Must-do activities in the Dordogne: Sarlat area, Domme, Beynac, Saint Cyprien

The Dordogne is the land of a thousand and one castles, and the Périgord Noir is dominated by medieval castles, veritable fortresses. If there's one must-see place to visit, it's the area between the village of Saint Cyprien and Domme. Here you'll find the majestic Château de Beynac perched on a cliffside opposite the Château de Castelnaud, home to the war museum. Just a few kilometers away, you can also visit Château des Milandes, once the home of Josephine Baker. At Château des Milandes, you can watch falconry shows.

Also in the area are the gardens of Marqueyssac, remarkable gardens and masterpieces of topiary art. The Marqueyssac gardens also offer a via ferrata, guaranteed to give you a thrill.

Still in the area, you'll want to visit the village of Beynac on the banks of the Dordogne at the foot of the château. Opposite, the village of Castelnaud is also authentic, so take the opportunity to visit the walnut eco-museum, where you can taste walnut oil, walnuts and walnut cakes.

You'll then head for La Roque-gageac , a troglodyte village nestled between cliff and river. Simply breathtaking. Continue on to the bastide village of Domme. The village is entirely pedestrianized, perched at the top of one of the highest points of the Dordogne. At the end of the little square, where you can enjoy a bite to eat or a local ice cream, you'll come to a Belvedere overlooking the Dordogne valley. Domme also has a cave that can be visited. The village is classified as one of France's most beautiful villages.

The charming little village of Saint Cyprien is also well worth a visit. And less than twenty minutes away is Sarlat, the must-see town of the Périgord Noir.

Between Saint Cyprien and Domme, you'll find numerous canoeing bases. Canoeing can be enjoyed in many parts of the Périgord, particularly on the Vézère. But it's undoubtedly between Cénac and Saint Cyprien that you should be paddling. Wander through villages, limestone cliffs and castles, a real feast for the eyes. You can also stop off at the beaches for a picnic or a swim.

Depending on the service provider you choose, you'll either be dropped off by bus upstream of the canoe base, or you'll leave from the base to a finish point from where you'll be brought back. We recommend that you leave from a downstream base, so that you're free to return to the base.

If you don't want to row, the traditional flat-bottomed "gabarres" ply the Dordogne and offer guided tours.

Still between Saint Cyprien and Domme, you'll find providers of hot-air balloon flights. It's no coincidence that the flights take place over the Dordogne and its castles, and it's also possible to fly in a small plane, a microlight or even to parachute.

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More than twenty brasseries have set up shop in the Dordogne, enriching the Périgord's gastronomic heritage. In particular, we recommend you visit la Lutine located at Limeuil classified as one of France's most beautiful villages, at the confluence of the Dordogne and Vézère rivers. La lutine offers you a whole range of beers, each more surprising and tasty than the last, all made from organically grown produce.