Recommendations for Dordogne area and accommodation?

[Shinyandnew2022]

Hi all still debating our summer getaway all we know is its definitely eurotunnel to France for 2 weeks in August .
We don't want to drive too far south and are tempted by the Dordogne - kids will be 9 and 11 so we need to make sure we have plenty to keep them entertained!
Anyone got any suggestions for us ?
Prefer gites to campsite .

[MissAmbrosia]

lebanquet.com/ this place is lovely. Just outside Les Eyzies with it's cave dwellings. And you said maybe not campsite but we stayed 3 weeks here www.sandaya.co.uk/our-campsites/peneyrals and had a fab time. Lots going on all the time and very good pools.

[Fivemoreminutes1]

Domaine de Gavaudun or Au Pré Vert Gites

[wowsaidtheowl]

Beynac - lots of lovely Airbnbs near the castle and so much to do in the local area. So pretty too. We’ve had two great holidays there - we camped but sure if that’s your thing.

[Shinyandnew2022]

Thanks these are great suggestions I am showing Dh them all

[EmmaStone]

I've stayed here a couple of times (www.lemanoirdesgranges.com/en/). It's opposite Le Roc St Christophe, right by the river (Vezere), and in the middle of all the various prehistory sites. Tonnes to do in the area, canoeing the river is fab, lots of caves, beautiful towns carved into the rocks. It's lush. In the summer, the towns have night markets, which are brilliant.

[candycane222]

I just came on to day we stayed at Les granges (in a cabin/mobile home type place) only to see EmmaStones post! Was a while ago and our kids were roughly that age -cafe on site, fun pool with slides etc, bike hire for a lovely cycle trail and the canoeing was FABULOUS. Oh and also a chateau whose name i forget that had amazing gardens, and we went in the evening - it was all lit up in the most magical way.

[candycane222]

Ok so a Google shows our Granges weren't thecdame ss emmas - hers are a lot classier I suspect, but our was great fun

[candycane222]

Here it is! www.campingfrance.com/uk/find-your-campsite/new-aquitaine/dordogne/grolejac/les-granges. Definitely at least one stunning prehistoric cave, and a very warm freshwater lake with a sandy beach to complete the memory download!

[Squicknick]

www.cournethaut.com/

We stayed here with our kids of similar ages three years ago and it was amazing, just beautiful, so tranquil, gorgeous swimming pool, tennis court, play area etc and the owners were so lovely and speak English! (The husband is Irish, the wife French). Close to Sarlat, Roque Gageac, Beynac, Domme, Castelnaud etc, fab for day trips. Can't recommend highly enough!

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

We’ve stayed here before when the DC were younger - great location for several families to take it over which is what we did.
5dordognecottage.com/ It’s a beautiful region. Kayaking is a must.

[Shinyandnew2022]

Thank you so much for all these everyone you have saved me from feeling completely overwhelmed trawling online !
I have liked the look of nearly all of these and have now managed to find a couple of options with availability when we wanted it so we are making progress and DH is having a look at the map.

The chateau de marqueyssac looks beautiful @candycane222 that must be the one you mentioned !

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

Another one for Le Banquet at Les Eyzies. It's beautiful, very relaxing and the owners who live on site are fab. Great games room, pool area and gardens lovely. Loads to do in the area. We especially loved a half day kayaking on the Vezere river. We went twice, until the kids got to be older teens and wanted a little bit more excitement. 9 and 11 is an ideal age though. It does get booked up quickly though in summer holidays.

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

Oh yes, I forgot, there was a great activity place near to Le Bugue with crazy golf, an aquarium and a wierd, VERY disorientating Mirror Maze
with flashing lights and loud music where some young lad dressed as a caveman would appear out of nowhere and scare the shit out of you looking all menacing. Was a fun day.

We also spent a fab day at one of those tree trekking places. It was way better than anything like that in the UK, the course was really long for the money.

We liked Castelnaud and the Gardens du Marqueyssac. Sarlat is like a fairytale town. We enjoyed all the prehistory stuff. The grottes du Roc du Cazelles was good.

There's still stuff we haven't seen so I'd go back at some point.

[candycane222]

@Shinyandnew2022 yep, that's the one. Absolutely magical!

[Pearlyqueen21]

We loved this region - you’ll find so much to see. My top recommendation is www.maison-forte-reignac.com/ Maison Forte de Reignac. An amazing kind of stately home half built into the rocks. There’s also a really interesting but grim Torture Museum at the end of the tour which our 8 yr old enjoyed! Lots of mediaeval spikes etc.

[Shinyandnew2022]

I am getting so excited about having a proper holiday to look forward to !
Le banquet looks absolutely great but we are working with limited availability in the school holidays so that one is ruled out for this year.

[MissAmbrosia]

@CurlyhairedAssassin

Oh yes, I forgot, there was a great activity place near to Le Bugue with crazy golf, an aquarium and a wierd, VERY disorientating Mirror Maze
with flashing lights and loud music where some young lad dressed as a caveman would appear out of nowhere and scare the shit out of you looking all menacing. Was a fun day.

We also spent a fab day at one of those tree trekking places. It was way better than anything like that in the UK, the course was really long for the money.

We liked Castelnaud and the Gardens du Marqueyssac. Sarlat is like a fairytale town. We enjoyed all the prehistory stuff. The grottes du Roc du Cazelles was good.

There's still stuff we haven't seen so I'd go back at some point.

Le Bournat! Next to the aquarium. Mad, old fairground rides and reconstructed windmills etc. It was fabulous! In the summer they have have a fete thing in Le Bugue with food and wine stalls and tables on the square overlooking the river. Lascaux II was very good - I think they were working on versions 3 and 4. Montignac is very pretty though.

[Shinyandnew2022]

@AvonCallingBarksdale

We’ve stayed here before when the DC were younger - great location for several families to take it over which is what we did.
5dordognecottage.com/ It’s a beautiful region. Kayaking is a must.

@AvonCallingBarksdale we have booked your place !
Thanks so much for sharing the link as was struggling to find many with availability for our dates.
Any other specific top tips welcome we are so excited !!

[AvonCallingBarksdale]

@Shinyandnew2022 - lovely! We’ve had two holidays there when the DC were younger. First time we took over most of the gites with family and second time the DC made friends with others there. Very happy memories. Lots of suggestions up thread. I would recommend:
Domme
Sarlat
Roque Gageac
In Meyrals the Meranda pizzeria is nice and the boulangerie lovely.
Nearby Saint Cyprien had an amazing evening outdoor food market while we were there - worth going if they still do that.
Kayaking is brilliant fun - loads of places to do this.
Cycling is also beautiful, albeit hilly!
Not sure of your route, but we’ve often broken up the journey by stopping off in Chartres and staying over there - the illuminations are beautiful. www.chartresenlumieres.com/en/

Enjoy your holiday!

[ReviewingTheSituation]

Such a great place to holiday. Belves is a lovely little town. It has an evening food market once a week, and a great underground museum.

Lascaux museum worth doing. The massive new one wasn't finished when we went but gets good reviews.
So many caves to visit too.

[rookiemere]

Hope I'm not too late to the party but we stayed here lepavillondestagnan.com/en/ with DS when he was younger. Great outdoor heated pool, just about walking distance to a lovely local restaurant and easy driving distance to local attractions. The velorail was loads of fun.