13 Epic Things to Do in the Dordogne in France (And 2 Things You Can Skip!)

I cannot believe it took me 14 years of exploring France and even a stint of living here to FINALLY visit the Dordogne! So here are the most epic things to do in the Dordogne to make the most of your trip depending on your time frame!

It may have taken me years to finally visit, but it was worth the wait. I’ve heard tales of the Dordogne for years: dramatic cliffs along the river, the many fairytale castles, and that feeling like you’re in the true heart of France.

So when I spent some time here in April, I couldn’t wait to dive into this part of the country! Needless to say, it quickly jumped up my list of the best places to visit.

Without further ado, let’s talk about the 13 best things to do in the Dordogne (and a couple of things that may be worth skipping).

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My Experience in the Dordogne 

I spent 3 days in the Dordogne (also known as Périgord) in April during a larger road trip through the Southwest of France which also included time in Rocamadour, Cahors, Albi, Carcassonne, and Toulouse.

And I don’t want to pick favorites, but the Dordogne was truly special. I stayed in the magical Medieval town of Sarlat-la-Canéda, kayaked on the Dordogne River in the morning, visited Lascaux IV, and even frolicked in a couple of fairytale castles.

Now, being a shorter visit, I didn’t get to see it all. But 3 days was enough for a taste that will have me yearning for a return trip to explore deeper. 

This list includes some of my favorite things I experienced while here but also some that I didn’t get the chance to see and have on my list for a future visit! 

I also include things that may be worth skipping depending on your time frame. 

1. Explore Sarlat-la-Canéda.

This is a must-visit place if you’re going to the Dordogne. In fact, this is one of the places that most people tend to visit. It’s a charming Medieval town near the Dordogne River. It’s also a key place in the Périgord Noir part of the Dordogne. 

It has the most charming market, which I highly recommend visiting on market days (Wednesday morning or on Saturday). There are locally made goods, including foods and crafts. It is well worth perusing. 

But this town has golden stone buildings with soft colored shutters, cobblestone streets, and even a little statue of geese. It’s full of charm and a must-visit.

Sarlat was the first place we visited and where we stayed during our time in the Dordogne. We fell in love immediately! We were there in April too, so we were also delighted by the wisteria growing all over the place.

If you can visit in the spring, do it. This place can be super busy in the summertime. The spring sees far fewer crowds and is so peaceful.

Some things to see while in Sarlat (other than the market) include the Saint-Sacerdos Cathedral and Place de la Liberté. 

I also highly recommend a chocolatine and baguette from Maison Lissajoux. 

2. Kayak on the Dordogne River.

If there is one must-do thing in the Dordogne, it may be to kayak on the Dordogne River.

I did this in the morning/early afternoon one day while I was here, and it was magical. For starters, there are dramatic cliffs along the river that make the whole landscape stunning.

Second, you have the chance to kayak past chateaux perched on said cliffs! Again, super unique and gorgeous!

And third, the birdlife is great to witness! I saw a goose fly right past me, and I even saw a couple of birds with locked talons doing a spin in the air. It was so neat to see! 

Now there are many routes you could take along the river, but a popular one is Vitrac to Beynac, which is about 2.5 hours plus stops should you choose to do that.

Now, because of river issues further toward Beynac during my visit, I ended up doing the Carsac to La Roque-Gageac route. I still saw a castle and so many cliffs, so I was happy! 

Book your kayak adventure here! I enjoyed Périgord Aventure et Loisirs. 

3. La Roque-Gageac.

I actually went to La Roque-Gageac twice. Once briefly after kayaking on the Dordogne, and another time for an evening to have dinner and walk around.

Both times were spectacular! It’s right along the river, and you can ride little flat bottomed boats, climb up to the Fort de la Roque-Gageac, and even see hot air balloons floating in the sky in the evening!

We really enjoyed this charming commune with some lovely riverside scenery. For a good dinner, definitely dine at La Belle Etoile. Their menu was great from start to finish–and you’ll want to taste some walnut wine!

4. Ride a Hot Air Balloon.

Now I didn’t have time to do this, as it is quite the excursion either in the morning or evening. 

However, you can book a hot air balloon ride to ride over the castles and river for breathtaking views around sunset/sunrise! 

This is definitely on my list for next time and when the extra funds allow, as it is a bit pricey! 

This was the company we looked at!

5. Château de Beynac.

Located in the stunning village of Beynac-et-Cazenac, this is one of the most famous of the castles in the Dordogne. In fact, did you know that the Dordogne is known as the “Land of 1,001 Castles”? 

This is one of the best preserved Medieval castles of the region. Oh, and the fact that it sits perched over the Dordogne River, makes this a stunning place to visit in general.

I highly recommend going inside, exploring the interior, and then admiring all the views from various vantage points here. This castle dates back to the 12th century and is an incredible thing to see in the Dordogne.

