Suggestions
Visit a Castle
Visit a Cave
Experience a French Market
Visit a Garden in Dordogne
Introduction
Fisrt of all I would like to mention that we have now visited almost all of the main gardens in Dordogne. So this list are some of our favorites that we have visited at least once and some of which we have visited more than once at different times of the year. Each suggestion has different characteristics and will appeal to different ages and abilities, therefore, the four suggestions that follow are in no particular order.
Les Jardins Panoramique de Limeuil / The Panoramic Gardens of Limeuil
Features and facilities
The Panoramic Gardens of Limeuil are situated at the very top of the medieval village of Limeuil. Limeuil has been awarded with the ‘Beautiful Villages of France’ status and we would certainly agree with its award.
As the gardens name would suggest, there are many panoramic views to observe as you walk around, including a unique view the confluence of the Dordogne and Vézère Rivers and the village below.
There is a small medieval garden with medicinal and culinary herbs. There are many ancient trees including a giant sequoia tree. For children (and adults alike), there is a charming pond. They have recently added a honey bee hive where you can view an active hive through glass.
There are lots of signs explaining the fauna. Depending upon the season, there are often workshops for children with activities such as willow weaving and dyeing with plant pigments. There are various large outdoor games to play such as giant sized chess! Tea room selling drinks and traditional ice-creams as well as hibiscus, fennel and pepper flavours!
As usual there is a gift shop with books dedicated to nature, gardens and soaps etc. Plants and seeds are also for sale.
Positives
- The many panoramic views are superb and provide excellent photo opportunities.
- A good garden to visit with children.
- There are large garden games to play.
- There are activities which will help to keep children engaged.
- It does not take too long to go around.
- The gardens setting is attractive and has the ‘Beautiful Villages of France’ status.
Negatives
- Obviously being situated on a hilltop, accessing the garden requires a bit of a hike, but the panoramic views are deffinitely well worth the effort.
- This is probably not the best garden to visit if you require the use of a wheelchair. The garden itself is not really the problem. It is accessing the garden that is going to be difficult.
- Likewise the same goes for pushing a pram/buggy.
Our tips
If you do not fancy dining out, then there are plenty of shady grassy areas, scattered tables and benches where you can eat your picnic.
Directions
From the gîte get on to the main road to Périguex D6089, then head to Saint-Pierre-de-Chignac, as soon as you enter the village there is a left turn at the boulangerie. This should be on to the D6 to Les Versannes. From here change on to the D710 to Le Bugue (a pretty riverside town). From Le Bugue you should then find signposts for the D31 to Limeuil. Should be a right turn after a pond.
Other things to see and/or do in the area
- Whilst you are in Limeuil explore the medieval hilltop village and its boutiques.
- Head to the rivers edge to do some very shallow paddling, read a book or enjoy a picnic.
- Family dining is available right at the waterfront. We tried ‘A l’Ancre de Salut’ (Try l'assiette Périgourdine).
- If you are still feeling energetic, this is a good location to hire a canoe or kayak. You will find the rental cabins located under the trees at the waters edge. See www.canoes-rivieres-loisirs.fr
More information
View our personal photo gallery of Limeuil / Jardins Panoramiques de Limeuil.
Visit the official website www.jardins-panoramiques-limeuil.com for more information and their up-to-date opening times.
Les Jardins Suspendus de Marqueyssac / The Overhanging Gardens of Marqueyssac
Features and facilities
The main focus at Marqueyssac gardens are its swirling box topiary, where you will find enchanting swirls of box hedges set high above the Dordogne river. There are 150 000 pruned box trees in the gardens over its 22 ha site.
Its second main features are the 6 km of walks, divided into three main routes 1) a cliff path 2) a high walk and 3) the great walk, which has easy access for pushchairs and wheelchairs. All of these lead to a large viewpoint at the end of the garden and to be fair it is something quite spectacular.
When we visited in high season there was an excellent ‘wood turner’ doing demonstrations, or in other words something else to help part your money from you! The small ‘aviary’ will appeal to children, whilst we found the ‘Nature Pavilion’ stuffed with ‘dioramas’ a little unsettling!
