WHAT TO SEE & DO
Overview Table
| Name | Appeal | Type | Visit | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Village Itself | ✦✦✦✧✧ | Village | Self | Free |
| 2 | River Cruise | ✦✦✧✧✧ | River Cruise | Tour | Paid € |
| 3 | River Kayak | ✦✦✧✧✧ | Kayak | Rental | Paid € |
| 4 | Brantôme Market | ✦✦✧✧✧ | Food Market | Self | Free |
| 5 | Cave Abbey + Desmoulin Museum | ✦✦✧✧✧ | Church + Museum | Either | Paid € |
| 6 | Bell Tower + Cloister | ✦✦✧✧✧ | Bell Tower + Cloister | Guided | Paid € |
| 7 | Abbey Church | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Church | Self | Free |
| 8 | Dortoir des Moines | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Art Exhibitions | Self | Free |
| 9 | Jardin des Moines | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Park | Self | Free |
| 10 | Bimbillou Park | ✦✧✧✧✧ | Troglodyte Sites | Self | Paid € |
1. Village Itself
Appeal ✦✦✦✧✧
Type Village
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
The charming streets of Brantôme offer a delightful experience for visitors, with their quaint medieval architecture and picturesque alleyways, all complemented by the stone bridges that arch over the Dronne River.
2. River Cruise
Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Cruising
Visit Tour
Cost Paid
About a 50-minute boat ride for a peaceful trip, from Brantôme to the river’s most secluded corners.
Provider
Brantôme Croisières
3. River Kayak
Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Kayaking
Visit Tour
Cost Paid
For a more adventurous experience, river kayaking in Brantôme allows you to explore the Dronne River at your own pace.
Provider 1
Brantome Canoë
⚙️ Visitor Info (Official Website – Fr)
Provider 2
Allo Canoës
4. Brantôme Markets
Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Outdoor Food Market
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
The market in Brantôme is one of the most renowned in the Périgord Vert area, which corresponds to the northern part of the Dordogne.
It takes place on Friday mornings at the Place du Marché.
In the summer, from mid-June to mid-September, another market is held on Tuesday mornings.
During truffle season, from December to February, a market dedicated to this product is held on Friday mornings at the tourist office.
*Brantôme Abbey*
French Names
Abbaye de Brantôme
Abbaye Saint-Pierre de Brantôme
Brantôme Abbey was founded in the 8th century by Charlemagne. It has been rebuilt several times.
🏞️ Google Images Overview – Exterior
Its current buildings are divided into several sections (with the corresponding numbers to the Things to Do on this page):
Town Hall (no visit)
Cave of the First Troglodyte Abbey (5)
Desmoulin Museum (5)
Bell Tower (6)
Cloister (6)
Church (7)
Dortoir des Moines Exhibition Hall (8)
5. Cave Abbey + Desmoulin Museum
Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Cave Church + Art Museum
Visit Self-guided or Guided
Cost Paid
⚙️ Visitor Info (Tourism Office Website)
French Name
Grotte du Jugement Dernier
Behind the main abbey building, you can explore the remains of the original abbey, carved into the base of the cliff in the 8th century, along with the Cave of the Last Judgment.
French Name
Musée Fernand Desmoulin
The Desmoulin Museum is not related to the troglodyte abbey, but their visits are sold together. It showcases the works of 19th-century painter Fernand Desmoulin, known for his mediumistic art.
6. Bell Tower + Cloister
Appeal ✦✦✧✧✧
Type Bell Tower + Cloister
Visit Guided
Cost Paid
French Name
Le Clocher + Le Cloître
The bell tower is one of the oldest Romanesque towers in France. However, most of the current structure dates from the 11th century.
The top of the tower offers a panoramic view of the town.
The bell tower is only accessible via a guided tour conducted in French. This tour also includes the Cloister and the Abbey Church (detailed below and available for self-visit).
7. Abbey Church
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Church
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Église Abbatiale
Several times destroyed, the abbey church was rebuilt in the 19th century by Paul Abadie, the architect of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris and the Cathedral of Périgueux.
8. Dortoir des Moines
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Art Exhibitions
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Dortoir des Moines
The Dortoir des Moines is an art exhibition space located within the historic abbey complex, open from May to September. Historically, this space served as the monks’ dormitory from the 8th century until the French Revolution.
9. Jardin des Moines
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Park
Visit Self-guided
Cost Free
French Name
Jardin des Moines
The Jardin des Moines is a simple park located next to the river. The garden features a small antique-style shelter.
10. Bimbillou Park
Appeal ✦✧✧✧✧
Type Troglodyte Sites
Visit Self-guided
Cost Paid
French Name
Le Bimbillou Parc
Bimbillou Park is known for its intriguing troglodyte sites. The park is dotted with ancient cave dwellings carved into the rock. They served various purposes, from living quarters to storage spaces.
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN DORDOGNE
Things to Do in Belvès Village
Things to Do in Beynac-et-Cazenac Village
Things to Do in Brantôme Village
Things to Do in Castelnaud-la-Chapelle Village
Things to Do in (Les) Eyzies (Prehistoric Sites)
Things to Do in Limeuil Village
Things to Do in Monpazier Village
Things to Do in Périgueux Town
