Camping Le Moulin du Roch

There are several historic towns you’ll want to conquer by foot. The fortified town of Sarlat-la-Canéda (10 minutes’ drive) harks back to the medieval ages, with gold-hued Renaissance buildings at every turn. The riverside village and the hilltop castle of Beynac-et-Cazenac (15 minutes) is a photographer’s goldmine too, while the maze-like medieval ruins of the fortress of Château de Commarque (10 minutes) invite more opportunities to get lost in history. Elsewhere, the sculpture-filled 17th-century garden of Eyrignac Manor Gardens (25 minutes) is a space for more leisurely walking. Dig into more historic settlements at the clifftop site of Roque Saint-Christophe (15 minutes), an original troglodyte village. You can also try to decipher the rock-carved figures etched by the old inhabitants of the caves at nearby Grotte du Sorcier (20 minutes). A larger cave network can be found at Gouffre de Padirac (an hour). For something of a mystical experience, aim for the the pilgrimage site of Rocamadour (an hour), where you can also access the wildlife park at La Foret des Singes or the birds’ nests at Rocher des Aigles.