Camping Les Charmes

The most famed tourist destination close to the site, Les Eyzies, can keep you occupied for days: this spectacular set of archaeological attractions is part of the UNESCO-listed Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley and has stacks to see both inside and out. The best known of the lot is probably Lascaux cave, home to around 600 cave paintings made over several generations; archaeology aficionados should also see the Font-de-Gaume cave for more paintings, and the stalactites and stalagmites of the Grotte du Grand-Roc in its cliffside setting overlooking the Vézère valley. Delve into the extensive tale of all these at the splendid National Museum of Prehistory, which has 12,000 exhibits as well as plenty of activities for families. Next up should be stunning Sarlat, rightly hailed as one of the top medieval towns in France and still with a properly ye olde feel as the powers that be in town have sensibly avoided any extensive redevelopment. Among the many sights to see are the Place de la Liberté (indoor food market here = a must), the 15th and 16th century mansions, the Benedictine abbey and the 14th-century Sarlat Cathedral.