Location: Dordogne
Top Things to do in Dordogne
Top Hotels in Dordogne
10 Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Dordogne That You Shouldn't Miss
Dordogne (French pronunciation: [dɔʁdɔɲ]; Occitan: Dordonha) is a department in southwestern France, with its prefecture in Périgueux. The department is located in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees, and is named after the Dordogne river that runs through it. It corresponds roughly with the ancient county of Périgord.
Restaurants in Dordogne
1. Les Noyeraies du Landers
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 469 reviews
Reviewed By SuzieSarahDavies - Tavistock, United Kingdom
We have just returned from Les Noyeraies Du Lander where we spent a lovely couple of hours. We were welcomed by Julien, the owner, then Manolo took over and gave us the most interesting talk about walnuts from planting, growing, harvesting and all the many processes that goes to producing high quality walnuts and other products. We sampled different coated walnuts and a cake, all quite delicious. We bought some walnut oil to take back to England, which will also remind us of a great tour. Just to say Manolo made such an effort to translate each stage into English and was a real star.
2. Cave of Font-de-Gaume
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 764 reviews
The Font-de-Gaume cave is a marvellous example of prehistoric art from the Madgalenian period with a truly remarkable group of polychrome wall paintings and engravings. For reasons of conservation, the number of visitors is limited to 180 each day with a maximum of 12 people per group. Cave of the Vezere valley designated world heritage site by UNESCO. Open: > 15th May to 15th September: from 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. > 16th September to 14th May: from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Last visit at 4 p.m. Open in accordance with conservation necessities. Closed: > Saturdays. > 1st January, 1st May, 1st November, 11th November and 25th December. Admission fees: Adults : 7,50 €; Concessions (18 to 25) = 4,50 €; Free admission: minors under 18*; Free admission: 18-25 years old* (citizens of one of the 27 countries of the EU or are non-European permanent residents of France) * excluding school groups
Reviewed By wanderingwanda855 - Berkeley, United States
We visited on Sunday, October 13, 2019 and we arrived at 7:30 a.m., two hours before the ticket window opened at 9:30 a.m. It was dark and cool (but not cold) and we got seats #3 and #4. By 9:30 a.m., only about 15 of the 30 available seats where taken, which was surprising given all the posts indicating a much higher early turnout. Perhaps because it was after peak tourist season (?). One important note is the cave is closed on Saturdays. On the Sunday we visited, they were going to allow up to 70 people to enter the Font-de-Gaume cave that day and up to 25 people into Les Combarelles. They were only offering tours in French all day for both caves. However, because the first 9-10 people in line were English speakers, they ended up changing the first tour from French to English. For our French tour of Les Combarelles in the afternoon, there were only 5 people and the two French-speaking guests in the group agreed to allow the tour guide to do the tour in both French and English, which was nice of them and helpful for us. Font de Gaume has polychromatic cave paintings while Les Combarelles has etchings, so they are very different - both are worthwhile. Since we had several hours between the two tours, we visited Le village de la Madeleine, the remains of a troglodyte and medieval village to the north, which was also interesting and worthwhile.
3. Les Combarelles
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 204 reviews
Reviewed By wanderingwanda855 - Berkeley, United States
Since it's the same line to get tickets to both caves, and the etchings in this cave are quite different from the polychromatic cave paintings at Font-de-Gaume, it is worthwhile to buy tickets to this cave if they are available, even if there are no English tours. Fewer people are allowed into this cave than Font-de-Gaume but the history is similar. So if you get an English tour at Font-de-Gaume but only a French tour to Les Combarelles, you'll already have learned about the background and history.
4. Grotte de Rouffignac
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 951 reviews
Reviewed By davide-a-g-i
We arrived there around 9.20 to find already a big queue. Could only get a place for 11:30, so I strongly recommend to get there early. That being said, the cave is gorgeous and I totally understand the way it is being protected by limiting the number of daily visitors, to avoid the fate of other famous caves like Lascaux. The train is a nice touch and the guide was clearly passionate about prehistoric art. Lovely place in a lovely region.
5. Cathedrale St-Front
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,002 reviews
Reviewed By ericVvB - Barendrecht, The Netherlands
Nice walking inside and the chandeliers take our breath away. Even when there is a service ongoing and when you are quite, You may visit parts of the building.
6. The Maison Forte de Reignac
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,128 reviews
Reviewed By Richlma
Had an excellent visit to the castle set in the rock side, Guide book in English given to us which was very informative. The have done an excellent job renovating the castle, and I am sure parents and children will thoroughly enjoy the experience. No cafe on site however, just back down the road Les Eyzies de Tayac , had several cafes and bars. An excellent day out.
7. Vesunna
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 562 reviews
UNIQUE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE Visit a unique museum in France which is protecting a vast gallo-roman house vestiges, the Vésone Domus. Opened since 2003, in the heart of archaeological and plants park, Vesunna offers a 3000 m2 itinerary of permanent presentation of antique Perigueux. AN ARCHITECTURE BY JEAN NOUVEL Jean Nouvel the building project architect has completed a great number of works throughout the world. He is in particular the architect of the Quai Branly museum in Paris. A large umbrella, which is protecting the antic walls, floats above it. From the mezzanines, an impressive view opens onto the vestiges. Further on, the high glass walls reveal the landscaped gardens of the Vesone Tower and the IVth century rampart vestiges. The building is like a window onto the past which is buried under the modern city.
Reviewed By eddie365 - Alrewas, United Kingdom
What a wonderful experience visiting this exceptional Roman villa complex that has been excavated and expertly enveloped in a weatherproof building. The space is light and airy, the attention to detail is fascinating, and you can really visualise what you are seeing and how it looked in its heyday. There is an excellent film that is worth seeing to show the development of the site and aide visualisation that runs for about 10 minutes and alternates between French and English. The audio guide is functional, and dual / triple language descriptions around the exhibit would be useful for non-French speakers, but this is not to detract fom a great experience,
8. Habitations Troglodytiques
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 178 reviews
Préparez-vous pour un véritable voyage hors du temps et découvrez le trésor caché du village. Au coeur du village médiéval de Belvès, classé parmi les Plus Beaux Villages de France, partez explorer 8 habitats souterrains qui se cachent sous la place de la halle. Passionnez-vous pour cette histoire ! Suivez le guide et descendez à 6 mètres sous terre pour découvrir la vie quotidienne des paysans qui ont occupé les lieux il y a 800 ans. Horaires : 10h30 - 11h30 - 14h30 - 15h30 - 16h30 -17h30
