B R A N T Ô M E

                             Ancient, Mystical, Sacred

                I N S I D E R 'S  G U I D E

Brantôme is one of the prettiest and most visited towns in the Dordogne.   Located in the Northwest part of the Périgord Vert, about an hour and a half from Bordeaux and Cognac country near Angoulême, the town is easily serviced by three airports in Bergerac, Angoulême and Limoges, each about one hour away by car.  The TGV takes 3.5 hours from Paris to Angoulême and can be boarded from Charles de Gaulle Airport.  See transport links

Once you have spent a day or two visiting Brantôme, with its cobblestone streets, magnificent abbey and riverside park, there are plenty of things to do and see in the surrounding areas.

For the active, one of the most enjoyable things to do is to hire a canoe for an hour, two hours or a half-day and paddle around Brantôme, and/or upriver, or downriver to the pretty historic town of Bourdeilles. Another option is to canoe down past a glorious series of chateaux, about an hour's drive from Brantôme. Or take a walk around the town, and see some of the most beautiful scenery you have ever seen.

You can glide over Brantôme and surroundings on an altiplane, or hire a bicycle in Brantôme itself (near Aldi) or for just over 10E a day in nearby St-Julien-de-Bourdeilles, just 5 minutes by car from Brantôme.

No visit would be complete without visiting St-Jean-de-Côle, to enjoy a meal in one of the restaurants surrounding the huge roman church that crowns this pretty village.  Further away you can enjoy ancient Roman ruins in Perigueux, the capital of the Périgord, while Sarlat and nearby towns, situated in the Périgord Noir about an hour away, will charm you with their beautiful chateaux, villages and fortified ruins.

CAVES & PREHISTORY

While in the region, you can't miss seeing some of the incredible Palaeolithic sites and underground grottos that are part of its history.

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Brantôme's proximity to some of the world's best vineyards is an opportunity not to be missed.  Bergerac is just an hour away, and the Bordeaux vineyards along with world famous St Emilion are less than two hours away. Read more

There is some stunning scenery around Brantôme and some great walks along the chemin rural around the town. 

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WHERE TO EAT

MARKETS

FOOD WINE & GIFT SHOPPING

VILLAGES & TOWNS

CANOING & SWIMMING

CHATEAUX & ABBEYS

WALKING ROUTES

CAVES & PREHISTORIC SITES

WINE TASTING

There are some excellent restaurants in Brantôme and surroundings, but it pays to choose the ones that offer good cuisine as well as surroundings to avoid any unpleasant surprises!  Read more

The fresh village markets in and around Brantôme are not to be missed, so depending on the day you arrive you can pick and choose the ones you want to go to. Read more

Brantôme has some excellent supermarkets and boulangeries but it's worth knowing where to go!  You can also find a lovely range of clothes, gifts and other mementos of your stay Read more

When you have seen all you can of Brantôme, don't forget that it is surrounded by pretty towns and villages, all less than two hours away Read more

There are some beautiful woodland lakes with their own beaches near Brantôme, if you want to swim immersed in natural beauty.  Canoeing is a another fun pastime, either in Brantôme or along a glorious circuit studded with chateaux. Read more

Visit some of the most beautiful chateaux in France, many of which are less than an hour away from Brantôme. Read more