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Sarlat-la-Canéda
A Private Day Trip From Sarlat to Castles & Gardens of the Dordogne
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private tours
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Sightseeing
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08 hours
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Small Groups ( 2~8 )
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Active
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Multi-languages
English Français
- Highlights
- Program
- Gallery
- Know before
- Meeting point
- Reviews
- Inc. / Exc.
- FAQ
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Highlights
- The Dordogne is dotted with Mighty castles & Pristine Gardens
- Choose the Castles you would like to visit among our selection
- Discover beautiful French Gardens among our selection
- Dordogne Tour can be customized to suit your interests
- All entrance fees can be purchased during booking process
- Local Tour Guide, Expert of the Dordogne Region
Program & Itinerary
Meet your Expert local guide
Today, meet your English speaking guide who is an expert of the Dordogne and who will go over the itinerary and program of this full day private tour with you. Then, board your spacious, comfortable, air conditioned Mercedes minivan and begin to make your way to the Dordogne valley.
Travel in a spacious Mercedes minivan
Your private Sarlat Sightseeing Tour of Castles & Gardens of the Dordogne region will take place in one of our very spacious Mercedes Minivans. This vehicle can take up to 8 persons normally but on this occasion, the vehicle will only be for you. This allows you to choose the seat that you think best in terms of social distancing while still enjoying the information passed on by your guide.
All our vehicles are equipped with an on board P/A system that allows you to hear the commentary of your driver/guide no matter where you are seated. Also, there is free Wi-Fi access on all tour vehicles. Bottled water is also available in all our vehicles.
Choose among our selection of Castles & Gardens
This full day tour from Sarlat la Canéda will take you along the Dordogne River to discover some of the most beautiful medieval castles the region has to offer. To make things easy for you, we have selected our most stunning Castles & Gardens that can be visited in the region.
You will then be able to choose your tickets to the ones you have selected during the booking process. Our team will then review your choices and design the best possible itinerary.
Beynac Castle
This Middle Ages construction, with its austere appearance, is perched on top of a limestone cliff, dominating the town and the north bank of the Dordogne River. The castle was built from the 12th century by the barons of Beynac (one of the four baronies of Périgord) to close the valley. The sheer cliff face being sufficient to discourage any assault from that side, the defenses were built up on the plateau: double crenelated walls, double moats, one of which was a deepened natural ravine, double barbican.
Castelnaud la Chapelle Castle
Built in the 12th century, Château de Castelnaud became the possession of a Cathar lord in the 13th century and was destroyed by Simon de Montfort during the Albigensian Crusade. A new castle was then built to replace it and during the Hundred Years war became essentially the possession of the English troops. Castelnaud did not suffer any damage during the War of Religions and was abandoned by its original owners, the Caumont family, in the 17th century serving as a stone quarry in the 19th century.
Today, Castelnaud castle is home to a surprising and well furnished Museum of Military Warfare. This castle is a perfect kid friendly Dordogne visit as it is a perfect example of medieval military construction. Both parents and children alike will take a leap back in time as they follow our guide on a private visit that will include the fortifications and the weapons and armor collection.
Commarque Castle
Commarque Castle is one of our preferred castles of the Dordogne. Lesser known than Beynac or Castelnau, this castle is the most curious fortress of the Perigord with its complex defense system, its concentric remparts and its vertical Donjon that reaches 80 meters high.
What is unique about Commarque is that it also possesses other highlights than just being your traditional, medieval castle. Discover the lower room of the 'Corps des Logis' where the prehistoric cave of Commarque is located. Discovered in 1915, the cave is exceptional because of its parietal representations that date from the Magdalenian period, in majority animals (including a superb life size horse), feminin figures and two human faces.
If you are traveling with children to the Dordogne, then Commarque is also a great choice as the castle team offers a different workshop everyday. These include creating a Coat of Arms, Medieval geometry, Medieval calligraphy, Animal Totem and archery.
Milandes Castle & Gardens
Built in 1489, this charming castle with its magnificent Gothic features is a great example of Renaissance architecture. The castles remained the undisputed home of the Caumont family until the French Revolution. In 1940, the entertainer Josephine Baker rented the Château and then bought it in 1947. Awarded “Maison des Illustres” in 2012 by the French Ministry of Culture, the castle of the Milandes devotes its rooms to Josephine Baker, the most famous resident of the 20th century.
Milandes is also home to a French Garden & park. Redesigned by Charles Claverie who commissioned Jules Vacherot, who was the head gardener of Paris, the park was surrounded by city grids as were urban gardens. Major restorations of the park and gardens have been done since 2003, the latest dating back to 2016. Today, the laws are interspersed with patios, bushes have been planted to give them a coherent feel and a magnificent flower bed surrounds the fountain.
Castle of Fénelon
Far from the busy castles located next to Sarlat, lesser known Chateau de Fénelon is a small gem. Built on a small hill overlooking the Dordogne River, this is one of the most interesting castles of the Dordogne when it comes to furniture. Built around the 14th century, the interior offers a very large number of richly decorated rooms including the Great Renaissance hall with it tapestries, the Louis XIII style bedroom (where the writer Fénelon was born), the Louis XVI bedroom and the impressive weapons room that regroups more than 300 weapons from the 15th to 18th century.
