Le Domaine De Saint Pons Villa, Villars

Nestled in the heart of the Quercy region at the very top of the town of Rocamadour this park allows you the chance to meet some wonderful birds.

Hire a canoe or kayak from this company and you can enjoy a gentle river cruise and the chance to explore the wonderful Dordogne river and its banks.

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.

A relatively small theme park but with a great atmosphere, plenty to do and a good day out for all of the family.

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

Passing under the limestones cliff of Beynac you will travel along the Dordogne valley to Marqueyssac and the hanging gardens, Chateau de Fayrac and Chateau de Castelnaud. 

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.

Sitting wonderfully on the central square in Tursac, this great little restaurant has an attractive garden in which to enjoy their traditional but imaginative fare. There is a good vegetarian selection and a full vegetarian set menu available if you let them know in advance.

A bright restaurant with stone walls, old wooden beams, fireplace and inviting allure, offer up culinary delights from the region. A strong focus is on local local treats and seasonality.

This traditional farm serves good quality Périgord dishes using locally-sourced ingredients from its own farm and those nearby. It also has a lovely gîte which sleeps up to five people.

With a terrace set alongside the Vezerie river and within a hotel clad in Virginia Creeper and decorated with heart, warmth and style, the restaurant is hugely inviting.

The present castle dates to 1530 when it was built by the Herm family. Its Gothic style consists of a rectangular main building flanked by two round towers. 

This Renaissance château was built in the 16th century in the village of Villars. Its architecture resembles that of many château in the Loire. It was built for Mondot de La Marthonie who was the first president of the Paris Parliament. Reasonably small in size, it was intended to be a second home where he could go hunting. The interior has been wonderfully restored and it still contains the original wooden timbers.

The caves at Villars were only discovered in 1953 by a team of pot holers from the Périgueux Caving Club who were wandering around the Cluzeau coppice. After many expeditions, over 13 kilometres of galleries and chambers were discovered with some impressive stalactites and stalagmites as well as prehistoric paintings which are thought to date to the Magdalenian period, 17,000 years ago.

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.

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.

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. 

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

This medieval town on a bend in the Dordogne grew around its 9th century Benedictine abbey of Saint-Pierre.

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.

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

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.