The Périgord Vert
This part of the Périgord Vert is sparsely populated. The landscape is mainly home to cows, ducks, some sheep, and of course plenty of “wild” animals. In the fields behind the house, we regularly spot deer and wild boar, and birds of prey like buzzards and kites often circle above. The Périgord is part of the Dordogne, one of the most beautiful and popular regions in France.
In the charming villages nearby, you’ll often find marchés gourmands, vide-greniers, repas à la campagne, marchés artisans, and more during summer – a fantastic way to experience the true French countryside.
There are wonderful hiking and cycling routes in the area, as well as plenty of charming towns, castles, caves, and markets to explore. Périgueux, Limoges, and Brive-la-Gaillarde are all within an hour’s drive. Want to visit the more touristy heart of the Dordogne? In just 75 minutes, you’ll find yourself in Sarlat-la-Canéda, full of lively charm.
The following tourist map shows most of the places of interest.
Photos
Sights within 30 minutes
- Excideuil (10 min): Petit cité de caractère, castle, tourist office, several supermarkets, lively market on Thursday mornings.
- Thiviers (13 min): regional hub, tourist office, busy Saturday market, gateway to the Périgord-Limousin Regional Nature Park.
- Forges de Savignac-Lédrier (20 min): beautifully located historic forge museum, great walks along the Auvézère river.
- Saint-Jean-de-Cole (21 min): one of France’s most beautiful villages – small, but full of charm.
- Château de Jumilhac (23 min): lovely castle to visit with a scenic walking trail behind it.
- Tourtoirac Caves (23 min): discovered in 1995, impressive dripstone caves.
- Ecomusée de la truffe Sorges (24 min): fascinating museum in the heart of truffle country.
- Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche (26 min): lovely old centre, known for its porcelain.
- Château de Hautefort (29 min): one of the most magnificent castles in the Dordogne. Also visit the interesting Medical Museum in Hautefort.
Sights within 60 minutes
- Ségur-le-Château (31 min): picturesque riverside village at the foot of a castle, one of the most beautiful villages in France.
- Villars Caves (32 min): beautiful limestone caves with prehistoric cave art.
- Château de Puyguilhem (33 min): elegant Renaissance castle.
- Arnac-Pompadour (34 min): famous for horse breeding, castle, and racetrack.
- Brantôme (39 min): known as the Venice of the Périgord; visit the abbey partly carved into the rock.
- Périgueux (44 min): beautiful historic city with an impressive cathedral and great restaurants.
- Château de Bourdeilles (48 min): stunning castle with regular events.
- Lascaux Caves (53 min): world-famous prehistoric cave paintings – the “Sistine Chapel of prehistory”.
- Uzerche (55 min): atmospheric historic town and gateway to Parc Regional Millevaches.
- Limoges (60 min): vibrant city known for its porcelain and beautiful landmarks.
- Brive-la-Gaillarde (60 min): charming town with interesting architecture.
Sights > 60 minutes – but worth the trip
- Les Pans de Travassac (65 min): from mid-April to October – spectacular walk through a 300-year-old slate quarry.
- Oradour-sur-Glane (68 min): haunting memorial village destroyed in WWII, deeply moving experience.
- Sarlat-le-Canada (72 min): one of the most beautiful medieval towns in France.
- Beynac-et-Cazenac (80 min): breathtakingly located authentic medieval village.
Active things to do
- Hiking: The region is a hiker’s paradise. A marked trail starts just near our location. Many more can be found at Dordogne Périgord tourisme. Walking maps are also available at local tourist offices.
- Cycling: Ideal for road cycling, e-biking, or exploring one of the many mountain bike trails. See Dordogne Périgord tourisme. The famous “Flow Vélo” long-distance route crosses the area, allowing you to follow part of it. In Excideuil, you can rent bikes or book guided tours with FeelOut.
- Canoeing: Just 20 minutes away, you can enjoy canoe trips of 6 to 12 km on the Isle River between Coulaures and Savignac-les-Églises. Book via FeelOut.
- Swimming: 15 minutes away: small, cozy lake at Nantheuil with food and drink facilities. 20 minutes away: larger leisure lake Base de loisiers de Rouffiac with watersports, a climbing park, and food options.
- Vélorail Corgnac sur l’Isle. Pedal through the stunning landscape on a special rail bike over old train tracks, including a high viaduct crossing.
This list is far from complete! If you have specific wishes or interests, feel free to let us know – we’ll do our best to help you discover the perfect outing.