Uncover the Top 12 Must-See Sights
Your hosts have personally explored the North Dordogne and carefully selected their top 12 favourite attractions and activities for you to enjoy. This will give you a delightful glimpse into what this area has to offer. Additionally, within the gite, you'll have access to a folder brimming with local leaflets that showcase hidden gems and unique events often overlooked in traditional tourist guidebooks.
Benedictine Abbey in Brantome
Brantome
BRANTOME is an attractive town on the northern edge of the Dordogne, sometimes referred to as the Venice of the Perigord. The 8th-century abbey, founded by Charlemagne, began life as habitable caves that can be visited at night during the peak holiday season. Brantome has a beautiful mix of medieval and Renaissance architecture and is rated as one of 'Les Plus Beaux Detours' in France.
What to do/see there:
- Benedictine Abbey
- Grottes de L’Abbaye
- Oldest bell tower in France
- Artist Ferdinand Desmoulin Museum
- Jardins Tranquille
- Dronne river cruise
- Canoeing
- Chateau de la Hierce
- Le Bimbillou Parc Industrial Heritage Museum
Cobbled back streets of St Jean de Cole
Saint-Jean-de-Cole
SAINT-JEAN-DE-COLE is officially classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France. It's a photographer's dream with its ochre-coloured houses, half-timbered buildings, and renowned tiled roofs. The stunning 12th-century Chateau de la Marthonie (private) dominates the main square. In summer, it's the perfect place to stop off for lunch by the river.
In May, thousands of visitors flock to buy at the famous 'Florelies' flower and plant fair.
There are 15 more of these beautiful villages to see in our region
What to do/see there:
- Roman-Byzantine Church of St. John the Baptist
- The old bridge and the miller's house
- The priory with its cloister
- Clovis Reymond's old distillery shop
Grotte de Villars prehistoric living
Grotte de Villars
GROTTE DE VILLARS is a vast natural cave formed in the Jurassic period, full of spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. This cave is unique because it also features prehistoric paintings, including a rare depiction of a human figure. The world heritage site of Lascaux is where visitors flock, but the caves you see there are replicas of the original due to the deterioration of the original. What is magical about Villars is that you see the original cave paintings.
Outside, a trail features replica houses that prehistoric people might have lived in, animals they may have hunted, and plants they may have cultivated, all accompanied by informative panels.
Wednesday street market at Piegut-Pluvier
Piegut-Pluviers
Lining the pretty streets of this quaint village is an important market that has been held here on Wednesday mornings since 1642. Today it's one of the largest markets in South West France where you will find everything from artisan foods, arts and crafts, clothes, plants and even livestock.
It's a great place to join the locals or maybe just watch from a cafe viewpoint. You will find a superb selection of regional items not only from the Dordogne but as it sits on the border of the Charente, products from that region too including the fragrant Charante melons. For guests who fly, don't forget the gite has its own coolbox, perfect for lunch treats!
Finally, if you are looking for gifts to take home, do look out for the famous Charante slippers and maybe visit the nearby slipper museum inside the castle in Varaignes.
The spectacular Chateau Jumilhac
Jumilhac-le-Grand
Jumilhac le Grand is a small hillside village dominated by one of the finest chateaux in the Perigord, listed as a national monument. Its spectacular fairytale roof is unique in France (it supposedly was the inspiration for Walt Disney's castle) and it has beautiful terraced gardens. During the summer you can dine at a restaurant right next to the fountain and then at 9.30 pm take a castle tour under candlelight, which is highly recommended.
What to do and see there:
- 12th-century Chateau Jumilhac
- River walks
- Hiking
- Gold Museum
Saint-Yrieix-La-Perche Town Hall
Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche
SAINT-YRIEIX-LA-PERCHE is a picturesque medieval town located in the Limousin region and is one of the ‘Plus Beaux Detours de France’. It was here that kaolin (white clay) was first mined in the 18th century from a nearby quarry in Marcognac and used to develop the famous Limoges porcelain. Kaolin was discovered in 1768 by J.B. Darnet at a site now known as the Village of Porcelain.
We love it for its great mix of small, independent shops, including those specialising in wine, cheese, and chocolate, porcelain and brocante.
What to do and see there:
- 12th-century church
- Gardens of the Maison du Patrimonie
- Cultural centre with an illustrated 12th-century Bible
- Tourist Information Office Heritage tour
- Porcelain MP Samie outlet shop
- Saturday market
Nearby:
- Marcognac Terre de Porcelaine (Historic monument)
- Village de la Porcelaine outlet and museum
- Chateau Bonneval
The old medieval streets of Limoges
Limoges
LIMOGES is the 'capital' of the Haute-Vienne department and of the Limousin region. With a long history dating back to the early Middle Ages, its early status was closely linked to the porcelain industry. The city is large and is divided into two parts: the high village and the area around the cathedral and station. In between are many narrow cobbled streets full of artisan boutiques and charming eateries. Impressionist artist Renoir was born here, and his paintings can be seen at the L’Eveche Museum. There is much to excite porcelain lovers, including the Adrien Debouche Museum. This not only boasts the most extensive collection of Limoges porcelain in the world, but also features other works that represent the greatest stages in the history of ceramics.
