20 Attractions to Explore Near Pech Merle

Pont Valentré is a 14th-century six-span fortified stone arch bridge crossing the Lot River to the west of Cahors, in France. This massive bridge took 70 years to complete from 1308 to 1378 and never saw combat, although its arduous construction lead to a legend of a deal with the devil. The bridge was classified in 1998 as a world heritage site and it can only be crossed by foot.

The Gouffre de Padirac is one of the largest chasms in Europe. Discovered by the famous French cave explorer Edouard Martel, it was opened to the public in 1899. visitors gaze down into the enormous 75 metre chasm into the earth, 33 metres wide. It then leads into a cave system, created by millennia of subterranean underground water erosion which has carved out spectacular caverns in the limestone.

The Bonaguil castle is a marvel of medieval architecture situated between Périgord and Quercy in the village of Saint-Front-sur-Lémance near Fumel which was built in the 13th century. It forms a set, unique in Europe, of gigantic proportions and in an outstanding state of conservation.

The garden of Marqueyssac is one of the finest achievements in the history of French gardens. It consists of six kilometers of shaded alleys, edged by 150,000 had pruned, hundred-year-old box trees. This garden was set on a rocky spur which overlooking the Dordogne valley. This immaculately maintained garden was developed around a traditional 17th-century chateau and offer a befitting belvedere balcony from where visitors can enjoy glorious views of the Dordogne Valley 130 meters below.

A majestic 12th century castle which stands high over the Dordogne valley, with magnificent views of the Châteaux of Beynac, Jardins de Marqueyssac and the medieval village of La Roque-Gageac. It was now a museum displaying the art of warfare in the Middle Ages. Inside, it has a unique private collection of arms and armour, as well as furniture from the period. The castle has a picturesque setting on the side of a hill and offers magnificent panoramic views over the Dordogne Valley.

A 12th-century majestic castle which was one of the most authentic and well-conserved in the region. It offers a magnificent view over the valley of five castles. It was built on a plateau with a sheer cliff to one side on the banks of the Dordogne River. Surrounding the chateau is the lovely village of Beynac-et-Cazenac, one of Frances Les plus beaux villages de France or designated Beautiful Villages.

The Château des Milandes is a French castle located in the commune of Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, in the Dordogne department. It was built in 1489 and was then the main residence of the lords of Caumont who also owned the castle of Castelnaud. The windows mullioned covered windows are pierced but turrets, spiral staircases, and gargoyles, architectural elements from the Middle Ages are kept. It was one of the renowned attractions in this area.

A 17th-century manor house which was located at Salignac-Eyvigues. The castle was surrounded by a Italian Renaissance garden and an elaborate topiary garden which gives a greenish shade to the castle which is set on the top of a hill. The castle and the garden is a good example for the ancient living style and the garden is listed by the Committee of Parks and Gardens of the French Ministry of Culture as one of the Notable Gardens of France.

The Château de Biron is a castle in the valley of the Lède in France. Chateau de Biron occupies a strategic position on the borders of Périgord and Agenais not far from the fortified town of Monpazier. Today the castle belongs to the département of the Dordogne and is listed among the Major Sites of Aquitaine and as a Historical Monument. The present château bears additions over the centuries that make it a picturesque ensemble.

The castle of Commarque takes place on the town of Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil. Built on a rocky outcrop in the Beune Valley, it faces Laussel castle on the other side of Beune. This castle has been nicknamed the Fortress forgotten because of its difficult access. One of the majestic building of the 15th century and it will be a worth visit.

The cave of Font-de-Gaume is an ornate French cave located in the former commune of Eyzies-de-Tayac, in the Dordogne department. Its walls have more than 200 Magdalenian engravings and paintings. It is among the last major decorated caves in France with polychrome works, which are open to the public. The works are comparable in their richness to those of Arcy-sur-Cure, Altamira or Lascaux , even if their state of conservation is much less.

The Proumeyssac gulf is a natural cavity in the town of Audrix, in Dordogne, in the department of Dordogne, in region New Aquitaine. It is open to visitors. Among the natural sites of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, the site ranks fifth in terms of tourist attendance in 2018 with 131,036 visitors.

The Grand Roc cave is located on the territory of the French commune of Eyzies-de-Tayac-Sireuil in Périgord Noir. the particularity of the Grand Roc lies in its extraordinary eccentric formations which give the impression of evolving in a "mineral forest". Throughout the tour, it is only a tangle of crystallizations of great diversity: stalagmites, eccentric concretions, fistulas , gours, triangles, columns, draperies, etc.

Lascaux is a Palaeolithic cave situated in southwestern France, near the village of Montignac. It houses some of the most famous examples of prehistoric cave paintings. There are around 600 paintings which are mostly of animals. Besides these paintings, which represent most of the major images, there are also around 1400 engravings of a similar order which are dated to c. 17,000 – c. 15,000 BCE.

The Périgord Noir aquarium is, with more than 6,000 fish, the largest private freshwater aquarium in France . It is located in the Dordogne department , in the commune of Bugue , just next to the village of Bournat. Pike , catfish , sturgeon and other fluvial species are presented to the public through bay windows. Different species of fish are visible in the different rooms of the aquarium.

The Toulouse-Lautrec museum is to be found in one of the most beautiful corners of Albi. The Berbie Palace is one of the Episcopal City’s major sites, with world heritage status. The museum is recognised internationally for the works of this artist from Albi. The museum houses over a thousand works by Toulouse-Lautrec. It is based on a donation by Toulouse-Lautrec's mother after his death in 1901.

Saint Cecilia’s, the largest brick-built cathedral in the world has the appearance of a fortified castle and offers those who push its door a striking collection of paintings, sculptures, and statues. More than 800,000 visitors cross the threshold each year. It was the most visited site in the UNESCO World Heritage classed Episcopal City.

Rouffignac Cave is one of the largest caves which was located in the Dordogne département which contains around, which contains over 250 engravings and cave paintings dating back to the Upper Paleolithic. There is over 8 km of underground caverns and tunnels which was open to the public. Visitors are taken to the prehistoric art on an electric train and a journey deep into the cave that lasts about an hour.

The Château de Hautefort is a French château and gardens located in the town of Hautefort in the Dordogne. The castle was originally a medieval fortress that was reconstructed in the 17th century, and embellished with a jardin à la française. In 1853, the landscape architect, Count of Choulot, redesigned the gardens, adding a landscape garden, geometric flower gardens, topiary gardens imitating the domes of the château, and a long tunnel of greenery.

The castle de Monbazillac is a unique and original architectural blend of medieval defensive fortifications and Renaissance exuberance. Set in the heart of the prestigious vineyard of the same name. It is an attractive wooded setting with far-reaching views across the region. The castle contains some finely decorated rooms and apartments.