Local Area Information
Here's a small sample of a few local places to visit and some of the many outdoor activities in the area. For further information during your stay, the Tourist Information office is just down the main road towards Souillac.
You can also visit www.perigordnoir-valleedordogne.com
St Julien de Lampon
The property itself is a 5 minute walk from the centre of St Julien de Lampon. Here you will find everything you require including bakery, butcher, grocery, bar/restaurant, doctor, pharmacie, post office and the bank with ATM. There is also a weekly market every Thursday. The village is set on the south bank of the Dordogne river, where there is a river beach and shaded picnic area. This is the perfect place to hire a canoe and mosy down the river or if you are feeling a little more energenic, cross the famous viaduc bridge and you can access the Sarlat-Souillac cycle track (see below).
Sarlat-la-Caneda
The most famous town in the region and one of the most visited in France, is a short drive from the house. Often called just Sarlat, the town is actually twinned with its less famous neighbour and is more correctly called Sarlat-la-Caneda. Destined to be besieged by tourists at almost all times of the year Sarlat is a beautiful, well restored town a few kilometres north of the River Dordogne. The old town, dating from both medieval and renaissance times is a pleasure to visit, especially during the spring and autumn, or early in the morning. The town centre has narrow streets between the old stone buildings and is bustling with shops, cafes and restaurants. There is a market on Wednesday and Saturday morning in the Place de la Libertie where you can buy all the regional products, meats and vegetables, cheese even truffles (Nov-March).
La Roque-Gageac
La Roque-Gageac is classed as one of 'Les Plus Beaux Villages des France' and should not be missed. La Roque has a most dramatic setting, situated right beside the river, with many of its houses built directly into the face of the huge cliff that overhangs the village. Above this there are steep steps to incredible troglodyte caves with great views as well as a small botanical garden. Don't forget to take a boat trip on a gabare (a glass-bottomed boat) while you are there.
Rocamadour
Rocamadour is actually in the next department of Lot but only 30 minutes drive. It is a spectacular medieval village built into the cliff face and also has La Foret des Singes - 10 hectares of land set aside as a park for more than 100 monkeys to live in relative freedom. This is great for the children.
The Gouffre at Padirac
Also, just in the department of Lot, you have the famous cave Le Gouffre at Padirac, a natural 75 metre chasm below which runs an underground river. Your visit will last about 1½ hours with a total tour of 2,000 metres.
Cycling
If you are into cycling, this is the ideal location for you. The Sarlat-Souillac greenway can be accessed very easily from the village and provides 35km of traffic-free cycling. To download the greenway map click here. There has also been a recent extension that turns off the main route and continues to Gourdon, passing the scenic lake at Grolejac.
Canoeing
In an area so blessed with beautiful rivers and countryside, there is nothing more relaxing than gliding down the river in a canoe, taking in the views of villages and chateaux. Canoeing along the Dordogne is safe for children as the river is very shallow. You can access the river directly from the village where there is a company based who will hire canoes and arrange pick-ups. For a map of the river click here.
Golf
An 18-hole course at Souillac Country Club and a 9-hole course at Domaine de Rochebois at Vitrac.
Swimming
The Plan d'eau at Grolejac is lovely lake where you can swim and hire pedlos, etc. It is a 10 minute drive or you can cycle from the village using the greenway (see Cycling). You also have the Etang de Tamniès just north-west of Sarlat.
At Souillac (15 mins), you will find Quercyland - an aquatic and leisure park with 6 swimming pools, water slides, a six tracks water shoot, trampolines, bouncy castles, sand pits and much more.
Adventure Parks
Within 10 minutes drive of the house, there are two children's adventure parks; La Forêt des Ecureuils adventure park and the Monkey Forest adventure Park. Both have tree top climbing activities and various rope swings that will keep the children entertained.