Make it small and friendly by choosing a smaller campsite where you’ll get a personal welcome.
Camping in the Dordogne
86 campsites in France, Aquitaine, Dordogne for Small Site
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Set on a hilltop on the edge of Sarlat, this site has panoramic views across the Périgord. There are 90 pitches, of which 70 are for touring units, with the remaining 20 for chalets and mobile homes to rent. The site is terraced and the pitches are generally level. All are shady, marked and separated by trees, and have 10/16A electricity. For those with larger units, it is essential to phone in advance for pitch availability, as not all are suitable. A warm and friendly welcome is given by the French owners, whose keen gardening skills are in evidence throughout. This is a well appointed site offering good value for money.
Sometimes we come across small but beautifully kept campsites which seem to have been a well kept secret, and les Valades certainly fits the bill. Set on a hillside overlooking lovely countryside between the Dordogne and Vézère rivers, each pitch is surrounded by a variety of shrubs and trees. The 60 pitches are flat and grassy, mostly on terraces, all with 10A electricity and most with individual water and drainage as well. Ten very large pitches (over 300 sq.m) are available for weekly hire, each having a private sanitary unit, dishwashing, fridge and barbecue. At the bottom of the hill, away from the main area, is a swimming pool and a good sized lake for carp fishing, swimming and canoeing (free canoes).
Camping Le Clupeau is a family campsite situated near the village of Cherveix-Cubas in the Dordogne region of France. The river Auvézère with its reservoir and old mill runs alongside the campsite. There are 33 touring pitches with electric hook-up points available (10Amp). The pitches are delimited by mature hedging, and mature trees offer shade during the summer. Almost half of the pitches can be found along the river, giving great views of the water.
Camping Glamping Le Pré des Chênes is a small family-run site set on three hectares of an old meadow at the top of a small hill bordered by ancient oaks just outside the village of Saint-Cassien. Camping Glamping Le Pré des Chênes is in the heart of the Dordogne, a beautiful region of France known for its rolling hills, picturesque villages, and medieval castles. The campsite is just a short drive from the town of Bergerac, where you can find a variety of shops, restaurants, and cafes. On-site, there are 11 touring pitches with electric hook-up points available. Pitches are not delimited but are jotted around the edge of the campsite, giving you shade from the oak trees.
At the confluence of the Dordogne and Vézère rivers, opposite the picturesque village of Limeuil, this delightful and popular family site exudes a peaceful and relaxed ambience. There are 98 marked touring pitches on grass or hardstanding, some spacious and all with electricity (6/10A). The buildings are in traditional Périgourdine style and surrounded by flowers and shrubs. A sports area on a large, open, grassy space between the river bank and the main camping area adds to the feeling of space and provides an additional recreation and picnic area (there are additional unmarked pitches for tents and camper vans along the river bank).
A friendly, family run campsite in attractive wooded countryside on the edge of Périgord Noir and the Vézère Valley, le Verdoyant is conveniently located for visiting the historic and tourist sites of the Dordogne. Its 68 good-sized pitches are on level ground with trees providing shade in places, a few are on the edge of a small fishing lake, with 10A electricity available. A variety of mobile homes, chalets and equipped tents are for hire. Small animals on site include goats and two friendly donkeys. Footpaths take you through the trees and past ponds to a ‘Borie’ (a mediaeval farm building) and the village of Bars.
Offering just 18 touring pitches, but with a good range of facilities and activities, Les Bo-Bains is a well kept site in an attractive location alongside the Dordogne river. The flat, grassy and good sized pitches are all set along the river bank, with beautiful views across the Dordogne. Pitches are divided by hedges, shrubs and bushes of different varieties and they have plenty of shade. All pitches have electricity, with water taps and drainage points between each pair. Canoeing can be arranged from reception and there are places to launch one’s own small craft.
This campsite is located in the heart of the Périgord Poupre, in an area where rolling hillside vineyards give it a Tuscan air and where the Dordogne river winds gently through its sun-filled valley, with orchards and vineyards scattered along its banks. Monfaucon is between Bergerac and Saint Emilion. Set in ten hectares, most of it pine and oak forest, this is a peaceful site where you can relax in calm and tranquil surroundings. There are 80 mainly level pitches, 50 for touring, with some shade and terraced on a gentle slope. There are 23 mobile homes and an Aqua Lodge to rent. Electricity is 6A. A pleasant swimming pool with a slide and toboggan are set well away from the pitches.
