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A discovery tour of the châteaux of the Périgord

A castle-hopping break in the Most Beautiful Villages of the Périgord

4-DAY / 3-NIGHT BREAK DEPARTING FROM BORDEAUX

Castelnaud, Milandes, Beynac… The names of these illustrious castles are renowned throughout the Dordogne and contribute to the fame of the Périgord and its Les Plus Beaux Villages de France!

During your stay, you’ll set off to explore these castles using two unique modes of transport: a hot-air balloon and a gabarre (a traditional Dordogne boat).

To get your stay off to a great start, book accommodation in the heart of the Périgord’s ‘Golden Triangle’, between Domme, Beynac-et-Cazenac, and Castelnaud-la-Chapelle. From here, you can easily explore the whole of the Dordogne. Whether you’re staying at a campsite, in a hotel or in a self-catering accommodation, you’ll find a few suggestions below.

Day 1: Departure from Bordeaux and a stop-off in Limeuil

In Bordeaux, hire a car or take your own, and join the A89 motorway towards Périgueux / Brive-la-Gaillarde. Take exit 16 and follow signs for Le Bugue / Sarlat on the D710.

You’ve been driving for 2 hours. Take a break in Limeuil to visit the park of the former château , which offers a refreshing stroll through its playful and educational gardens. You’ll also enjoy a breathtaking view of the confluence of the Dordogne and Vézère rivers.

If it’s time for lunch, there are places to eat near the confluence and the beach areas – whether you fancy a picnic or a meal on a restaurant terrace!

Then head back to your accommodation and make the most of your free time to visit the villages of La Roque-Gageac or Domme and, why not, have dinner there.

Day 2: Exploring the castles of the Périgord from the air

Who hasn’t dreamt of taking a hot-air balloon ride? The landscapes and castles of the Dordogne Valley provide the perfect setting for your first flight. Of course, you’ll have made sure to book your introductory flight well in advance of your stay and to check the weather with your pilot, to ensure your flight takes place in complete safety.

We recommend two options for your flight.

  • image de l'activité Montgolfières du Périgord

    Montgolfières du Périgord

    Activités sportives / culturelles / séjour itinérants
     La Roque-Gageac
  • image de l'activité Montgolfières et Châteaux

    Montgolfières et Châteaux

    Activités sportives / culturelles / séjour itinérants
     Beynac-et-Cazenac

Are you ready? In the early morning (or at sunset if you’re not a morning person), take to the skies above the Dordogne valley. From up there, discover stunning landscapes where nature blends with some of the Périgord’s most beautiful cultural sites, including the châteaux of Fayrac, Lacoste, Beynac and Castelnaud. You’ll be able to see nearly seven castles during the flight, and it’s not unusual to spot several at once.

Seen from the sky: les Plus Beaux Villages de France in Beynac-et-Cazenac, La Roque-Gageac, Domme or Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, will look like scenes straight out of a model-making kit. Fancy seeing what’s in store for you? Check out our partner’s photo blog.

On the day of your visit, make the most of any spare time you have (before or after your flight) to visit the Beynac-et-Cazenac Castle, one of the most authentic fortified castles in the Dordogne. During your visit, you’ll embark on an exceptional journey through the different eras of the Middle Ages, from Simon de Montfort to the Hundred Years’ War, from Richard the Lionheart to the Lords of Beynac. From this sentinel, perched atop its 14th-century keep rising more than 150 metres above the river, you can admire the splendid panoramic view over the Dordogne, highly recommended by tourist guides. Admission: €9.50

When it comes to dining, there are plenty of restaurants to choose from in Beynac, either near the castle or by the Dordogne. Choose your view, your meal, and enjoy your meal!

Day 3: exploring the châteaux from the river

After marvelling at the landscapes of the Dordogne from the air, we invite you to immerse yourself in the river. Board a gabarre – a traditional Dordogne boat – at Beynac, opposite the post office at the foot of the car park.

During your 50-minute guided cruise, you’ll discover four of the Périgord’s most beautiful castles from your boat:

  • Beynac Castle, towering 150 metres above the river,
  • Marqueyssac Castle and its hanging gardens,
  • Fayrac Castle on the south bank of the Dordogne,
  • Castelnaud Castle, standing imposingly on its rocky outcrop.

Gabarre cruises are available from April to October, at a price of €8.50 (children: €5).

And it is in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle that we invite you to visit after this refreshing walk. Castelnaud-la-Chapelle boasts no fewer than three castles, two of which are open to the public and are unmissable during your stay.

Start with the Castelnaud Castle. This building, which you’ve been able to admire from the air and from the river, dates back to the 12th century and is an excellent example of medieval fortifications, even though it has undergone several phases of destruction and reconstruction over the centuries: the Cathar Wars, the Hundred Years’ War, abandonment during the Revolution, and reconstruction from 1965 onwards by Philippe Rossillon, then mayor of Beynac-et-Cazenac. Now a medieval museum, it houses a collection of over 250 items of weapons and armour (chain mail, swords, slings, bombards, crossbows…) waiting for you to discover. One of the rooms in the main building will surprise you with its painted décor, which was highly prized in the late Middle Ages: ‘Les Neuf Preux’ (The Nine Valiant), depicting pagan, Jewish and Christian chivalric heroes. Models, videos, reconstructions of medieval costumes and a medieval garden round off the visit. Admission from €9.90.

Second visit to Castelnaud, the Château des Milandes, where you can have lunch at the brasserie. It was the de Caumont family, owners of Castelnaud Castle, who had the château built in the 15th century to please Madame, who found the living quarters at Castelnaud Castle not quite to her taste. But the Château des Milandes is better known today for having been the home of Josephine Baker in the 20th century (the château also holds the ‘Maison des Illustres’ designation). During your tour of the château, as well as learning about its architectural features and the Caumont family, you’ll discover all about the extraordinary life of this big-hearted African-American artist. The château’s gardens, classified as a ‘Jardin Remarquable’, round off the visit. Admission: €12.

This action-packed day cannot end without dinner in the fortified bastide of Domme, where, from the esplanade, you can admire a view that brings together all the places you’ve visited: land, river, sky, châteaux and villages.

Day 4: Return to Bordeaux

It’s the last day. Before heading home, don’t miss out on visiting the nearby villages you haven’t yet had a chance to see: La Roque-Gageac and its exotic garden, Domme and its fortified gates, and a little further afield (30–45 mins), Belvès and its cave dwellings, or even the bastide town of Monpazier and its square.

On the way back, take the country roads south of Bergerac to Ribagnac to visit Bridoire Castle, another Dordogne castle renowned for offering a wide range of educational games on history. It’s a great way to stretch your legs and give your brain a workout on the journey!