonderful green space in the city of Périgueux, surrounded by silver lime trees, holly, chestnut trees and spruces.

It offers visitors an attractive and calming natural environment and in summer children can also enjoy a playground with a carousel, as well as the paddling pool area and fountains...perfect for the hot summer days!

The gate and doorway itself was probably used to separate the nobility in the upper part of the town from the more modest lower town. The origin of the word "cadena" is from Gascon (a dialect of Occitan) meaning "chain", which could refer to the presence of a chain that physically divided the city into two parts but there is no visible trace on the building today.

The house is the only half-timbered house int he city that has remained intact and still has a remarkable tower on the other side. If you go inside you will be able to see the beautiful corkscrew staircase that dates from the16th-century and allows access to the tower.

The Porte de la Cadène opens the Rue de la Cadène, a pretty little shopping street in Saint Emlion.

A beautiful corn field in a beautiful area and the desire to create an activity that is unusual; this is what inspired the maze. It is an ideal place to spend a few hour with friends or family. Great for children and adults!

There are several routes through the maze and each path comes with its own quiz to help you through and discover the mysteries within. Also available at night for a slightly different feel as you use a torch to guide you around.

A family run business this is the perfect stop if you have been visiting the nearby Chateau Bridoire. With plenty of activities to entertain the children, you can sit back and relax with a cold drink or a coffee.