Markets & eating out
Prats-du-Périgord is surrounded by lovely market towns such as the bastides of Monpazier, where market day is Thursday, Villefranche-du-Périgord on Saturday or Cazals on Sunday.
During July and August, evening markets are held in some villages, such as Loubéjac on Thursdays and Villefranche-du-Périgord on Tuesdays. These are very convivial affairs where everyone sits around long tables to eat local dishes bought from different stalls… a fun alternative to eating out at a restaurant!
Family fun
For a peaceful paddle down the river, hire canoes on the Lot to the south or on the Dordogne to the north (both about 30 minutes by car).
Less than half an hour’s drive, the Parc-en-Ciel activity park in Lacapelle-Biron is a fabulous place to take the children. There are treetop adventure trails, mini-golf, a ‘leap of faith’ high jump activity for the brave, and play equipment. There is also a natural pool to cool down in.
Combine with a visit to the beautiful Chateau de Biron, an extensive and impressive castle comprising a 12th century keep, 16th century living quarters, a chapel and vaulted kitchens.
Unusual trips
In the nearby village of Mazeyrolles, a company called ‘Le Périgord en Calèche’ organises horse-drawn carriage trips. Take a leisurely ‘drive’ through the heart of the idyllic Black Périgord countryside, stopping for a picnic in the woods or indulging in a wine and foie gras tasting. An appealing mix of wonderful scenery, gastronomy, relaxation and conviviality.
Or maybe you fancy a birds’ eye view? Board a hot air balloon at Castelnaud-la-Chapelle or La Roque-Gageac, and enjoy a flight of about an hour drifting over the Dordogne valley – look out for the castles of Beynac, Castelnaud and Les Milandes.
Gardens
If you enjoy visiting gardens, this area will not disappoint. Certainly don’t miss the ‘Jardins de Marqueyssac’ with its famous manicured box garden and Belvedere balcony overlooking the Dordogne. The Water Gardens of Carsac are delightful, with walkways over ponds filled with waterlilies and lotus. And the bamboo gardens in Le Buisson-de-Cadouin are also interesting. These are all about 30 minutes’ drive away.
Within an hour’s drive, you can reach either the romantic ‘Jardins de Cadiot’ in Carlux, dotted with roses and fountains, or the ‘Jardins Panoramiques’ in Limeuil, whose attractions include a small arboretum and a medieval garden planted with medicinal and culinary herbs, as well as far-reaching views, as the name suggests.
There are many others if you are prepared to drive a little further on, such as the 18th century formal gardens of Eyrignac, or the ‘Jardins de l’Imaginaire’ in Terrasson, which is more of a collection of different themed gardens set on the hillside.
