Brantôme-en-Périgord, gateway to the Perigord Limousin Regional Natural Park

Located on the banks of the Dronne River, Brantôme is one of the towns that seems to have stopped in time in Dordogne-Périgord. You can admire the Saint-Sicaire fountain, the abbey mill, as well as the Benedictine abbey with its cloister, its church and its bell tower. This 12th-century abbey, partly built into the cliff, has an 11th-century bell tower that is one of the oldest in France. You will continue your walk towards the unique arched bridge, which was built in the 16th century and which will give you access to the picturesque “monks’ garden” and the heart of the village housing numerous testimonies from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

Near Brantôme, the village of Bourdeilles offers a romantic stroll with its stately mill in the shape of a boat and its castle, a majestic fortification - two in one! You can continue your walk along the banks of the river La Côle, a tributary of the Dronne.

Heading towards Saint-Jean-de-Côle , a village listed among the “Most Beautiful Villages of France”. Halfway there, a stop at the village of Villars is a must: there are two sites to discover. The Château de Puyguilhem , comparable in its Renaissance style to the castles of the Loire Valley. Inside you can admire an exceptional chimney depicting the twelve labours of Hercules. The other treasure of the village is the Cave of Villars , with the largest underground network in the Périgord (over 13 km) containing prehistoric paintings and natural formations.

Continuing along the route, you will reach Saint-Jean-de-Côle , a village with a mix of medieval and Renaissance style buildings at its heart: the Château de la Marthonie (15th, 16th and 17th centuries), a Romanesque-Byzantine church (11th century), an abbey (11th century) and a Roman bridge (15th century).

Heading to Ribérac , a town founded in the 11th century by Arnaud Daniel, a famous troubadour of the Middle Ages. It is the ideal starting point for following the circuit of domed churches in the Ribéracois (Grand-Brassac, in Faye or in Saint-Privat-des-Prés). After a visit to the collegiate church of Notre-Dame de Ribérac , the journey can begin. It is 200 km long and links some forty Romanesque churches, sober and transmitting tranquility. Most are covered with domes and with defensive devices. This itinerary is a must for all lovers of Romanesque art.

Once you've completed all or part of your circuit, take a nice break on this car trip through the Dordogne-Périgord. Very close to Riberac, the La Jemaye pond offers water sports and supervised swimming in summer. Located in the heart of the Double Forest, this site is a protected natural area.

Brantôme-en-Périgord is one of the gateways to the Périgord Limousin Regional Natural Park . Head north and stop at Nontron, the cradle of leather and cutlery crafts. It is here that you can discover, among other things, the Nontron factory. The artisanal company “Coutellerie Nontronnaise”, which continues to produce “the oldest knife in France”, is labelled “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” (Living Heritage Company).

You can also explore the protected areas of northern Dordogne-Périgord (such as the Argentine plateau, the La Rochebeaucourt-et-Argentine site, etc.) known for their high landscape value, by practising active tourism: nature walks with observation of nature, cycling tours, walks, trekking, or Tèrra Aventura geocaching with the family. Choose an eco-friendly activity and set off to discover the biological diversity of this area or its cultural heritage. In this incredible natural setting, the Château de Jumilhac seems to have come straight out of a fairy tale.