Animal parks around Sarlat: monkeys, birds of prey, wolves and lemurs

This community farm welcomes families among its free-roaming animals: dwarf goats, ponies, Vietnamese pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs and hens. Children go into the enclosures with a basket of vegetables to feed them, and a treasure hunt awaits. Booking required.

This wooded park, dedicated to protecting endangered species, is home to around 200 animals from five regions of the world. You can walk into some of the enclosures, with lemurs or wallabies, along a 2 km trail beneath the trees.

Near Montignac, the Parc du Thot shows species close to those painted by the people of Lascaux, such as Przewalski's horses and bison, and tells the story of life in prehistoric times.

A small-scale park to meet farm animals: goats, ponies and many more, along a shady trail through woods and meadows, suitable for pushchairs. Pony rides by booking, biodiversity trail and playground. Open from April to November.

In Martel, this park devoted entirely to reptiles and amphibians shows snakes, lizards, tortoises and frogs from around the world. A fascinating visit, open from February to November.

Near Rocamadour, more than 150 Barbary macaques live freely in a large forest that you walk through, right among them. An astonishing encounter, to combine with a visit to the town of Rocamadour.

Clinging to the cliff of Rocamadour, this bird park puts on free-flight birds of prey shows above the Alzou canyon: eagles, vultures, owls and parrots swoop past the audience.

Across 40 hectares of shady limestone plateau, this park shows some 150 species of wild and domestic European animals: wolves, brown bears, bison, lynx, and old farm breeds too. Allow at least two hours' walk.