Despite the morning's torrential rain, we were out and down today. Down in Gouffre de Proumeyssac,…read morethat is. Driving through the rain and the heavy water on the roads was all made worthwhile by a visit to this spectacular chasm in the ground near La Bugue. The huge cave became well known after getting the nod from E.A. Martel in 1907 but its history goes back much further, the earliest mentions being in the 18th century. Early visitors went down in a cradle or basket and you can still do that today. I didn't and I'm sorry. In fact, nobody seemed to take it up, maybe because it cost close to double the EUR8.60 simple entry cost. The original entry hole, once used for dumping rubbish (including animal carcases) is used for the basket but the normal tourist is guided down a sloping tunnel and into the huge chasm to start his circular trip on the balcony. Then the lights go out and you see the basket descend. Music plays and the lights come up again reflecting off the dropping water (not too much of it!). Then you see the stalactites and stalagmites and columns and the little lake at the bottom. We were supplied with an audio-guide (5 or 6 languages are available) and this was certainly a help but you do miss the personality of the guide. Our helpful fellow raised a few laughs as he took us around. There are some huge crystallations, including one called the Medusa. The facility is well equipped with car parks, picnic areas and walks and, don't forget to go and see the original entrance, now with a small structure over it, from where the basket works.

Really great views, trip, and experience. Tour not available in English sadly but we loved it…read more Highly recommend.

What a great way to visit the wine region! I highly recommend the experience to anyone visiting…read moreBordeaux. The staff was passionate, friendly and helpful and spoke great English. We started with the Margaux Médoc half day tour and liked the experience so much that we booked a full day tour to Saint Emillion the next day. Both tours were very different and worth it, although the charming town of Saint Emillion has particularly amazed me with its medieval architecture and history. Each tour provides you with a suggested route, in-car history lessons and amazing chateaus where you can stop by for a visit and learn about the wine and process. We had a visit and a wine tasting booked in advance at the Chateau Pressac as part of our package. The Chateau was lovely and the wine tasty; the host was very kind and knowledgeable and answered all our questions about wine production process. Visiting the area with Memosine was a memorable and fun adventure with a taste of freedom. The vehicles are adorable and draw stares everywhere you go! Memosine offers great flexibility as you can hop on and off anytime for pictures, visits, wine tasting, lunch, etc. Also, both vehicles we booked were visible on the map, which was very convenient when we lost sight of the others. This was a highlight of our trip! I highly recommend to anyone!

From the owner: Wine & City tours en véhicules média-guidés. Des visites uniques en liberté, à votre propre rythme !read more

We took the 9 hour tour that visited the village of Saint-Emilion and a wine tasting in the town,…read moreChateau Bernateau on the right bank where we had lunch at picnic tables, then across the river to Magaux on the left bank to Chateau Prieure-Lichine, and Chateau Siran. We traveled in a tour van and our guide was very friendly and knowledgable. We tasted many wines and got a first hand view on wine making. We were very lucky because the wineries were picking and harvesting the grapes (it was later in September).

My friend and I did the Saint-Emilion Small Group Day Tour with Wine Tastings & Lunch. Our fabulous…read moretour guide, Ed, escorted us to two chateaus before doing a tasting in Saint-Emilion. The experience was absolutely lovely and a great learning experience. We were lucky to have stunning spring weather and enjoyed a picnic lunch with meats and cheese. We also got to visit the stunning sites of Saint-Emilion. I wouldn't hesitate to book another tour with Rustic Vines.

A different, easy cave experience to see prehistoric…read more located 40 minutes walk into a large cave with very few stalactites. Easy because you ride a trai.n and the guide points out what to look for with the only light coming from the train. We lucked out. We knew to arrive early because tickets are only available at the entrance. We showed up 15 minutes early and got on the 10 AM tour with a very knowledgeable guide. Amazing artwork from 15,000 years ago, worth the drive. W/C is available, and there is a small gift shop.

This is most easy cave that we have visited. The cave is deep into the mountains. However, they…read morehave electrical train to take the visitors to the attraction. The cave engraving is around 8500 BC. This cave have a lot of mammoth carving. Because this is a lime stone, it is easy to carve here. There are total of 158 mammoths carving in this cave. At the end of the cave, it is the painting of other prehistoric animals. Bison, horses, rhino and more. The entire tour take 1 hours. They don't have preordered tickets. It is first come first serve. Each train take about 40 people. The wait time to train is roughly 1.5 hour. So plan 3 hours visit. The cave not allows photos, animal in the cave or touch the wall. Dress warm since the cave is a bit cold.

Le Bournat, 24260 Le Bugue http://www.lebournat.fr…read more 05 53 08 41 99 Situated on the banks of the Vezere, Le Bugue has much going for it, including Le Gouffre de Proumeyssac where one may do the descent into the cave by basket. Our trip on a dull Monday was to see Le Village du Bournat. Being early in the season, we missed out on most of the animations though we did we see a wood artist and a lace expert in action. This is really the reconstruction of a Perigord village from the early 1900s, complete with ladies washing by the water, a blacksmith's and a farmyard. Many other crafts are on display, though not all at the same time, and we also visited the windmill where in an adjoining cottage we found a nest of what looked like swallows, who were being fed by the parents. If you are hungry you may also sample some old style bread and more new style refreshments in the facilities. Kids are well catered for here with picnic facilities and many old style games to keep them occupied when they get fed up of the crafts and farm activities. Entry Cost for an adult is EUR12.00.

From the owner: Voyage en 1900 Il était une fois au coeur du Périgord Noir un village où le temps s'est arrêté au…read moredébut du siècle dernier : Le Village du Bournat. Un site à l'ancienne où parents et enfants font un voyage dans le temps pour y découvrir la vie de nos grands-parents, les traditions d'antan. Au rythme des saisons, à travers des animations et reconstitutions, le village s'anime et s'organise autour des visiteurs : la vie quotidienne, les femmes au lavoir, les enfants à l'école, les travaux des champs ... La journée au Bournat est rythmée entre l'atelier modelage et sculpture sur pierre ou les contes pour les enfants et une visite guidée dans le village décrivant la vie rurale en 1900. Tout l'été des visites nocturnes (20h30-22h00) sont également organisées sur le thème des Mythes et Croyances en Dordogne et sur le rôle de la femme en 1900.

It is about 4.5 for the visit. It is amazing the entire rock face was cut out in the middle for…read moredwelling. This nature cave is one kilometer long and 8 meters high. The limestone face provide prehistoric living area and protection. Currently the visit include walk along the entire length. It has some civil engineering equipment displayed how the 15 century people moving rock. This includes the hand crane, leveling, and horizontal pulley. This mechanism demonstrates how the rock was move. The cave also has the fortress for defense. You also can see the jail was putting there. Some area is used for gardening. This high location has a good overlooking the river below.

The guide is in Irish, joked the receptionist as he handed us a returnable trail leaflet as we…read moreentered La Roque St Christophe, a must visit site if you are in this area. This sheer rock face, some five terraces high, has been inhabited since prehistoric times. It was such a secure place, above the Vezere river, that man made it a troglodytic fort in the 10th century and that these early efforts were added to throughout the middle ages when the fort, really by then a high rise town, often held as many as 1000 people. A little reconstruction has taken place and one can easily imagine how the medieval town worked, how it continued to supply itself full size working models of big lifting machines have been constructed here - and how it defended itself against attackers. A marvellous and worthwhile experience.