Museums of the Périgord Noir: history, crafts and curiosities

A stone's throw from the Place de la Liberté, this 13th-century manor shows the life of a family of Sarlat notables in the 17th and 18th centuries, through its furnished rooms. In the basement, an astonishing cabinet of curiosities delights young and old alike.

The Château de Castelnaud houses a remarkable collection of weapons and armour, along with life-size reconstructions of siege engines. The visit ends on the ramparts, with a magnificent view over the Dordogne valley.

At the foot of the Château de Castelnaud, the Domaine de Vielcroze houses the walnut ecomuseum in an 18th-century farm, surrounded by seven hectares of organic walnut groves. Learn how walnuts are grown and the oil is made, and taste it as it comes out of the press.

Set against the cliff of Les Eyzies, below the old castle, this museum opened in 1923 holds one of the richest prehistoric collections in the world: tools, jewellery, works of art and burials. A must before visiting the valley's caves.

Across 6,000 m² of covered space, an enthusiast has gathered one of the largest mechanical and agricultural collections in south-west France: cars, motorbikes, bicycles, tractors, lorries and tools of old trades. Open all year; allow an hour and a half.

Near Rocamadour, this mill built by Cistercian monks is first recorded in 1260. Fortified against raiders, it has kept its four pairs of millstones driven by wooden gears. From April to September, you can watch milling demonstrations.

In Monpazier, one of the finest bastides in south-west France, this interpretation centre tells the story of these new towns of the Middle Ages through films and screens, a medieval garden and more than thirty old games. In July and August, workshops await children from age 6.