Days out in Dordogne
Aquarium de Périgord Noir
This is Europe's largest privately owned aquarium. It puts most emphasis on entertainment and education. You can observe fish in enormous tanks which emulate their natural environment. With thousands of different fish to look at you might need to make use of the rest benches which the aquarium provides at regular intervals around the path!
www.le-perigord.com/aquarium.htmChâteau de Castelnaud
Castelnaud château is worth visiting for its magnificent panoramic views over the Dordogne Valley. The original 12th century château was knocked down on the orders of Charles II, but was rebuilt in red stone in the 15th century. It was left to ruin again until its restoration began in 1967 and the castle now houses a museum of medieval warfare. You will find a collection of weapons and armour (13th-17th century), furniture, audiovisual aids, a large-scale model with soundtrack and life size reconstructions for war engines.
www.castelnaud.com/Les Jardins du Manoir d'Eyrignac
These magnificent gardens are unique. They are considered as some of the most beautiful gardens in France and have won the Grand Prix des Jardins de France in the past. You will be amazed at the perfectly kept hedges, the greenery, the flowers and the huge trees. This is a very relaxing and inspiring area of beauty which will make you want to get your garden shears out when you get home!
www.eyrignac.com/Cap Blanc
This unusual attraction reveals another aspect of prehistoric art: sculpture. Over 15,000 years ago, prehistoric hunters carved horses, bison and reindeer straight into limestone the cliffs. Cap Blanc, which was discovered in 1909, is today the only place in the world where you can see these Prehistoric sculptures. There is also a presentation of objects and pictures telling the story of prehistoric sculptors throughout Europe.
Grotte du Grand Roc
The Grotte du Grand Roc is set in a magnificent cliff overhanging the Vézère. This still active geode contains all the forms of crystallisation of the underground world: stalactites, stalagmites, triangles and also some very rare concretions. It really is a sight to behold! The Grand Roc has a constant temperature of 16°, a flat interior surface, a terrace flanked by the cliff and an unbeatable view over Les Eyzies and the Vézère Valley.
www.grandroc.com/La Roque St-Christophe
North of Les Eyzies along the Vézère river, La Roque St Christophe is a huge hive of hundreds of caves on five tiers hollowed out of the rock. These amazing rock shelters have housed numerous civilisations, from pre-history to middle ages and its extraordinary terraces were capable of harbouring up to three thousand inhabitants.
www.roque-st-christophe.com/La Fôret des Singes
The Monkey Forest is a natural park with over 100 Barbary Macaques. On entry you are given a handful of popcorn, you then follow the path around the forest and find monkeys to feed! If you hold out your hand with a piece of popcorn on it they will take it very gently and eat it. Remember not to put the popcorn in your pocket though! This is a fantastic place to go for all of the family, especially the children.
www.la-foret-des-singes.com/anglais/index.htmRocamadour
This spectacularly situated pilgrimage site has incredible views over the Dordogne Valley and lots more besides. There is a petit train which takes you up the hill to the magnificent château, a chapel and of course a spectacular view. The 'Féérie autour du Rail' is a 45 minute animated show which takes you on a magic carpet ride around a mini-Rocamadour. You will also find the Grotte Préhistorique des Merveilles in Rocamadour, another chance to see some amazing underground natural sculptures, stalactites and stalagmites.
www.la-feerie.com/voyage_an.htmlLascaux II cave
Four boys looking for their dog who had fallen down a hole discovered this cave in 1940. With a makeshift lamp they discovered an extraordinary fresco of wall paintings. Lascaux was closed to the public in 1963, but Lascaux II was opened 10 years later, a facsimile of the Lascaux cave. Both of the reproduced galleries display most of the paintings of the original site. Well worth a visit.
Le Rocher des Aigles
'Eagles Rock' is an amazing conservation park for birds of prey. Concentrating mainly on the reproduction of these birds, some of them rare species, the park has reconstructed the birds' natural environment and tailored their enclosures to comply with their biological needs. There are several shows and displays; watch the vultures gliding as high as 1000 metres above the promenade and then return in a nose-dive at the simple command of their trainer!