A restaurant with attractive terrace overlooks yet more spectacular views. We didn’t try the restaurant, but it seemed fairly priced for the location. There is a tea-room and a bookshop. Children will like the skeleton of a carnosaur on display or chasing the peacocks!
Candlelight evenings take place every Thursday from dusk till midnight in July and August. Check the website.
Positives
- Probably the most impressive box topiary art in Dordogne if not in the whole of France.
- There are some really spectacular views en route.
- In peak season a shuttle busses the weary back to the Belvedere.
- The restaurant with its attractive terrace offers yet more spectacular views. We didn't eat, but the plates coming out looked very nicely presented.
- There are some arts and crafts activities for children.
- The deomonstrations are good to watch.
Negatives
- The 6km or routes might be a bit too much for some people. However, to be fair, you are not forced to walk all of them.
- We visited this garden for exactly what it is known for. However, I did expect to have seen some flowering borders.
- Arts and crafts activities had limited places and we didn't want to waste our time waiting for our turn.
Our conclusion
If you want to see impressive dreamy topiary art, unlike anything else and if you don’t mind a bit of a walk, the views really are quite spectacular and can leave you gazing for a while. There are some activities and swings etc for children. We found the 6km of routes were a bit too much for GG, who was only 4 at the time. That said ‘the great walk’ does have a shuttle in high season to transport the weary back to the Belvedere. So visit for its topiary and spectacular views, but beware of achy legs regardless of age. I would probably not suggest that you visit this garden if you have young toddlers.
Our tips
1) Take a picnic/snacks and refreshments for consuming en route.
2) Make use of the toilettes before starting the visit as I don’t recall seeing any en route and it is a fair route! However, there are remote foresty parts if you know what I mean!
Directions
From the gîte head to Sarlat as described ???????. From Sarlat take the D57 to Vezac and continue on the D57 to Le Luc. You should see signs from both Vezac and Le Luc guiding you to the gardens.
Other things to see and/or do in the area
You will probably be too tired to do anything else, so head back to the gîte, fire up a BBQ and relax by the pool!
More information
View our personal photo gallery of The Overhanging Gardens of Marqueyssac.
Visit the official website www.marqueyssac.com for more information and their up-to-date opening times.
Les jardins d’eau de carsac / The Water Gardens of Carsac
Features and facilities
As the name would suggest the main emphasis here is water gardening and it’s done very very well. This is probably going to be your best bet to see a lovely garden, in particular with children who can tend to get bored easily! There are huge koi carp to hand feed, which is great fun! Lots of different types of frogs, newts, water snails and other wildlife to spot. Lots of different species of lotuses, water lilies and other exotic fauna. A nice example of an eco-swimming pool (not for use!). Recently added is the ‘Labyrinthe Aquatique’, a kind of maze over water. The giant waterlily ‘Victoria’, at the start of the visit is really something to see to believe. The garden is very nicely laid out on mixed level terrain over 3 ha. Along the way there are many seats where you can take a refreshment break. The reception houses a small gift shop, a café (unfortunately with limited spaces) and the toilettes.
Positives
- An excellent choice for a garden to visit with young children, they will love spotting the frogs, little fishes and other wildlife etc and as such there is a spotting activity to do.
- Lovely landscaping on different leveles with lots of different features to see.
- The ‘Labyrinthe Aquatique’ is good fun, especially if the fountains are on!
- The oriental style bridge provides a lovely photo opportunity, as do many spots actually.
- Hand feeding the koi carp is great fun, GG loves it, as do I and at summer 2018 the fish food was free.
- Lots of other places and activities to do in the imediate area.
Negatives
- Obviously where water is present, you need to really keep a close eye where toddlers and/or young children are concerned.
- The terain would probably be a little challenging with a pram or buggy and I think some parts would be impossible in a wheel chair and challenging with walking aids.
- .