I actually visited here after kayaking the Dordogne. The original plan was to kayak here and visit, but with the river closure, I got cleaned up and came here afterward. Still so worth it!

6. Explore the Ever After Filming Locations.

Something I learned earlier this year was that the famous movie Ever After: A Cinderella Story from 1998 starring Drew Barrymore was filmed in the Dordogne!

Yes, I assumed it was filmed either at a set or perhaps the Loire Valley, given the time frame, but they actually filmed on location in the Dordogne!

And you can visit many filming locations and chateaux while here! I even have a whole guide on how to visit the Ever After filming locations.

Here are some places to check out:

• Château de Hautefort. This is the main castle used in filming and was the royal residence. This was incredible to see in person and will take you back to this amazing film!
• Sarlat: Yes, this was used in filming too for the market scene. 
• Château de Beynac: Yup, this was a filming location for Pierre Le Pieu’s home.
• Château de Fenelon: This served as part of the exterior of Danielle’s home. 
• Château de Losse: This was used when Rodmilla and Margueritte were sentenced to a life of servitude. 
• Dordogne River: Yes, even the river was where “it looks like rain” happened. 

7. Go Wine Tasting in Bergerac.

Sadly, time didn’t allow for me to visit Bergerac, part of the Perigord Pourpre (or Purple Perigord). This is where you can sip amazing Dordogne wine.

While I did explore Cahors (the birthplace of Malbec) in the Lot Department on this trip, I didn’t make it to Bergerac. 

Some grapes grown here include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. Whereas you’ll see Sauvignon blanc and Sémillon for white wines as well. Monbazillac is a sweeter wine to look for. 

If you enjoy French wine, this is a good option during an extended stay in the Dordogne! 

8. Domme.

This is a stunning fortified town that is also one of the most beautiful villages in France. It sits on a cliff where you’ll have stunning views over the Dordogne. 

It’s a stone village with endless charm, and it is a popular town to visit during a trip there. 

Sadly, this is one I had to skip on this shorter trip, but I will be back to admire the beauty of Domme. 

Thankfully, the Dordogne is full of stunning villages that are considered Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (the Most Beautiful Villages of France) including Beynac-et-Cazenac and La Roque-Gageac. 

Some things to do here other than admire its charm include visiting the Belvedere Square, visit the Grotte de Domme, and checking out the ramparts (including the mysterious old graffiti!).

9. Visit Marqueyssac Gardens.

Now this is well worth doing as one of the best things to do in the Dordogne! 

We briefly visited here after Chateau de Beynac, and I honestly wish we had more time! We did see the iconic hedge view with the charming house in the garden. Also, we walked around and enjoyed some viewpoints and some other interesting sections of the garden. 

However, this is a massive garden to explore with viewpoints over the Dordogne throughout! It can take 45 minutes or so just to reach the end! I would allocate at least 2-3 hours here if you want to see most of the gardens and viewpoints!

Regardless, there is plenty to see and do here that could fill up a good chunk of time. It’s well worth the time to visit!

10. Go to Lascaux IV.

There is a good chance that if you’re a history-lover that you’ve learned about Lascaux Cave. It was discovered in 1940 by kids, and my goodness what a discovery! This cave has paintings dating back about 21,000 years! 

Sadly, though, the real cave closed to the public in the 1960s because with all the visitors the paintings began to deteriorate. However, they have built a couple of replicas. 

Lascaux IV is an exact 100% replica of the cave that you can visit. So while you can’t go to the real one, you can get a full picture of what it looks like. Plus, there is an interactive museum to explore afterward with tons of information on what they’ve found, how the paintings were made, and more!

They even have an exhibit about how these kind of paintings popped up all over the world! 

This was so cool to explore, and we were awe-inspired by the whole thing! We did a guided tour in English, and they have guided tours in English, French, and sometimes other languages. 

You can also opt for an audioguide. 

Just know that photography is prohibited in the cave, but allowed in the museum! Book tours/tickets in advance!

11. Explore Other Caves in the Dordogne.

Lascaux isn’t the only cave in the Dordogne! In fact, the southwest of France contains many caves, including real painted caves you can visit! 

Grotte de Rouffignac is another cave in the Dordogne, and it is a real painted cave you can visit. You take a guided tour via train, and they offer tours in French, English, and Spanish. This is known as the “Cave of a Hundred Mammoths” as this has many mammoth drawings. 

Grotte de Font-du-Gaume is another painted cave you can visit, and you can do a tour in either French or English to see it.

There is also the chance to visit Grotte de Domme, which is a magnificent cave. It is known for its stalactites and stalagmites. It isn’t a painted cave. Gouffre de Proumeyssac is a chasm where you can be lowered down via gondola. It’s known as the “Crystal Cathedral” for its crystallizations and gorgeous formations. This is also not a painted cave, but a beautiful one.

