Castles of the Dordogne Valley Day Trip from Sarlat
Sarlat-la-Canéda, France
Trip Type: Day Trips
Duration: 8 hours
Enjoy a full day tour in the Dordogne area to discover the most significant sites that are located along this magical river. From mighty medieval fortresses to beautiful hilltop villages this day tour of the Dordogne valley will let you discover Castelnau, Milandes and Marqueyssac castles as well as unique stops along the way for wonderful photo opportunities.
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Enjoy a full day tour in the Dordogne area to discover the most significant sites that are located along this magical river. From mighty medieval fortresses to beautiful hilltop villages this day tour of the Dordogne valley will let you discover Castelnau, Milandes and Marqueyssac castles as well as unique stops along the way for wonderful photo opportunities.
Dordogne is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful places to visit in France. Known worldwide for its beautiful countryside, mild weather and medieval villages packed with ancient castles - there are over a thousand in this region of France alone. Today, follow your English speaking driver guide and head towards the small village of Carsac Aillac. Here, you will discover one of the most beautiful countryside churches which dates back to the 11th century. Then, arrive along the Dordogne River and stop for some photo opportunities.
Reach the castle of Castelnau, one of the mightiest medieval fortresses of the area. Here, your guide will take you on a 2 hour tour of the castle explaining the subtleties behind medieval military architecture. The castle is also famous as it holds one of the most extensive collection of medieval weapons in France. After the visit enjoy some free time for personal discovery and lunch (own expense).
In the afternoon, the tour will head to the Milandes castle which was once the possession of Josephine Baker. Perched on a craggy hill overlooking the Dordogne River, the castle is everything one would imagine a Renaissance castle should look like. Built in 1498, Milandes castle was bought by Josephine Baker in 1938 and your visit today will reveal Baker’s extraordinary story through photographs, recordings, film clips, and artifacts such as stage costumes, including the famous banana belt from her show at the "Folies Bergères". Here, you might also be interested in seeing the unique falconry display which takes place in the afternoon.
Finally, reach the castle and famed gardens of Marqueyssac. These stunningly sculptured landscapes wrap around a 17th century chateau which sits perched above the picturesque Dordogne valley. The bubbly, rounded forms of the garden are carefully manicured by active attendants, maintaining a design that was first developed over 300 years ago. Here, your guide will introduce you to the Gardens and Chateau but you will have some free time to enjoy the grounds at leisure.
Reach the castle of Castelnau, one of the mightiest medieval fortresses of the area. Here, your guide will take you on a 2 hour tour of the castle explaining the subtleties behind medieval military architecture. The castle is also famous as it holds one of the most extensive collection of medieval weapons in France. After the visit enjoy some free time for personal discovery and lunch (own expense).
In the afternoon, the tour will head to the Milandes castle which was once the possession of Josephine Baker. Perched on a craggy hill overlooking the Dordogne River, the castle is everything one would imagine a Renaissance castle should look like. Built in 1498, Milandes castle was bought by Josephine Baker in 1938 and your visit today will reveal Baker’s extraordinary story through photographs, recordings, film clips, and artifacts such as stage costumes, including the famous banana belt from her show at the "Folies Bergères". Here, you might also be interested in seeing the unique falconry display which takes place in the afternoon.
Finally, reach the castle and famed gardens of Marqueyssac. These stunningly sculptured landscapes wrap around a 17th century chateau which sits perched above the picturesque Dordogne valley. The bubbly, rounded forms of the garden are carefully manicured by active attendants, maintaining a design that was first developed over 300 years ago. Here, your guide will introduce you to the Gardens and Chateau but you will have some free time to enjoy the grounds at leisure.
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