Ville Haute
- Jardin d’Orsay
- Quartiere de la Boucherie
- Saint Aurelien's chapel
- Church of St Michel de Lions
- Les Halles (covered market)
- Verdurier Pavilion
Cathedral District
- Saint-Etienne Cathedral
- Museum de Beaux-Arts
- L’Eveche Garden and Museum
- Resistance Museum
- Boulevard Louis Blanc – Porcelain makers' street
- Limoges Benedictine Art Deco Railway Station
- Adrien-Debouche National Porcelaine Museum
- Casseaux Oven Museum (Porcelaine furnace)
- Bernardaud Porcelaine and outlet
- Limoges Town Hall
The preserved village of Oradour-sur-Glane
Oradour-sur-Glane
ORADOUR-SUR-GLANE is known in France as the village whose inhabitants and contents were destroyed in the last months of World War II. It has been preserved in its bombed and burnt-out state as a poignant tribute and memorial to those who perished.
Visit the museum to learn all the details about what happened during the events and then explore the village at your leisure with its rubble and burnt-out buildings and the places where 643 people lost their lives on that fateful day.
All of our guests have visited here and highly recommend it.
St Front Cathedral Perigueux
Perigueux
PERIGUEUX the capital of the Dordogne is an ancient city, dominated by its UNESCO Byzantine cathedral a model for the Sacre Coeur, Paris. Many small streets radiate from here with Medieval and Renaissance buildings. Perigueux is also home to perhaps the best Roman remains outside Rome, featuring a superb glass-roofed Gallo-Roman villa. The city’s most famous building is the 14th Century ‘Maison de Patissier’ from where Perigueux's ‘pate de foie gras’ is said to have been first made. Food is important here and nothing illustrates that better than the bustling market on Saturday morning. Afterwards, take time for lunch and people-watching from delightful leafy corner cafes.
What to do and see there:
- Cathedral St-Front
- Saturday food market
- Maison de Patissier
- St Etienne Church
- Vesunna Gallo Roman Museum
- Vesunna Temple 2AD
- The Military Museum
- Perigord Museum of Art and Archaeology
- Tourist train
Chateau de Pompadour
Arnac-Pompadour
ARNAC-POMPADOUR is situated just over the border in the Corrèze department and is home to the national stud. Sun King Louis XV gifted the chateau there to his favourite, the Marquis de Pompadour (AKA Madame Pompadour).
The racecourse opened in 1837 and is one of the most beautiful in France. We can highly recommend attending one of the summer racing fixtures for a fun day out. With an additional 150 other equestrian events held throughout the year, it's an absolute must for horse lovers.
What to do and see there;
- Orangerie stables
- Racecourse
- Puy Marmont equestrian stadium
- Chateau de Pompadour
- 14th-century Saint Yreix fountain
Chateau Chalus Chabrol
Chateau de Chalus Chabrol
CHATEAU DE CHALUS CHABROL. It was in this medieval castle in 1199, whilst Richard I (Richard the Lionheart) was besieging Chalus,that he was hit by a crossbow bolt and died days later. It's reputed that his entrails are buried in the ruined chapel. For those interested in this period of history, you can follow the ‘Richard the Lionheart Trail’, which includes several locations in the region that he may have visited during his time here.
What to do and see there:
- Tour the Chateau de Chalus Chabrol, and see the room where Richard I took his last breath.
- Chateau de Chalus Malmart (ruins)
- Eco-museum (open in summer)
- Visit the Hotel Saxo, where TE Lawrence (AKA Lawrence of Arabia) stayed as a student studying 11th-century architecture.
Velorail 5-seater bikes at Cognac Sur L'isle
Velorail du Perigold Vert
VELORAIL DU PERIGORD VERT offers a very different and fun way to spend an afternoon on an old disused railway line. The Velorail is basically a small coach on four wheels that moves by pedal power. One or two people take the saddles whilst up to three others can sit back and enjoy the journey. With minimal effort, the journey is a very pleasant one through the glorious countryside, via viaducts and railway stations.
There are a number of Velorails operating in the same manner in France, this one operates a number of different routes throughout the year between Cognac Sur L'isle to Thiviers.
Things to See & Do
Mialet
The charming village of Mialet is located in the Dordogne, South West France in the Aquitaine region.
Top 12 Attractions
There are many places to visit and things to do in this area. Here are your host's top 12 favourites.
What to See in Our Region
There are countless places to visit within a 2-hour radius of Miallet. Here are the main sites including drive time and distance.
Where & What to Eat
Eating out is a fabulous experience in this part of France and there is a huge variety of establishments to choose from.
Festivals & Events
Annual calendar of festivals & events in the Dordogne and nearby departments.
Sports & Outdoors
The North Dordogne or Perigord Vert is a perfect location for those with a great affinity to the great outdoors.