La Roque Gageac is classified as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. Much like Rocamadour, the village seems as if built into a cliffside. This cliff, rising steeply from the Dordogne, is entirely south-facing, which results in a microclimate prevailing in La Roque Gageac, evidenced by its exotic flora.

A visit to the town by definition means climbing. For those that would like to get away from the crowds, there is a beautiful, slightly longer walk up the hill (4 km, 220 m elevation), with a viewpoint at the top offering magnificent views over the valley.

A little further downstream, also on the North bank of the Dordogne, lies Beynac, a nine-hundred-year-old castle that was regularly in conflict with its neighbor, the Castle of Castelnaud, during the 100-year war. Both the exterior and the interior of the castle of Beynac are worth seeing.

Are you done walking but you still feel like some sightseeing? Then hop on a boat and see La Roque Gageac and the castles of Beynac and Castelnaud from the water. The tour goes by ‘gabarre’, which is a flatboat on which goods were transported in the past towards Bordeaux and its harbor.

The Lascaux caves are located in the valley of the Vézère, which is in the Dordogne department, our neighboring department. All in all the beautiful drive takes about half an hour. Visiting the authentic caves is no longer possible, because they are so fragile that they were closed to the public a few decades ago. Luckily, the art of replica building is so refined that you will believe you are in a real cave when you visit ‘Lascaux 4’. Lascaux attracts a lot of tourists every day, so online reservations are highly recommended. We would be more than happy to help you book online.

Lascaux is part of the municipality of Montignac on the banks of the Vézère. Montignac is a charming town perfectly suited to wandering around. There are terraces and restaurants, the ideal place for an extensive afternoon stop.

On your way back to Le Manoir and Souillac, it only takes a little extra effort to drive past Saint-Amand-de-Coly. This village is also on the list of ‘Les Plus Beaux Villages de France’. The village is built around a 12th century fortified abbey which forms a uniform and harmonious whole with the old houses around it. In the village itself three signed walking circuits have been developed, providing you with an explanation of the history of nature of Saint-Amand. Also fun for children.

Sarlat-la-Canéda is originally a medieval city, which flourished especially during the Renaissance. In the 1960s the entire city center was renovated and the result is impressive: no better description than ‘Bruges’ of the Perigord. Just like Bruges, it is of course rather touristy, especially the Saturday market in the high season, which makes for a warm and hospitable atmosphere. For those that wish to skip the Saturday crowds, they also hold a market on Wednesdays.

To reach Domme one must climb: the town peaks at 150 m above the Dordogne. Domme is an old fortified city, a bastide. A large part of the original city walls, including three city gates, have been preserved. The city gates used to serve as a prison, and graffiti carved by imprisoned Templars in it in 1307 can still be found in one of them. In the past, the magical view over the valley of the Dordogne was important for strategic reasons, today fills just as important a role as one of the major assets of this exceptionally beautiful town. Did you already visit the giant labyrinth in the area? If you have not, now is a good time.