Culture Francia

Table of Contents

10 Things to Do in Brantôme

Up-to-Date 2025

By Culture Francia Team

Table of Contents

What to See & Do

Brantôme Overall Appeal ★★★☆☆

  Name Appeal Type Visit Cost
01

Town Center

★★★☆☆ Walking Around Self Free
02 River Cruise ★★☆☆☆ Cruising Tour Paid
03 River Kayak ★★☆☆☆ Kayaking Self Paid
04

Brantôme Markets

★★☆☆☆ Food Market Self Free
05 Cave Abbey + Desmoulin Museum ★★☆☆☆ Church + Museum

Either

Paid
06 Bell Tower + Cloister ★★☆☆☆ Bell Tower + Cloister Guided Paid
07

Abbey Church

★☆☆☆☆ Church Self Free
08 Dortoir des Moines ★☆☆☆☆ Art Exhibition Self Free
09 Jardin des Moines ★☆☆☆☆ Park Self Free
10 Bimbillou Park ★☆☆☆☆ Troglodyte Sites Self Paid

01. Town Center

Appeal ★★★☆☆
Type Walking Around

Visit Self 
Cost Fre

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.

02. 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.”

03. River Kayak

Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Kayaking

Visit Self
Cost Paid

For a more adventurous experience, river kayaking in Brantôme allows you to explore the Dronne River at your own pace.

04. Brantôme Markets

Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Food Market

Visit Self
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*

Brantôme Abbey was founded in the 8th century by Charlemagne. It has been rebuilt several times.

Its current buildings are divided into several sections (with the corresponding numbers to the Things to Do on this page):

Town Hall
Cave of the First Troglodyte Abbey (05)
Desmoulin Museum (05)
Bell Tower (06)
Cloister (06)
Church (07)
Dortoir des Moines Exhibition Hall (08)

More info related to Visits 05 and 06

05. Cave Abbey + Desmoulin Museum

Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Cave Church + Art Museum

Visit Self or Guided
Cost Paid

Cave and Museum are Closed – Reopening in 2025.

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.

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.

06. Bell Tower + Cloister

Appeal ★★☆☆☆
Type Bell Tower + Cloister

Visit Guided
Cost Paid

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).

07. Abbey Church

Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Church,

Visit Self
Cost Free

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.

08. Dortoir des Moines

Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Art Exhibition

Visit Self
Cost Free

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.

09. Jardin des Moines

Appeal ★☆☆☆☆
Type Park

Visit Self
Cost Free

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
Cost Paid

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.

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