Best 10 things to do in the Dordogne
The Dordogne is known for its rolling hills, medieval villages and chateaus perched over the river. It’s often called “the real France” and gets around 3 million visitors a year.
We’ve visited the Dordogne on many occasions, staying at our favourite Dordogne campsite, Saint Avit Loisirs. Here are our top 10 things to do with kids, beyond just admiring the scenery.
- 1. Become a knight at Castelnaud le Château
- 2. Run around the Jardins de Marqueyssac
- 3. Taste local delicacies in Sarlat la Canéda
- 4. Become a palaeontologist at Prehisto Parc
- 5. Imagine you’re on a film set in Beynac et Cazenac
- 6. Activity hop in Le Bugue
- 7. Kayak at La Roque-Gageac
- 8. View the Dordogne from the sky in a hot air balloon
- 9. Ride the tourist train in Domme
- 10. Explore the prehistoric caves
1. Become a knight at Castelnaud le Château
Our favourite family activity in the Dordogne is Castelnaud le Château. It helps that I was watching Game of Thrones at the time, but this place is impressive on its own.
The castle is filled with medieval weaponry and they give demonstrations on how to use a trebuchet. Other themed tours include costume visits, a medieval show and blacksmith demonstrations.
- Good for: families who love a bit of medieval drama
- On offer: trebuchet demonstrations, costume visits, blacksmith shows
2. Run around the Jardins de Marqueyssac
Just over the river from Castelnaud, the Marqueyssac gardens are a great place for younger ones to let off steam, with panoramic views across the valley for the grown-ups.
Kids will love the peacocks roaming freely and the mazes. There’s also an educational trail that teaches them about the flora, fauna, geography and history of the Dordogne valley.
- Good for: letting little legs run free, hilltop views
- On offer: peacocks, mazes, an educational nature trail
3. Taste local delicacies in Sarlat la Canéda
We know exploring towns isn’t a kids’ favourite, but mums and dads need something for themselves now and then. Sarlat is the most famous town in the Dordogne, lovely for a nice lunch, a relaxing coffee and a quick shop.
We loved the medieval streets and the well-kept buildings. It’s a gastronomic hub too, so if you like foie gras you’ll find plenty of it here. Visit on a Saturday or Wednesday for the town’s market, with fresh, locally sourced food.
If the children get restless, there’s a kids’ play park called Parc du Plantier just around the corner, with picnic benches for lunch.
- Market days: Wednesday and Saturday
- Nearby: Parc du Plantier play park and picnic benches
4. Become a palaeontologist at Prehisto Parc
This prehistoric walk takes you round a trail all about our ancestors. Life-size scenes depict the first Neanderthal hunter-gatherers and Cro-Magnons, with prehistoric animal footprints along the nature trails.
It’s an entertaining and educational day out.
- Good for: curious kids who like dinosaurs and early humans
- On offer: life-size Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon scenes, nature trails
5. Imagine you’re on a film set in Beynac et Cazenac
You might recognise this spot from films like Chocolat and Ever After. Classified as one of the most beautiful villages in France, Beynac sits 10km west of Sarlat on the Dordogne riverbank.
Like Castelnaud, there’s a medieval castle here, perched on a cliff edge with nine centuries of history. The village itself is lovely for a stroll, with well-kept medieval buildings.
- Distance: 10km west of Sarlat
- Good for: a castle visit plus a gentle wander round the village
6. Activity hop in Le Bugue
Le Bugue is a small Dordogne village on the Vézère river, and a bit of a tourist hub, so there’s plenty for kids and families to do. It’s home to the Aquarium du Périgord Noir, which pulls in tourists from across the Dordogne.
There’s also a prehistoric labyrinth, a giant climbing frame called “Big Bird” (the tallest in Europe), jungle golf, an 18-hole mini-golf course, and Parc Bournat, a reconstructed village theme park set in the 1900s.
Our campsite, Saint-Avit Loisirs, is well placed for exploring Le Bugue, just a short car journey away.
- On offer: aquarium, prehistoric labyrinth, mini-golf, Parc Bournat
- Distance: a short car journey from Saint-Avit Loisirs
7. Kayak at La Roque-Gageac
La Roque-Gageac is another stunning village to wander round, and it’s a great spot to set off on a kayak trip, sailing up and down the river, castle hunting and taking in the Dordogne scenery.
This village was one of our favourites on the trip. It’s built right into the rock, similar to Beynac, with bars, restaurants and cafes lining the front row.
- Book via: Canoe Vacances
- Good for: a mix of kayaking and a village wander
8. View the Dordogne from the sky in a hot air balloon
Not for the fainthearted (or the tight wallets), hot air balloon tours are a popular activity for families with older children. It’s an incredible way to see the river and the chateaus from a completely different angle to the ground.
- Good for: families with older children, special occasions
- Note: pricier than most activities on this list
9. Ride the tourist train in Domme
Another charming Dordogne village, but this one’s a bit different for kids. Domme has a cute little tourist train that younger ones love riding on.
It’s also a great spot to grab an ice cream and admire the green countryside across the Dordogne valley.
- Good for: younger children, easy views of the valley
10. Explore the prehistoric caves
Prehistoric history dominates the Dordogne, known as one of the first birthplaces of human evolution knowledge. There are prehistoric paintings and caves nearly everywhere you turn.
So while this is really just one “thing to do,” there’s a whole list of places you can do it. The most popular sites include:
Where to stay nearby
Where to stay? Our Dordogne campsites guide has the four parcs we’ve stayed at, with pitch and mobile home prices.
FAQ
Is the Dordogne good for families with young kids?
Yes. Spots like Marqueyssac, Domme’s tourist train and Prehisto Parc are all gentle enough for younger children, with plenty of space to run around.
How far apart are these places?
Most of these sights cluster around Sarlat, Beynac and Le Bugue, so you can easily combine a few in one day out.
Do I need to book the hot air balloon in advance?
Book ahead, especially in peak season, as flights have limited spaces.
What’s the best base to explore the Dordogne from?
We stayed at Saint Avit Loisirs near Le Bugue, which puts you within easy reach of Sarlat, Beynac and the caves.
That’s our pick of the best things to do in the Dordogne with kids. Have fun exploring!
