La Sérénité Villa, Najac

Open Monday to Saturday all year round this horse riding centre welcomes you for lessons as well as trekking.

A delightful trip along the river that runs through the heart of Bergerac on a traditional wooden barge.

This area provides water-sports for all ages. Renowned for its architectural heritage and sites of natural beauty, you will find that paddling is a great way to relax and have fun whilst enjoying the scenery.

Shortly before sunset, or at dawn, following the preparation of the flight you can take off with Lionel, a professional balloonist and paraglider who has been working as a guide in Dordogne for more than 15 years.

Also known as the Truffle train, it will take you on a journey of 8 miles (13 Km) round trip, more than 80 meters (260 feet) high cliff, giving a wonderful panorama of the Dordogne Valley.

Experience the beautiful Vezere valley and its prehistoric sites on horse back.

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.

The restaurant of this excellent 4-star hotel is one of the best in the region. The manor building is set in beautiful grounds, and chef, Ludovic Lavaud, harmoniously matches local products and traditional cuisine with a touch of oriental perfume. The cave is exceptional too.

At the top of the hills of Monbazillac, surrounded by vineyards, the shady terraces and dining rooms of this restaurant offer an unforgettable panoramic view. The chef, Marie Rougier, produces a fine dining menu from seasonal products.

This restaurant offers various possibilities for dining in the same place: a fine restaurant serving modern French cuisine, a bistro with local and seasonal dishes, and a tea room. There is also a beautiful sunny garden overlooking the vineyards.

Chez Alain is located in the beautiful medieval village of Issigeac, known for its colourful market on Sunday. The chef, Sébastien, offers a refined and colourful cuisine using fresh and seasonal produce. The stone walls and old beams give off a warm atmosphere inside and it has a pretty outdoor area.

The beautiful Abbeye de Beaulieu-en-Rouergue was established in 1144 in the valley of the Seye by the Bishop of Rodez. This Cistercian abbey had a successful existence for many years and was expanded in the 17th and 18th centuries. It went into decline as the monastic discipline was relaxed but was saved from ruin in 1960 when it was subject to extensive renovation and turned into a contemporary arts centre which holds a number of temporary exhibitions each year.

In Cajarc, the George Pompidou arts centre holds a number of significant art exhibitions each year designed at promoting new trends in contemporary art. It was founded in 1989 and named after the former Prime Minister who spent time here.

Originally built by the lords of La Popie from the 9th century onwards, the château was sold to the de Gourdon family in the 12th century where it remained until the 17th century. Significant restoration work was undertaken in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to maintain this Renaissance palace. Today, a number of Renaissance frescoes discovered over the years can be viewed in its rooms.

This prehistoric cave is situated on a limestone plateau in the Lot valley, in an area speckled with prehistoric remains and megalithic monuments. The cave was discovered in 1965 and is a remarkable subterranean museum. Over 400 metres in length, it preserves human footprints, clay quarries, fireplaces, tools, and many bones. Some of the cave network was used as tombs; nearly 30 skeletons have been discovered dating as far back as the Copper Age. There is also a museum with a good archaeological collection.

This museum is dedicated to Figeac-born Egyptologist Jean-François Champollion who was the first person to interpret Egyptian hieroglyphics from the Rosetta Stone in 1822. As well as charting the course of his short life, this museum depicts the history of script from a number of different languages and has a collection of ancient Egyptian relics.

This huge cave , more than two kilometres long, has seven large halls open to the public. Its lower prehistoric chambers were discovered by teenagers in the 1920s. They contain prehistoric paintings and sketches, human footprints and limestone rock formations which include cave pearls. The huge Chapelle des Mammoths is the first stop, which contains impressive art that uses the contours of the rock perfectly. There are literally hundreds of drawings. The museum is good, displaying a diverse collection of artefacts.

Formerly the capital of the old province of Quercy, Cahors is the largest town in the Lot valley. The site was inhabited by the Cadurci tribe in Roman-Gaul times. 

The riverside town of Saint-Céré is a lovely place to base yourself for excursions in the region. The La Bave river winds its way through the centre of the town and its old buildings have been carefully restored, retaining their timber vaulting or Renaissance stonework. 

Perched on the side of a cliff, in a gorge above the river Alzou, this medieval town has a breathtaking setting.

Picturesque village typical of Quercy. The traditional houses have corbelled fronts, brown-tiled roofs and pigeon lofts built into their walls.

The main town of the area between 1800 and 1926, it was all but destroyed during the floods of 1930, which caused devastation across the entire south west of France and counted as a 100 year flood.

Carennac has been previously voted 'One of the 'Most Beautiful Villages in France' and it's easy to see why. The blonde stone and red-brown roofs of its buildings have tall chimneys and are adorned with creepers that turn red in the autumn.