- The café is a bit on the small side, although I have to say the several tables that are available are located in a beautiful setting. We didn’t use the cafe so I can’t comment on the offerings or pricing.
Our conclusion
This is certainly amongst one of our favorites and I have visited it about three or four times with different family members and at different times of year to see different species of water plants. This is the only garden that our daughter asks to go back to. This would be one of our top suggestion for a garden to visit with children.
Our tips
1) Take a picnic/snacks and especially cold refreshments to drink while walking round.
2) There is
a café, but as already mentioned it is quite small, just several tables (as at summer 2018).
3)
Make use of the toilettes before starting the visit as there are non en route.
3) If visiting with toddlers and/or young children keep a close eye on them, especially when doing the Labyrinthe Aquatique (a kind of maze over water). Also for all ages be carful as the wood can be slippy.
4) Don’t wear open type shoes, as there are lots of gravel paths.
Other things to see and/or do in the area
To make the best use of your time and day, whilst in the area you have lots of nice places to visit.
1) Visit the very attractive town of Sarlat. If you have already visited Sarlat, then head towards the dordogne river and pay a visit to Domme and/or La Roque-Gageac, with its ‘Most Beautiful Villages in France’ status.
2) At La Roque-Gageac take a 6.5 km round trip (about 55 minutes) on Les Gabares Norbert, motorised replicas of various sailing/trading boats from the 18th & 19th centuries. See www.gabarres.com for more information.
Directions
From the gîte head towards Thenon, from Thenon take the D67 to Montignac, from Montignac take the D704. You should pass through Sarlat and arrive at Carsac-Aillac. The gardens are not far after Carsac-Aillac and are located beside a small village called Combe d’Esteve.
More information
Visit the official website www.jardinsdeau.com for more information and their up-to-date opening times.
You can also view our personal photo gallery - once it has been uploaded!
Les jardins d'eryignac / The Gardens of Eryignac
Features and facilities
A large 18th century topiary art garden set over 10 hectares, with several different areas 1) Green Sculptures 2) Artaban’s Manor House 3) The Chinese Pagoda 4) The French Style Parterre 5) The Flower Garden and the Kitchen Garden 6) The Spring Fed Garden and 7) The White Garden. A beautiful 17th century Manor house with charming gravelled courtyard. Attractive pond with fish and steps up to the French-style flower beds. 300 sculpted plants, superbly and artistically hand clipped! There is a restaurant and a small gift shop.
Summary
In our honest opinion, unlike the Jardins de Marqueyssac, this is a very pretty garden where you will see many more features than just topiary art. For children, free puzzle books are available from reception and children are loaned a telescope to observe nature. However, this does appear to be nod towards keeping children entertained whilst the parents can enjoy the garden delights. Towards the end of the visit our 4 year old did start to lose a little interest and wanted carrying!
Our tips and also in the area
See www.eyrignac.com for more information and their up-to-date opening times. Arrive for about 11:45 am, picnic in the shady car park. This will give you a couple of hours of less busy time to explore. Whilst in the area if your legs can still cope, you could explore Dordogne’s no 1 most visited town ... sarlat-la-canéda. Or forsomething a bit less taxing on the legs explore the lovely riverside town of montignac and dine at one of the many riverside restaurants. Despite its 3.8 start review on TripAdvisor we had a lovely meal at le flannagan’s.
Other things to see and/or do in the area
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Directions
From the gîte head to Fossemagne, which is on the main road D6089 towards Thenon direction. Then from Fossemagne head to Thenon. From there pick up the D67 to Montignac. Before you arrive in Montignac you will arrive at a small roundabout, where you should change on to the D704 and cross the La Vévère river that runs through Montignac. Continue along the D704 until you reach Les Quatre Routes. Then change on to the D61 which you will continue along passing through Salignac-Eyvigues, Laspeyres, Campagne, Les Garrigues and finally arrive Les Jardins d’Eryignac.
More information
Visit the official website www.eyrignac.com for more information and their up-to-date opening times.
You can also view our personal photo gallery - once it has been uploaded!
