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Camping in the Dordogne
51 campsites in France, Aquitaine, Dordogne for Kids
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Lanmary, the first Huttopia forest camp, opened in 2013 has been carefully integrated into the landscape of the Lanmary National Forest. Some of the access routes in the campsite are quite rough and steep. Cars are only allowed on arrival and departure days. There are several designs of pre-erected tents and chalets, some on substantial stilts. Two chalets are adapted for those with reduced mobility (car access permitted). The touring tents can be pitched in defined areas and have plenty of space around each pitch, while other units must use the level pitches by the entrance. These are served by a large sanitary block, while three smaller blocks serve the tented areas.
Within easy reach of all the attractions of the Périgord region, Sandaya has created an attractive and friendly family campsite at les Péneyrals. There are around 274 pitches, 122 of which are for touring. The pitches at the bottom of the hill tend to be quieter as they are further from the main facilities but are all level and grassy (some on terraces), with electricity (5/10A), and most have some shade.
Le Paradis is an excellent, well-maintained riverside site, halfway between Les Eyzies and Montignac in the Valley of the Vézère. The site is landscaped with a variety of mature shrubs and trees. The gardens are beautiful, which gives a wonderful sense of tranquillity. It is very easy to relax on this ecologically friendly site. Systems of reed filters enhance the efficient natural drainage.
Huttopia Sarlat (Formerly Les Perières) is a pleasant small site set on an attractive, wooded, terraced hillside within walking distance of the beautiful medieval town of Sarlat. The 107 touring pitches (all with 6A electricity) are arranged around the semi-circle of a fairly steep slope, overlooking a central leisure area that includes indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a tennis court. They range from 80-100 sq.m. Mixed pine and deciduous trees provide dappled shade. Close to the central buildings are numerous walnut trees (the walnuts can be bought in the campsite shop).
You will be guaranteed a friendly welcome from the the campsite staff who are justifiably proud of their well kept and attractive site, built in the grounds surrounding an old mill. The facilities have been continually updated and improved over the years. Most of the 176 shady pitches all have 10A electricity (102 offer full services) and are separated by hedges and shrubs. Many pitches are next to a small river that runs through the site and joins the River Ceou along the far edge. A tent field slopes gently down to the river which is quite shallow and used for swimming. This site with its superb pool complex will appeal in particular to families with younger children.
Set in a peaceful wooded valley only a few kilometres from the river Ceou, this spacious and shaded site is perfect for those looking to get back to nature and unwind. There are a total of 22 touring pitches and around 245 mobile homes, offering plenty of shade from the sun on this 8-hectare site. You'll find plenty to do at Camping Carbonnier, with a wide program of events for all the family. With boules tournaments, football and volleyball on offer. Children will love the many activities and amenities such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, slides, a petting farm and various sports fields.
Camping La Salvinie is located in Terrasson-Lavilledieu, Dordogne, France. It is situated in the Périgord Noir region, known for its stunning natural beauty, medieval villages, and historical sites. The campsite is set amidst forests and is only 400 meters from a river, making it a perfect spot for nature lovers. It offers a variety of accommodation options, including 60 touring pitches with electric hook-up points available. Most pitches are flat, mostly wooded, and demarcated by hedges, with a surface area of at least 110 m2.
This site with a charming name is set on the top of a hill in the heart of the Périgord Noir, yet just 2 km. from Les Eyzies. The site is on two levels and the lower, quieter level has a spacious feeling with touring caravans and tents being positioned around its perimeter, leaving the centre clear. There are 80 level pitches, of which 10 are used for mobile homes and 2 new chalets. The pitches have dappled shade and 10A electricity. Donkey renting is popular with donkeys being used to help out with walks lasting from half a day to 3 days and more.
The site is just off the main N21 road near Pont Saint Mamet, mid-way between Bergerac and Périgueux. There are 104 large pitches, most are flat, shaded and wooded, some on more sloping open meadow with views across the valley and others on flat ground beside the lake. Pitches are marked and all have electricity (6/10A), some requiring long leads. The swimming pool and small lake with diving platform and beach encourage longer stays. A pleasant, shaded patio terrace under vines and maples leads to a general room with a bar and a separate room for young people with amusement machines (July/Aug).