Gardens of Eyrignac Manor
This Garden is one of the most famous of the Dordogne area. Planted with mostly evergreens, it can be visited all year round. Located in the Perigord noir area, admire the many different geometric lines that are a setting for the Manor. Plants include boxwood, yew trees, hornbeam and ivy. Stroll through the different garden settings such as the Rose Garden, the flower and vegetable garden all of which make up this French Style Garden.
Gardens of Marqueyssac
Discover stunning panoramic views over the Dordogne as you visit the Gardens of Marqueyssac. Listed as a National Historical Monument, the garden offers more than 6 kilometers of shaded paths, edged with 150 000 hand-pruned hundred year old boxwoods. The park is designed for walking along a spur that overlooks the whole Dordogne valley.
The paths are organized in three circuits that are adapted on the time you have available for the visit. One of the highlights of the Garden is the Belvedere, located approximately 800 meters from the Chateau de Marqueyssac, that reveals a stunning view over the whole valley, 130 meters above the Dordogne River.
After the visits, return to Sarlat.
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Meet your Guide at your Accomodation in Sarlat
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Photo Stop along the Dordogne Valley
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Choose a 1st Castle or Garden visit
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Choose a 2nd Castle or Garden visit
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Free time for lunch (at own expense)
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Choose a 3rd and final Castle or Garden visit
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Drop off at your accommodation in Sarlat
Gallery



Know before you book
- Tour available from April to October
- 8 hour Castles & Gardens Private tour from Sarlat
- Tour is operated in English, other languages on request
- Entrance tickets can be purchased during booking process
- Tour is not wheelchair accessible
- Prices are per group from 2 to 8 persons - Larger groups please contact us
- Currency is in Euros
COVID-19 SAFETY MEASURES
- Face Masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available for travelers and staff
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
Meeting point
Departure
Other possible pick up locations :
- Montignac
- Les Eyzies de Tayac
- Beynac, La Roque Gageac, Domme
Return
Reviews
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AnneSginkgo
02, Jul 2019
Florence was great in every way. very knowledgeable, kind and super prepared. we packed so much
into our day and I am grateful to her.
Included / excluded
Included
- English-speaking driver guide, Expert of the Dordogne
- Travel in recent, comfortable & fully equipped minivan
- Bottled water in the minivan
- Free WiFi access on board
Excluded
- Entrance fees to the different castles and gardens
- Personal insurance and expenses
- Meals, drinks & wine tasting fees
- Gratuities for the driver/guide
FAQ
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Do you organize pick up and return at accommodation for Sarlat private tours?
Yes, absolutely, we will come and pick you up at your hotel or accommodation in Sarlat. We can also pick you up within a radius of 30kms (20 miles) around Sarlat at no extra cost. -
What type of vehicles are used during your private tours from Sarlat?
Our company uses only Mercedes Vito Tourer 8 seater minivans that are recent, comfortable and fully equipped including individual A/C, shaded windows, large leg space and on board P/A system for commentaries by the guide. -
Who conducts these Dordogne private tours from Sarlat?
We only employ fully accredited, licensed tour guides that are also the drivers for all tours that need visits to be conducted by certified guides. Good examples are: the visit of the National Prehistory Museum, guided walking tours in villages such as Rocamadour, visit of historical monuments and so on. In the Dordogne, all our guides are experts in History & Culture. All have a large experience in Paleolithic Art and conduct tours in both Caves & Castles. -
How strenuous is this tour?
This tour involves a great deal of walking. All the Chateaus have stairs to climb and uneven soil. The gardens also involve some walking. Our suggestion is that you do not book this tour if you have any walking issues. -
How can I choose which castle or garden to visit?
You have the choice between 5 castles and 2 gardens on a day that will include 3 visits. All castles except for Commarque are located along the River Dordogne and are a short distance from one another. This is also true for Marqueyssac Gardens that is located along the Dordogne. Both Commarque and Eyrignac are a short drive away from the River. In any case, once our team of travel advisors have received your choices they will organize your day so that it corresponds to your wishes. If the timing or order of the visits have to modified, we will get in touch with you rapidly to inform you. -
What can we expect on this Castles & Gardens private tour from Sarlat?
This full day private tour gives you the possibility to combine the visits of medieval castles with local gardens for which the Dordogne is famous for. Choose among our selection during the booking process depending on what type of castles & gardens you would like to visit. There is a choice of 5 different castles and 3 different gardens some of which combine both options like the castle & gardens of Milandes. All visits are conducted by your driver/guide except for Marqueyssac gardens where this is basically a stroll. -
Is lunch included on this private tour from Sarlat?
No, we never include lunch on our private full day tours from Sarlat. If you would like to include a lunch in a local restaurant don't hesitate to reach out and our travel advisors will take care of your restaurant reservation. Also, don't hesitate to ask your guide in the morning for recommendations.
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