Camping in Dordogne

Holidays in Dordogne

Hardly anywhere else in France will you find a region so steeped in history. If you have an eye for culture, another eye for beauty, a nose for investigating hidden delights, a mouth for tasting and a head for heights, then holidays in the Dordogne hold treats galore.

Campsites in the Dordogne are situated among beautiful landscapes, where you will discover hidden coves, charming fortified towns, castles and vineyards.

Whilst camping in the Dordogne, you'll be within reach of incredible natural scenery, close enough to soak up the history, and of course, find beauty spots to relax in this stunning region. If you are looking for active camping holidays in the Dordogne, canoeing is a great way to explore the many rivers that flow through this stunning region.

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Visiting the Dordogne

Explore the Dordogne

Whether it’s the lovely cliff-side town of Rocamadour, or one of the many other picturesque medieval towns, there’s enough history to fill a book (or a tome). The Caves at Lascaux offer the finest surviving examples of prehistoric paintings and Préhisto Parc explores what daily life was like in the Neanderthal and Cromagnon periods. If you are looking for even more action-packed things to do in the Dordogne, then try canoeing, which is a popular way to explore the rivers here, on your own or with one of the many organised excursions.

Feel the Dordogne

When camping in the Dordogne you will be amongst meandering rivers, ancient villages, impressive châteaux and rich vineyards. But if you are looking for some thrill-seeking things to do in the Dordogne, then never fear. This region has lots of fun things to try, from hiking and cycling to birdwatching, fishing and watersports. And when you need to cool down, chilly pre-history caverns welcome you with a (literal) echo of the past.

Taste the Dordogne

With so many things to do in the Dordogne, you’ll hardly have time for eating. But make the effort, as the Dordogne is home to some of France’s most iconic foods including truffles, crèpes, foie gras and confit. Not to mention speciality walnut oil, goat’s cheese, chestnut puree and honey. Wash it all down with the full-bodied reds of Cahors and Bergerac and the sweet white Monbazillac before heading back to your idyllic campsite in the Dordogne.

More about the Dordogne

Regional highlights

There are almost too many regional highlights in the Dordogne to pick just a few- but we've managed to list some of the most incredible things to see and do in the Dordogne below.

Canoeing along the Dordogne River
Can you canoe? One of the most popular ways to explore the area is by canoeing along the river. There are many organised excursions to choose from which will take you on an adventure along the river and through the famous gorges.

La Roque Gageac
With a breathtaking setting perched on the banks of the Dordogne, under a sheer sandstone cliff, this 12th Century village is a sight to be seen. There’s a troglodyte dwelling set high in the cliffs (though the Troggs never played there).

Lascaux Caves
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the prehistoric cave paintings are amongst the finest examples of Paleolithic art. And to think they were discovered by a teenager, just playing around. You can now only see a reproduction of the caves.

Rocamadour
Clinging for dear life to sheer limestone cliffs, Rocamadour’s famous monastery provides splendid views from its ramparts. The Chapelle Notre Dame contains the famous Black Madonna. Rocamadour is also renowned for its famous cheese, made from an ancient goat’s milk recipe.

Sarlat
Sarlat is a beautiful medieval town which invites you to drink in the atmosphere. There are bustling markets and street entertainers, which make wandering round the charming cobbled streets a real pleasure.

Getting there

Whether you're travelling by air, land, sea or a combination of all three, getting to the Dordogne is a breeze.

Airports in the Dordogne
It's never been easier to choose the fly-drive option.

Bergerac
Limoges
Rodez

Car Hire
Europcar provide you with really competitive prices on car hire with collection from all major airports or TGV train stations.

Unlimited mileage
Third-party insurance
Collision Damage Waiver
Airport hire surcharges
Local taxes

When calling us to book your car hire you must supply us with details of your flight number and arrival time. This is imperative to guarantee your hire car will be available for pick-up should your flight be delayed.

Ferries to the Dordogne
The old saying that getting there is half the fun is certainly true when you make a ferry ride as part of your plans.

Caen
Cherbourg
Calais

With a huge choice of operators and routes - not to mention the LeShuttle, taking your car to the continent has never made more sense.

Days out

There are so many incredible options for days out in the Dordogne, that you'll be spoilt for choice! Whether you want to dive deep into prehistoric history, literally dive from a waterslide into a crystal clear pool, or climb to the treetops, rest assured there's fun to be had for all the family.

