La Colline aux Chalets

Start your tour by ticking off some of the pretty towns and villages around the area. It’s a 15-minute drive to the medieval streets of Gourdon, or 35 minutes to Rocamadour, clinging to a cliffside overlooking the Alzou canyon. Saint-Cirq-Lapopie (40 minutes) should be on the itinerary too: it’s got 13 historic monuments to see, and is on the list of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France. A trip to Cahors (half an hour’s drive) is also recommended, to see the famous Pont Valentré bridge, visit the market and seek out the city's secret gardens. The urban areas aren’t the only places to find a bit of history – you may also like to take trips to the likes of Château des Anglais (40 minutes) or Château de Bonaguil (an hour). Even older than these are the prehistoric paintings on display at Pech Merle caves (half an hour) and the ancient rock formations of the Padirac Cave (35 minutes). If you’re getting the kids interested in the natural world, plan outings to the bees at La Maison des Abeilles and the monkeys at La Forêt des Singes (both 35 minutes).