There are plenty of leisure activities to enjoy around Fareyroux. If you’re willing to drive as far as 80 kilometres (yes, France is a big country), the number of possible and interesting day trips increases considerably.

The owner has a small library of travel guides, which he is happy to make available to guests. There is an endless array of things to do.

The areas to the south, south-east and east of Périgueux are particularly attractive, but the northern Périgord Vert, with its countless forests and enchantingly beautiful countryside, is also well worth a visit. In fact, the trips are always worthwhile; in summer, you just need to bear in mind that you’ll be travelling mainly on country roads and it always takes longer than you think. Don’t overbook your days.

So here’s a list of things to see around Fareyroux, all within easy reach. We haven’t tried everything on it yet; much of it, or most of it, comes from recommendations by locals.

Please check them out for yourselves:

• A visit to the “Saint Astier” lime works – that is, the underground lime quarries in the town of Saint Astier itself. Special guided tours are available during the summer months; advance booking is required, but it’s definitely worth a visit. It’s a bit chilly and very basic, but it doesn’t cost much and it’s certainly interesting to see how a regional company is trying to make a living in a market environment (the building material lime) characterised by raw material cycles and international competition from construction firms.
• A shopping trip to buy wine in Bergerac. You can find the relevant wineries yourself.
• The market in Saint Astier every Thursday is definitely worth a visit. The markets in general! 
• A kayaking trip on any of the countless rivers in the Dordogne.
• A cave tour – or perhaps several. There are certainly five or ten options, right into the Massif Central, to visit caves with paintings, stalactite formations or engravings. Well worth a visit. Cro-Magnon man was at home here! The Périgord has been inhabited since time immemorial, at least since 30,000 BC.

We can highly recommend Lascaux II (not IV), provided it is open. But do make sure to check in advance whether a visit is still possible at all; we don’t know.

Churches

The Romanesque churches and chapels in the villages and hamlets of the Périgord Blanc. There are a truly enchanting number of small, very pretty villages here. They are well worth a visit, often feature medieval architecture and have a heart-warming, authentic charm. In many of these villages stand Romanesque churches that have hardly changed over the centuries; sometimes open, sometimes closed, they are certainly worth a visit, combined with a walk or a cycle ride, or simply a trip through the countryside, perhaps including a visit to a restaurant.

• Chapel in La Tour-Blanche-Cercles: Notre-Dame-de-Pitié
• the church in Allemand: I haven’t been there myself yet, but it has been recommended to me.
• The church in Siorac-de-Ribérac: Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens
• This impressive 12th-century fortified church is a prime example of fortified Romanesque architecture. As the region was a border area between the English and the French during the Hundred Years’ War, it was fortified in the 14th century (as can be seen from the massive towers). Inside, there is a beautiful dome (typical of the Périgord) and ancient wall paintings. If you’re looking for ‘atmosphere’, this is perhaps the most beautiful church in the region, as it looks so defiant and majestic. The church is often open. There’s a pub nearby, but unfortunately it’s often closed ☹ It’s worth checking beforehand 😉
• A hike from Siorac via the village of Roumagnac to Segonzac; each of the three villages has a Romanesque church. The church of Saint Sulpice in Roumagnac is always locked, so you’ll need to ask for the key (tel. +33 6 79 24 44 67, Mme Monique Lacoste); the others are usually open. A scenic hike, about 11 or 12 km; it’s quite hilly and therefore more than just a “short stroll”.
• The church in Segonzac: Sainte-Madeleine
• from the 11th century, an early Romanesque church with a curious and distinctive architecture
• The church in Chantérac: Saint-Pierre-ès-Liens
• It is about ten kilometres from Fareyroux. The little village is also very pretty. I must admit I haven’t been inside the church yet, but it’s very beautiful from the outside.
• Up onto the roofs of Saint Front Cathedral in Périgueux; this is only possible through contacts at the tourist association or the tourist office in the city – these are likely special guided tours
• Church of Saint Méard de Dronne. Worth seeing for its beautiful murals; always open.
• The Church of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul in Grand-Bressac, also Romanesque
• The Underground Church in Aubeterre-sur-Dronne – subterranean, monolithic. It really is a church built underground. We haven’t been there ourselves yet.
• The Monolithic Church in Gurat – also subterranean and, unfortunately, we haven’t visited it ourselves yet.

Castles

• Château de Bourdeilles, a real highlight
• Château d’Herm – currently undergoing major restoration work and not due to open to the public until 2028, but certainly well worth a visit by then at the latest

This list is, of course, by no means exhaustive… There’s this and much more besides.

We’d love to hear from our guests if you have any further excursion tips for us. You can send these to our email address ([email protected]) and we’ll be happy to add them to our list 😊