Department

Museums, galleries and heritage in Dordogne

75 places to discover across Dordogne.

21 museums29 galleries17 castles7 religious sites1 heritage

Including Château de Beynac, Château de Castelnaud and Château des Milandes.

38 of 38 places, sorted by distance from the center

Museum

Musée Napoléon

Val de Louyre et Caudeau

Museum

Musée National de Préhistoire

Les Eyzies

Heritage

Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley

Les Eyzies

Castle

Château de Campagne

Campagne

Castle

Château de Losse

Thonac

Castle

Château de Commarque

Les Eyzies

Religious site

Cathédrale Saint-Front de Périgueux

Périgueux

Museum

Musée Militaire du Périgord

Périgueux

Museum

Musée Gallo-romain Vesunna

Périgueux

Museum

Musée d'art et d'archéologie du Périgord

Périgueux

Religious site

Église Saint-Étienne-de-la-Cité

Périgueux

Castle

Château de Puymartin

Marquay

Religious site

Abbaye de Cadouin

Le Buisson-de-Cadouin

Religious site

Abbaye de Chancelade

Chancelade

Religious site

Abbaye de Saint-Amand-de-Coly

Coly-Saint-Amand

Castle

Château de Lanquais

Lanquais

Castle

Château des Milandes

Castelnaud-la-Chapelle

Castle

Château de Beynac

Beynac-et-Cazenac

Religious site

Cathédrale Saint-Sacerdos de Sarlat

Sarlat-la-Canéda

Castle

Château de Castelnaud

Castelnaud-la-Chapelle

Castle

Château de Marqueyssac

Vézac

Castle

Château de Hautefort

Hautefort

Museum

Hôtel-Dieu de Hautefort - Musée d'Histoire de la Médecine

Hautefort

Castle

Château d'Excideuil

Excideuil

Museum

Musée Paul Reclus

Domme

Castle

Château de Bourdeilles

Bourdeilles

Castle

Château de Monbazillac

Monbazillac

Religious site

Abbaye de Brantôme

Brantôme en Périgord

Museum

Musée Fernand Desmoulin

Brantôme-en-Périgord

Museum

Musée André Voulgre

Mussidan

Castle

Château de Fénelon

Sainte-Mondane

Museum

Mémorial de la Résistance

Saint-Étienne-de-Puycorbier

Castle

Château de Bridoire

Ribagnac

Castle

Château de Biron

Biron

Castle

Château de Jumilhac

Jumilhac-le-Grand

Museum

Galerie de l'Or

Jumilhac-le-Grand

Museum

Musée du Cognac et du vin

St Aulaye-Puymangou

Museum

Musée de Préhistoire - Espace muséographique Pierre Bourrinet

Teyjat

04About

A Department Shaped by Deep Time

Dordogne, part of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, owes its cultural identity to an exceptional archaeological record. The Sites préhistoriques et grottes ornées de la vallée de la Vézère, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, gathers decorated caves and rock shelters around Les Eyzies that document human occupation from the Paleolithic onward.

The Musée National de Préhistoire, also in Les Eyzies, anchors this landscape with a national collection dedicated to the study and presentation of prehistoric life in the region. In Périgueux, the department's capital, Gallo-Roman history surfaces at Musée Gallo-romain Vesunna, built directly over the remains of the domus de Vésone, while the Musée d'Art et d'Archéologie du Périgord brings together art and archaeology collections in the same city.

05Neighborhoods

Périgueux, Bergerac and the Périgord Territories

Périgueux concentrates several of the department's key institutions within walking distance of one another, including the Musée Militaire du Périgord, which holds more than 20,000 objects across 800 m² since its founding in 1911, and smaller contemporary spaces such as Galerie L'app'art and Mes Deux Mondes et L'art.

Bergerac, on the Dordogne river, has developed a distinct cultural cluster around its old town: the Dordonha - Pôle patrimonial et culturel de Bergerac occupies the Petite Mission, a listed architectural ensemble, while the Centre d'Art de la photographie, espace Romain-Rolland focuses on photography exhibitions. Nearby galleries such as Atelier galerie Romain Thiery and La Nouvelle Galerie extend this contemporary art presence.

Further afield, the Périgord Vert around Nontron hosts the Pôle Expérimental des Métiers d'Art de Nontron et du Périgord-Limousin, set in the town's château, alongside LJ. Gallery Nontron. In Sarlat, capital of the Périgord Noir, galleries including Galerie D'art Philippe Pons and Galerie Fenelon sit within a medieval townscape.

09FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much time should I plan to visit the prehistoric sites of the Vézère valley?

A minimum of two full days is recommended to see the Musée National de Préhistoire and two or three decorated caves, since sites are spread across several communes and some require pre-booked timed entry.

Is the Musée National de Préhistoire suitable for visitors with limited mobility?

The museum building in Les Eyzies is accessible, though some associated cave sites in the valley have uneven terrain or steps and are less easily accessible.

What is the best time of year to visit Dordogne's museums and caves?

Spring and early autumn offer smaller crowds and comfortable temperatures for both museum visits and outdoor archaeological sites; cave visits often require advance booking in July and August.

Are there contemporary art galleries outside the main towns?

Yes, smaller communes host notable spaces, including Le Domaine Perdu and Galerie Magis in Meyrals, and Rodrigues Art Gallery in Calviac-en-Périgord.

Can the truffle and tobacco museums be combined in one day?

The Ecomusée de la Truffe near Sorges and the Musée du tabac are both manageable in half a day each, but they are located in different parts of the department, so combining them in a single day requires careful route planning.

Is the Musée Gallo-romain Vesunna family-friendly?

Yes, the site-museum built over the domus de Vésone combines archaeological remains with interpretive displays suited to visitors of all ages, including children.