I didn’t have time to see more than Lascaux IV in the Dordogne, but I actually visited 2 other caves during my time in Southwest France.

Be sure to book cave tours/tickets in advance!

12. Visit Brantôme. 

This is part of the Périgord Vert, or the Green Périgord. This is far less visited than the popular areas in the Périgord Noir, near Sarlat.

Known as the “Venice of Perigord” with the river cutting through it, it makes an island.

A highlight to see here is the Brantôme Abbey with an 11th century belltower. If you want to get further from the crowds of Sarlat and the southern part of the Dordogne, this is where to go. 

This is high on my bucket list for next time, as I didn’t get the chance to get here this visit! 

13. Enjoy All the Local Fare!

One of the best things about visiting the Dordogne is the food. And in a land full of historic caves and castles, that is saying something!

The Dordogne is known for its duck and goose products, so things like foie gras and duck confit are on seemingly every restaurant menu. 

This area is also known for black Périgord truffles, so this is great if you love truffles! Walnuts are also everywhere, including walnut wine, which is a fabulous sweet wine to try!

Even strawberries are a big thing here, and we were lucky enough to visit during strawberry season! I can’t remember the sheer amount of strawberries that I consumed, but I will say that these were some of the best I’ve ever had!

Between all this and the gorgeous caves and castles, you’ll quite enjoy your time here!

2 Things To Skip in the Dordogne

I’ll be up front and honest in that if you’ve got all the time in the world to enjoy the Dordogne, I’d say most things are well worth seeing! It’s a beautiful place full of wonder and delights.

It has it all for history buffs, foodies, fairytale lovers, bird watching enthusiasts, and so much more. 

But if you’re shorter on time, here are things to maybe forgo that you wouldn’t probably regret skipping.

1. Lascaux II.

While you can’t visit Lascaux I (the original), there are actually 2 replica caves: Lascaux II and Lascaux IV. If you’re curious (because I certainly was), Lascaux III is a traveling exhibit that goes around the world.

Lascaux II was built very close to the original Lascaux Cave, and it was opened in 1983. It is an exact replica of the Hall of the Bulls and the Axial Gallery, however, it is about 85-90% of a replica of the original.

Lascaux IV, on the other hand, is a complete replica. It looks very similar to the original. It was opened in 2016, and there is a great museum to accompany the visit to learn even more.

If you’ve got plenty of time, you could definitely go to both caves! However, if you’re shorter on time, as I was, I think going to Lascaux IV is a better option. 

Opt for: Lascaux IV.

2. Fort de la Roque-Gageac.

Again, if you’ve got all the time in the world, go for it! This fort perched in the cliff at La Roque-Gageac is a steep climb up to it, but offers great views. 

Thankfully, though, there are many places offering fabulous views over the Dordogne. Yes, it was a defensive refuge, and you could check it out, but I think it’s more worth it to visit other places like the castles and other iconic viewpoints if you’re shorter on time.

Opt for: Chateau de Beynac, Marqueyssac Gardens, Domme, etc.

Honorable Mentions Of Things to Do in the Dordogne

Okay, it wouldn’t be me without thinking of an honorable mention or two. But here are a couple of extra places worth going to if you’ve got time!

• Castelnaud-la-Chapelle: This is another Les Plus Beaux Villages de France with a castle perched on the Dordogne River. Yes, there are many of them. You can visit the Castelnaud Castle while here!
• Château de Milandes: This is a gorgeous 15th century castle that was also the former home of Josephine Baker. You can learn more about her life while here! 

Other Things to Do in the Dordogne Valley

While these aren’t necessarily in the Dordogne Department of France, they are in the Dordogne Valley! These are well worth seeing if you’ve got time! 

1. Rocamadour. 

Yet another Les Plus Beaux Villages de France, this is a famous village with a sanctuary carved into the cliffs. It is also a famous pilgrimage stop on the Camino de Santiago, especially for the Black Madonna in the sanctuary. It’s an all-around beautiful place to visit! 

I visited here during my Southwest France road trip, and it was delightful to explore the sanctuary, visit the village below, and even go up the Stations of the Cross path on the way back up. I also had the best duck confit at Bistrot L’Estanquet. 

Rocamadour also has its own prehistoric cave with cave paintings at Grotte des Merveilles. 

2. Gouffre de Padirac. 

Gouffre de Padirac is SO worth visiting! We explored here on the same day we went to Rocamadour, and it was epic! First of all, you go down several flights of stairs into this deep sink hole in the ground. Then, you keep going as you learn about the discovery of this cave. 

It’s not a painted cave, but it has an underground river–and you can take a boat on it!

There are also very interesting stalactites and stalagmites and other formations in the cave to see. 

We did a self-guided tour with the boat tour (they spoke English too). It was a really cool experience that I 100% recommend if you’ve got time! 

Be sure to book this in advance!

Best Things to Do in the Dordogne Map