This well kept little campsite, between Le Bugue and Les Eyzies, is an ideal base to explore the châteaux and prehistoric sites of the Périgord region. Around 100 pitches (62 for touring, all with 15A electricity) are flat, grassy and all of a good size.
Camping à la ferme les Pierres Chaudes is a family-friendly campsite located in Veyrignac, France. The campsite is set on a hillside and offers a variety of pitches, including 39 for touring and Electric hook-up points are available. Pitches are separated by mature hedging and trees o you have an option of shaded and unshaded pitches. Mobile homes and apartments are also available to rent.
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.
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.
La Nouvelle Croze is in the heart of the Vézère Valley, just a short 40-minute drive from Sarlat-la-Canéda and Périgueux, guests can easily explore historic sites while returning to the campsite.
A small, neat, family run site situated in beautiful countryside overlooking a wooded valley. A warm welcome awaits you at this site ideal for couples and families with small children. There are only 48 pitches with 19 spacious, grassy, slightly sloping pitches for touring (10A electricity). They are in two different areas with some more shaded pitches near the mobile homes and the others in a more open meadow. They are partly separated by a wide range of flowering shrubs, and maturing trees give some shade. There is a small swimming pool, bar, snack bar and takeaway open in July and August. Twin-axle caravans are not accepted.
Belle Vue is a small, family owned site, with a fine view of the Château de Hautefort, an imposing structure to the east of Périgueux. This is a tiny site with just six pitches, all of which are spacious (and all with 6A electricity). The current owners arrived in 2008 and have set about enhancing the site’s facilities. They will be delighted to recommend walking or cycling routes in the vicinity. The château has an enviable position, overlooking the Auvézère valley and the medieval village of Hautefort.
Lou Castel is attractively located close to Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, at the heart of the Périgord Noir, and close to many of the region’s major attractions. There are 99 stony pitches here with just a little grass, 33 are available for touring under oak trees which provide good shade. All have electricity (10A). A range of mobile homes, chalets and bungalow-style tents are available for hire. The pool complex is impressive with three water slides, two swimming pools and a separate children’s paddling pool. There is a bar/restaurant with a large terrace which is used for entertainment in peak season.
Located on the outskirts of the village of Verteillac, Camping Le Pontis offers a fantastic base for exploring the top attractions of the Dordogne region between the communes of Angoulème and Périgueux. The site is ideally situated for outdoor adventures and sightseeing, with several marked walking trails passing right by. Additionally, you're only a half-hour drive from Brantôme, often referred to as the "Venice of Périgord," where you can enjoy scenic boat trips along the Dronne, taking in views of its famous riverside abbey. The local village hosts a beloved farmers' market in July and August featuring live music and a welcoming atmosphere. On-site, there are 11 touring pitches, which have electric hook-up points available. There are also 57 accommodation options available to hire.
Camping Domaine de Corneuil is situated in 25 hectares of park and woodland in the Périgord Vert region of the Dordogne. There are 20 mainly level, touring pitches (100-200 sq.m. with 10A Europlug) for tents and caravans as well as mobile homes and furnished tents to rent, mostly set on the woodland fringes of the park. Some are particularly suitable for those seeking peace and tranquillity, while others are specifically for families. Fresh bread is available daily and there are several villages and towns within a 25 km. radius for other provisions. Several improvements are planned for the 2016 season. English is spoken.
This site is very nicely presented with good attention to detail throughout. It is situated ten minutes north of Sarlat in the hills of the Périgord Noir in a very rural position with plenty of greenery all around. The beautiful lake at Tamniès is 300 m. away and provides fishing, boating, a beach and good walks. There are 83 pitches, 53 for touring units and the remaining 30 for mobile homes to rent. The level pitches are of a good size with no access problems for larger units and roads around the site are tarmac. Electricity supplied is 6/10A. Trees provide good levels of 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.