Flower Camping Les Terrasses de Dordogne is delightfully and quietly located in the countryside and has magnificent views from all areas of the site across onto the wooded flanks of the hills opposite. It comprises 70 acres and, at present, has 120 pitches, 96 for touring units and 24 used for wooden chalets and two bungalow tents. Electricity (10A) is available on every pitch (long cables may be necessary). The area is famous for its walnut trees, which provide partial shade. There is some terracing. The site’s restaurant is built in the style of the area. The site is divided by a very quiet minor road and the circular area in front of reception may provde narrow for larger units manoeuvring. The village of Rouffignac-Saint Cernin-de-Reilhac, is 1 km. away and is within walking distance. There you will find small bars, restaurants and other amenities.
This high quality campsite, set in the heart of the Dordogne, has fine views looking up to the fortified town of Belvès. It is a splendid rural estate where there is plenty of space and a good mixture of trees and shrubs. Set in the grounds of a former mill, the superb traditional buildings date back to the 18th century. There are 219 level pitches with 159 for touring units, all with 10A electricity, a water point and drainage. The remainder are used for mobile homes to rent. The site is ideally suited for families with young and teenage children as there is so much to do, both on site and in the surrounding area.
Camping le Daguet, located in the picturesque Saint-Laurent-la-Vallée, in the Dordogne region of France, is a nature lover's paradise. The campsite is set in a lush, green environment, near the Vézère River and the Lascaux caves. With 35 spacious touring pitches, each with 10 AM electric hook-up points, the site offers a perfect blend of open spaces and natural boundaries. The scattering of trees and the quiet beauty of the surroundings make it an inspiring spot for a summer getaway.
Les Charmes is a pleasant, rural site located amidst forest and farmland overlooking the valley of the Château de Puymartin. There are 85 large, level pitches, with 68 for touring units. Some are in clearings in a wooded area, and others are grassy and more open, with trees giving shade. Almost all pitches have 6A electricity, although some may need longer leads.
This site is enviably situated almost under the shadow of Château Beynac in the heart of the Dordogne. There are 92 flat marked touring pitches, most of a good size, some large, and with electricity (6/10A). There is plenty of shade. A small fishing lake is on site and it is only a short distance to the Dordogne river for swimming or canoeing. The site is managed by a Dutch/French couple who provide a warm and friendly welcome. This year the owners have built a new reception area in traditional style. English is spoken. A small train passes close to the site but it is unobtrusive. Nearby Beynac is a short walk through the woods and Roque-Gageac, with its troglodyte fort and ancient church, is just 3 km. away.
La Bouquerie is situated within easy reach of the main road network in the Dordogne but without any associated traffic noise. The main complex is based around some beautifully restored traditional Périgord buildings. There is a bar and restaurant that overlook the impressive pool complex, with a large outdoor terrace for fine weather. The excellent restaurant menu is varied and reasonably priced. Of the 185 pitches, 58 are used for touring units and these are of varying size (80-120 sq.m), flat and grassy, some with shade, and all with 10A electrical connections. The majority of the remainder are for mobile homes and chalets for rent.
In the heart of the Bergerac wine-growing region of the Dordogne, Pomport Beach boasts 208 pitches, 96 of which are for touring. Pitches offer a good balance of shade and sun, and all are grassy, level and of a generous size with 10A electrical hook-ups and free WiFi (for one device per pitch). Visitors can enjoy the heated, covered pool, the outdoor fun-pool with a slide or bathe or fish in the lake which forms part of the site. The beach is sandy and is overlooked by the restaurant (extended in 2018). The family-run, friendly site successfully combines its natural environment of mature oaks and sycamores with a lively holiday atmosphere when, in the high season, children’s play area and entertainment, tennis courts, mini-golf and multisports courts come into their own. New in 2019 is a one-night stopping place outside the site for motorhomers.
