The Dordogne might not seem like the first place you’d think of taking the kids when you’re planning a trip to France. But you’d be pleasantly surprised by how much fun and diversity it offers on a family holiday.
There’s some of the world’s best food and drink for the grown-ups to enjoy, and some of the best kids’ activities in Dordogne that everyone is sure to remember for years to come. If you’re looking for a fantastic family-friendly villa in the Dordogne, at Oliver’s Travels you can even choose properties that are perfect for babies, children or teens, making it even easier to find your perfect place to stay.
To help inspire you to start planning your Dordogne holidays with kids, we’ve listed a few of our favourite things to do as a family below to choose from!
Let’s face it, water parks are kiddie heaven. So if you’re looking for the best places to visit in Dordogne with your kids, pack swimsuits and armbands and let your lot loose on the thrilling slides of Aux Etangs du Bos. It won’t be long before you see a smile on their faces.
With several pools of varying depths, a lake with inflatable attractions to play in and a handful of slides to careen down, as well as crazy golf and a play area, this water park – less than 40 minutes drive west of Sarlat – is a real child-pleaser. For the adults, there are areas to lay out as well as picnic tables where you can unpack your lunch.
If you’ve got the kind of kids who like to be active on their holiday, then canoeing down the Dordogne River itself is a great way to spend an afternoon when the weather is warm. There are various rental companies along the river which will lend you everything you need to stay safe out on the water, and can also recommend the best routes depending on how far you want to paddle.
For any child that’s ever read about Phileas Fogg or indeed watched Phineas and Ferb, heading up in a hot air balloon is the stuff of dreams. Few landscapes are as pleasant to look down upon as the rolling green hills, woodlands and meandering rivers of the Dordogne, and experiencing these views in a hot air balloon will ensure your holiday is unforgettable.
If you’ve got children aged between seven and 12, Montgolfières Du Périgord will allow you to take them along on a magical ride through the skies for a reduced rate. So for family holidays in the Dordogne with older children, a hot air balloon ride is a great option for a really special family experience
If you’re looking for one of the best places to visit in Dordogne to appreciate nature, Les Jardins de Marqueyssac is a National Historical Monument consisting of a 19th-century château and huge, sprawling gardens. With over 6km of path to explore around the grounds and plenty of beautiful topiary to explore, this is a lovely part of the Dordogne to visit during the spring and summer.
A highlight of the Jardins de Marqueyssac for kids is the large boxwood maze, but there are also two playgrounds and a small treetop adventure course. Once you’ve explored the gardens, sit down to enjoy a picnic in the sunshine, or visit the restaurant and tea room to enjoy delicious food with views of the grounds.
Often, the difference between a good and really great holiday boils down to local knowledge and recommendations. When you book a guided tour with a local, through a provider like Ze Chauffer, you can enlist the services of a resident with tons of travel know-how who will show you and your family a side of the neighbouring French Basque Country you may never otherwise see.
Because these types of guided tours are private, you can alter and adapt them to suit your children, moving on as soon as you notice the first signs of boredom creeping onto the kids’ faces. Your local guide can also introduce you to the culinary specialities of the region and arm you with recommendations to fill up the rest of your days in the region. If you’re visiting Dordogne with kids for the first time, it can be a great way to get to know the area and find personalised suggestions of what to do and where to go.
If you’ve got a family full of animal lovers then one of the best things to do on a Dordogne holiday with kids is visit La Forêt des Singes in Rocamadour. Home to over 100 Barbary macaques, this nature reserve allows the monkeys to roam freely amongst visitors, presenting plenty of opportunities to admire the very cute creatures.
Whilst you’re asked to keep a respectful distance from the monkeys around the forest, visitors can take part in regular feeding sessions alongside the keepers, where you can also learn more about the species and how they are being studied at the reserve. When it comes to feeding time for your children, there are picnic areas and a small snack bar on site.
We’re so used to seeing our kids glued to screens that it can be hard to imagine them getting enthused over something as anachronistic as papermaking. But there’s something about the hands-on tours at Moulin à Papier de la Rouzique, a wonderfully quaint paper mill, that has them waiting with bated breath to hear more.
During a visit to the mill, a guide will walk your family through the paper-making process, explaining how the machinery works and the various stages of preparation – they’ll even get the chance to help make a sheet. The tour is in French, but written information is available in English and guides can also translate, so it’s accessible to everyone. If you’ve got children with creative interests, this is a great activity for a Dordogne family holiday.
Unlike the famous Lascaux cave paintings, the prehistoric drawings in the Cave of Font-de-Gaume are the originals. Adults will be enthralled by the marvellous paintings and by the commentary from the guide who will explain what the pictures reveal about the people who made them.
Kids, on the other hand, will get their kicks from the thrill of entering the dark, murky depths of the cave with only a dim light to lead the way. Younger kids may find the darkness and narrow passages of the cave a little too scary, so you’ll need to make a judgment based on your child’s personality.
A word of warning: only a limited amount of tickets are sold per day so you’ll need to get there early and queue to ensure entry. It’s well worth the visit however; a trip to these caves is one of the best things to do in the Dordogne.
9. Experience Medieval Life
Perched on a rocky hilltop, Château de Castelnaud is a storied chateau that played a key role in the Hundred Years War and is one of the best castles in the region for kids. While many of the other mediaeval fortresses in the Dordogne are like resting giants, sleeping after their eventful past, this castle is very much alive and kicking with practical demonstrations taking place all summer.
A trip to Château de Castelnaud is definitely one of the best things to do with kids in Dordogne. See a working trebuchet being fired, observe an armourer at work in the forge and watch a mock battle. Even the most museum-averse children will find the chateau’s displays of mediaeval weapons, such as daggers, cannons and crossbows, engaging.
As you can see from our list of recommendations, there are plenty of things to do with kids in Dordogne. It’s a region of France which is great for active holidays, with opportunities for cycling, walking, canoeing and swimming. But it’s also a fantastic part of the country for historic sightseeing, with many chateaux geared up for visitors of all ages to teach them about life in France in previous years.
It can be difficult to organise a holiday itinerary for a family that keeps everyone happy, but in the Dordogne, there’s a brilliant variety of different things to do. Visiting in the spring or summer gives you the best chance of warm and dry weather which means you can make the most of all the outdoor activities and sightseeing opportunities, as well as taking part in events that are organised over the summer holidays.
If you want to find the perfect villa, chateau or holiday home to enjoy with the kids in the Dordogne, Oliver’s Travels has a fantastic collection of luxury villas in the Dordogne that are ideal for family holidays of all shapes and sizes.
Stuck on trying to decide where to stay? Just get in touch with our concierge team! They can help you find the ideal property, and even help arrange activities and family adventures.
Need some more inspiration? Find out how you can enjoy the region’s authentic side with our local guide to Dordogne or get impressed by our top 5 sights to see in Dordogne!
Dordogne travel guide
Top 10 Villas in the Dordogne
Quiz: Your Perfect French Getaway
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