In the summer season, La Combe organises activities and outings if you would like to participate (eg. An introduction to pre-history; a visit to the pre-history museum in Les Eyzies; a canoe trip down the river Vézère, stopping at pre-historic sites, caves and castles, under the guidance of a internationally registered guide, in your own language!)

Hilking and biking

The La Combe Valley lies in a triangle between Les Eyzies, Le Bugue and St Cyprien. From all these places you will find hiking and biking trails, eg the "Grand Randonnée" footpaths.

Canoe and Kayak

On the different local waterways such as the Dordogne, the Vézère, the Céou and the Isle, you can do various length trips whether you're a beginner or experienced at paddling.

Climbing

There are sheer rock faces at Campagne and at Castelnaud (amongst others) which offer marked climbing routes with a difficulty degree of 3 to 5 and more.

Markets

In the charming local villages, you will enjoy the bustling atmosphere of a busy farmers market as well as the magical arts and crafts markets in the evenings, which are well worth a visit.

Pre-historic adventures

Les Eyzies is known here as the capital of pre-history, and is on the banks of the river Vézère. It a real experience to walk around in the caves where our ancestors, the Cro-Magnon man, left their beautiful wall and relief paintings. (Font de Gaume, the world-renowned Lascaux, Cap Blanc.)

The pre-historic adventure parks are strongly recommended for families with young children. There are workshops and life size replicas showing how pre-historic man lived, hunted, made flints and fire.

The recently renovated National History Museum in Les Eyzies is instructive and interesting for older children.

Middle Age towns and villages

Sarlat is the original Gallo-Roman settlement that evolved into the bustling town it's become today. The whole town is really a monument in itself.

The bastides, or walled towns and villages surprise us with the simple and natural beauty of their springs, laundry places, small town squares or covered markets with their arcades; Roman churches or chapels, draw-bridges, old stone roofs and crumbling walls.

Castles

In the mysterious old ruins of the Commarque castle, you and your children can imagine how life must have been in the times of the Castle Lords.

Some of the castles and manors have beautifully kept gardens.

Most of the castles are strategically situated either high up with fantastic views for defence, or on the banks of a river where controlling passing trade was very important.

Gastronomy

On the terraces of many of the local restaurants, you'll often find the Périgordian specialities mentioned:

• Foie gras (duck or goose liver pâté)
• Confit (duck or goose cooked and preserved in its own fat) - sometimes served with truffes (truffles) or cèpes (mushrooms)
• Cabécou (round goat's cheese)
• Gateau aux noix (walnut tart)

Theme Holidays

In low season, it's possible to organise group holidays with specific themes eg. "Initiation in the pre-history and history of man and earth"; bike tours; hiking tours. etc.