Camping Sarlat

The capital of the Périgord Noir region, Sarlat is so famed as one of France's top medieval towns partly because of its beaut buildings and partly as it's avoided extensive redevelopment. This latter means, of course, that a wander around Sarlat's small alleys and handsome passageways can have the imaginatively minded musing that they're a knight in Middle Ages or Renaissance times: do give it an adventurous go. Among the top sights to see are the cathedral, the town's 15th and 16th century mansions and the Benedictine abbey, as well as the main square of the Place de la Liberté and the big indoor food market. At the Manoir de Gisson, zip up the bell tower in a glass elevator to see Sarlat laid out below. As you're in the Dordogne, peaceful countryside days and outdoor activities are easily reached from the site too: you could go kayaking along the Dordogne river, hike the surrounding valley, or pedal along the splendid landscapes of the local greenway. One excellent option is to take a trip in a traditional gabare boat to see some of the Périgord's most glitzy châteaux from the river, including Montfort, Castelnaud, Fayrac, Beynac and Milandes. Also recommended by the Camping Sarlat team are days at Castelnaud (14 kilometres) and its castle with the view over the Dordogne valley, Beynac, Marqueyssac and Roque Gageac, and sampling much of the local cuisine at Vitrac (eight kilometres), Vézac (nine kilometres) and Domme (14 kilometres). Dordogne beaches including Carsac Aillac, Castelnaud, La Roque Gageac, St Vincent de Cosse and St Julien de Lampon are all within 17 kilometres of the site.