Camping La Chatonnière is a small, family-run campsite located in the Dordogne region of France, near the village of Jumilhac-le-Grand. It is set in a beautiful location right by the river Loue, with a private sandy beach and plenty of opportunities for swimming, kayaking and fishing. The campsite is known for its peaceful and relaxing atmosphere, making it a perfect place to escape and enjoy the French countryside. On-site, 58 touring pitches have electric hook-up points (10 amp). The pitches are spacious and private, many with mature hedging and trees giving plenty of shade during the summer months. Accommodation is also available to hire, some of which have a beautiful view of the river.
This site is situated in the Périgord Vert in an open rural position. The camping site is set on one side of the road with a leisure park on the other side. There are 100 pitches of which 30 are for mobile homes and chalets, all available to rent. There are 70 pitches for touring units. Pitch size tends to be generous at 100-300 sq.m. each and all are level and on grass. There is some shade and 10A electricity is available. Large units are accepted and there is a motorhome service point with good access around the site. Open to the public, the leisure park is free for guests of the campsite, although a few activities are charged for.
Camping Château le Verdoyer has been developed in the park of a restored château and is owned by a Dutch family. This 22-hectare estate has three lakes, two for fishing and one with a sandy beach and safe swimming area. There are 110 good-sized touring pitches, level, terraced, and hedged. With a choice of wooded area or open field, all have electricity (5/10A), and most share a water supply between four pitches. There is a steep incline from the Chateau, where the majority of pitches are located.
Camping d'Auberoche is a family-friendly campsite in Bassillac et Auberoche, Dordogne, France. It is situated in the heart of the countryside near Périgueux, in the Périgord Noir region, and at the edge of the Auvézère River. On-site, 53 flat grassy touring pitches with electrical hook-up points are available, delimited by mature hedges and tall trees that provide ample shade.
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One of the earliest cradles of civilisation, the Dordogne is a collage of prehistoric caves adorned with ancient paintings and medieval fortresses watching over a landscape of languid rivers, soft grassy plains and oak forests. Sheltering mankind since the Palaeolithic era, it cannot help but invoke a sense of timelessness and wonder in the curious visitor.
The Font de Gaume cave is the ultimate place to experience this awareness of our enduring history. The carefully executed cave paintings are mostly of animals, portrayed in rich colour and expressing lifelike energy. To protect them, the number of visitors is limited daily, so booking is essential. Close by is Sarlat, an attractive town that sprang up around a 9th-century Benedictine abbey. The streets of its old town are lined with sandstone buildings that lend the place a pleasant warmth when the sun shines on them.
Walking and cycling holidays in the Dordogne are best in the spring when the flowers bloom and the town markets are well stocked or in autumn when the heat subsides, and the grape harvest begins.
The Dordogne Blogs
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Technically the Dordogne is one of the three regions that make up Aquitaine, the huge swathe of south west France that stretches from Bordeaux to the Biarritz. The other two regions are the Gironde and Gascony.
The history of the Dordogne goes back many thousands of years to when man lived in the caves of the Périgord in the beautiful valleys of the Dordogne and Vézère, leaving cave paintings at sites such as Les Eyzies and Lascaux.
The Dordogne river rises in the volcanic mountains of the Auvergne from where it forges west through the craggy forests of Limousin and on to Périgord. Mellow stone villages, celebrated castles, vineyards, meandering rivers and lush hillsides crowned with medieval bastide villages all combine to make this a region of unparalleled diversity and appeal.
Campsites in the Dordogne
There are some truly exceptional campsites here in the real heart of the Dordogne. Typically in sublime locations, they are surrounded by rolling wooded hills with sleepy honey coloured villages all around, adorned with vibrant geraniums overflowing from crumbling pots.
Campsites in the Dordogne are often just a stone’s throw from extraordinary castles and many too are set in the grounds of old farmhouses or mills with large, grassy pitches set between tall oak and walnut trees. These shady trees, welcome during the hot summers, are often a legacy from the days when farmers planted walnut trees for the benefit of future generations. The trees were uniquely able to provide food, fuel, timber and flour and consequently a mature specimen was highly prized. Don’t be surprised if you are offered a bag of walnuts occasionally!
