Le Domaine De Saint Pons Villa, Villars

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 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.