Activities and Trips

• Canoeing along the River Dronne at Brantome is very popular, and several businesses offer canoe hire for very reasonable rates - safe and suitable for all the family. Take a picnic and stop along the river. Life jackets and equipment are provided.  

http://www.allocanoes.com/trips.html  

http://www.brantomecanoe.com/english/index_eng.php

• Close to Brantome is the famous Grotte de Villars, with its prehistoric cave paintings, stalactites and stalagmites. There is also a picnic area, playground and woodland walks.

http://www.grotte-villars.com/en/history_cave

• Venture towards Bordeaux for a visit to a vineyard. St. Emilion is a pretty town set among beautiful scenery. You can visit many vineyards - try Chateau Bauduc, which is owned by an English couple; it's the house wine for Rick Stein and Gordon Ramsay. Phone first though.  http://www.bauduc.com/UNQ_Homepage.aspx

• If you are feeling energetic, there is tennis at the beautiful local village of Busserolles, and you will find a small but perfectly formed 10 pin bowling alley at Bussiere Badil - look out for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt who were spotted there once!  This is a good evening out followed by dinner at the Auberge des Arts. http://www.palacevert.com/

•  The Perigord go-karting circuit is just a few miles away, one of the best and prettiest in France apparently! http://www.circuit-karting-perigord.com/Main.html#/Presentation

• The area around Brantome has several chateaux worth visiting, including Puyguilhem and Bordeilles. The famous chateau of Jumilhac is a few miles further on    http://www.semitour.com/pages.php?p=Bourdeilles&SID=f8e7a551a0da926d9be57e0ace22d166

http://www.best-of-perigord.tm.fr/sites/chateaux/jumilhac/jumilhac_uk.html

http://www.chateaux-france.com/jumilhac/

• Try horseracing at the National Stud at Pompadour

http://www.lescourseshippiques.com/

• Acrobois at Bussiere Galant is an activity centre for all the family involving tree climbing and slides. Lots of our families recommend it highly!

http://www.fra.cityvox.fr/visiter_limoges/les-acrobois_99220/Profil-Lieu#lieu

• An important local site is the village of Oradour sur Glane, which has been movingly preserved as it was on 10 June 1944, when 642 men, women and children were tragically massacred. It's free to enter the ruins, but there is a charge to go in the Visitor Centre http://www.oradour.org/index.php

• Towards the Dordogne river you will find the famous (and busy) sights including: the Perigord heritage village of Le Bournat at Le Bugue

http://www.lebournat.fr/

• Also at Le Bugue, the Aquarium, Iguana Park and Jungle Golf http://www.aquariumperigordnoir.com/

• Again, near to Le Bugue is the spooky Maison Forte de Reignac

http://www.maison-forte-reignac.com/#

• The fabulous overhanging gardens of Marqueyssac near Sarlat and the equally amazing Gardens of the Imagination at Terrasson

http://www.marqueyssac.com/index1.html

http://www.best-of-perigord.tm.fr/sites/jardins/imaginaire/jardinsuk.html