Many campsites offer a host of great activities, either on the site itself (such as river swimming, swimming pools or tennis) or a short drive away (canoe trips). Walking and cycling routes are invariably numerous, and with options suitable for all levels of fitness and age.
Excursions and activities
Excursions might include boat trips from Domme and historic La Roque Gageac or canoe excursions with a guide – there are routes for beginners and the more ‘hesitant’. Children love the crystal caves at Proumeyssac and also the underground train at Rouffignac, or you can pass through the vast underground chasm of Padirac.
Head to the spectacular medieval sanctuary of Rocamadour for incredible views and the astonishing houses clinging to the cliffs (not to mention the Forêt des Singes where the mischievous macaques roam free). Discover medieval gems at Beaulieu, Collonges-la-Rouge and Biron and view the incredible son et lumière at Tours de Merle.
Castles and bastides
The ancient dukedom of Aquitaine was ruled by the English for 300 years following the marriage of Eleanor of Aquitaine to Henry Plantagenet, the future king, in 1154. The fortified villages and castles of the area bear evidence of the resulting conflict between the French and the English for control, and today add character to the countryside.
The resulting castles still dominate the skyline. Brooding and austere, they occupy strategic positions and make a fascinating day out where the kids’ imaginations can run free. Popular castles to visit include Castelnaud and Beynac which famously faced each other across the river during the Hundred Years War, one French, one English. Also elegant Milandes, long associated with the colourful Josephine Baker, and others like Feyrac.
The fortified hilltop villages, or bastides, are quite magical. One of the most iconic is Domme, whose far reaching views from the ramparts over the majestic river Dordogne below are quite indescribable and certainly among the finest in France.
The 13th century bastide of Monpazier is delightful. Enter via fortified gateways and stroll beneath covered arches surrounding the elegant main square, pausing for refreshment in one of the pleasant cafés.
Sarlat
The medieval town of Sarlat is not only itself one of the jewels in the crown of the Dordogne but it is also wonderfully well-placed for exploring the area’s pre-history, ancient villages and pastoral countryside. The mellow stone buildings are beautifully preserved – so much so that if the cobbled streets and alleys seem familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen them before in one of many historical films made here, including a version of Les Misérables.
The Saturday market is widely held up as one of France’s best and choosing a restaurant can be a serious challenge – all look very tempting and generally prices are reasonable for excellent fare. Tough local competition ensures prices are kept keen and value high.
Prehistory
The valley of the Vézère is the cradle of man’s past and teems with prehistoric treasures from 17,000 years ago. Les Eyzies is the world centre and the famed cave paintings at Lascaux were discovered by boys in 1940, quickly becoming a sensation before it was realised that visitors were damaging the very thing they came to marvel at. An incredibly intricate replica was created at Lascaux II and a Lascaux 4 offers an even more immersive experience.
Wines
Some of the world’s most famous vineyards are located around Bordeaux and St Emilion. The most famous are from the renowned estates of the Médoc with wine communes like Pomerol, Margaux, Graves, St Julien and St Estèphe and Sauternes enjoying stellar status. Many, but certainly not all, allow visits to their cellars and wine tastings. Bergerac, among others, offers excellent wines at affordable prices.
Cuisine of the Dordogne
The Dordogne is gastronomy central and fantastic delicacies can be found in restaurants as well as markets and on the roadside. This is very much the land of the duck - foie gras is a regional tradition, with confit de canard a ubiquitous and hearty dish and duck fat being used as the cooking medium of choice. Duck breast is on pretty much every menu, and rightly so.
Truffles are a prized delicacy, as well as cep mushrooms. Look out for cheese from Rocamadour, walnuts, strawberries, honey, chestnuts, an incredible array of salads and vegetables. You will not go hungry!
St Emilion
This is a great place for a tour of big name vineyards, perhaps starting with the illustrious Château Ausone whose rock-hewn cellars stretch under the vineyard. The ancient town is gorgeous, perched on a hill with great views of the encircling countryside. Explore the cobbled alleys to discover fine houses, the Château du Roy and the curious Eglise Monolithie, carved out of the hill by 8th century monks.