Aquarium Le Bugue
With over 6,000 fish to observe this aquarium really is a great day out… and when learning about the marine world gets too much, there’s a snack bar to grab a bite to eat. But you won’t be able to pick up a Penguin.

Préhisto Parc
With life-size scenes of the earliest Neanderthal hunters, Préhisto Parc takes you back to the region’s prehistoric past, including demonstrations of fire making, flint shaping and spear throwing. But not how to change a light bulb.

Jacquou Parc
Splash out at this lively park near Le Bugue. Youngsters will delight in an aqua zone with pools and waterslides, a fairground and an animal parc with parrots, donkeys and a host of other cute, inhabitants that don’t bite.

Indian Forest Périgord
An adventure park with six varied climbing adventure courses amidst the treetops. There’s rope bridges, zip wires, balance beams, climbing walls, slides and ropes for you budding Tarzans and your little monkeys.

Towns and villages

The Dordogne's towns and villages are famous for their wide rivers, lush tree-lined avenues and historic architecture.

Agen
Roughly halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse, Agen is perhaps best known for its plums and prunes, grown (a stone’s throw away) in neighbouring villages. Agen people are very friendly, but avid rugby fans, so mind your tackle when sampling the delicious fruit liqueurs.

Bergerac
A lovely old port spread across both sides of the Dordogne River, Bergerac is also the centre of this wine-producing region, so expect fine dining and excellent wines after you’ve visited the wine and tobacco museums.

Beynac-et-Cazenac
Beynac castle, built between the 13th and 15th centuries, was once used by Périgord nobility. It crowns a sheer cliff above one of the most attractive stretches of the river. You might also dig its Archaeological Park.

Domme
Inside or out, this ‘Acropolis of the Dordogne’ offers great beauty in its maze of ancient street and medieval gateways.

History

For the history buffs among you, if you're coming on holiday to the Dordogne then you've come to the right place! From ancient caves, to winding medieval streets and fortified castles, this region is steeped in fascinating history.

Lascaux Caves
The Dordogne Valley was one of the first places on earth inhabited by man and these caves house their superbly preserved cave paintings. The original caves are closed to protect their irreplaceable artworks, but a short walk finds a number of superb copies that include ‘The Great Black Bull’.

Chateau Castelnaud
If you’re into castles, Castelnaud-la-Chapelle features one of Europe’s finest fortified castles. The artillery tower displays primitive weapons and there’s also a Middle Ages Siege Warfare Museum. Over 40? Get fortified here.

Nature

The Dordogne region is bursting with breathtaking nature. Explore underground cave systems, hanging gardens and cool tree lined valleys, all from your Dordogne campsite.

Gouffre de Padirac
Reputed to be the gates of Hell (but probably exaggerated), this cave complex is spectacular and is partly explored by gondola. This is one cool scene, but it’s even cooler underground, so take a woolly. Arrive early to avoid the queues.

Grotte de Lacave
The River Dordogne, cutting its way through the Gramat Causse, created fascinating galleries displaying countless stalagmites and stalactites. The underground caves stretch for a mile and feature sparkling underground lakes. Dress up warm, and if you’ve never seen a stalagmite, you might.

Les Jardins de Marqueyssac
A National Historical Monument, the hanging gardens at Marqueyssac offer over 6 kilometres of shaded paths lined by more than 150,000 elegantly shaped boxwoods. Hang in there and you’ll find it calming and beautiful in equal measure.

Sports and activities

From canoeing down the historic Dordogne river, to paintballing, to playing a relaxed round of golf with stunning views- there are plenty of activities in the Dordogne for you to choose from on your camping holiday.

Canoeing
The Dordogne is an endlessly beautiful river, and one of the best ways to enjoy it is to paddle your own canoe (hired) for a day or half day. Try Le Bugue, Port d’Envaux and Le Roque Gageac if you are nearby.

Horse-riding
The Dordogne and Vézère valleys make spectacular horse-riding country, and you will find a number of farms and equestrian centres from where you can enjoy a day’s riding or even overnight tours.

Hautefort Quad Biking and Paintballing
Hautefort offers quad bike trekking and paintballing in four different terrains respectively. A fun day out for families with older children. Mix the paint, but not the attractions!

Walking
The Dordogne Valley is recognised for it's outstanding natural beauty, so it's no wonder walking is such a popular activity. There are over 100 marked trails for you to follow, so get ready and step out!

Golf
There are seven fine golf courses in the Dordogne, where you can enjoy nine or eighteen holes (and many more bunkers) in some genuinely lovely scenery.