Around Château le Verdoyer, the region holds some truly wonderful surprises for visitors with disabilities. Accessible caves, free monuments for wheelchair users, virtual reality tours, adapted water sports… here is what we have found for you.
When one thinks of the Périgord Vert, one often thinks of hiking trails, perched villages, and truffle markets — experiences that may seem incompatible with a wheelchair or reduced mobility. And yet, the region holds some truly beautiful surprises.
Throughout the seasons, the team at Château le Verdoyer has scouted — and tested for you — sites that make a real effort to welcome everyone. Some carry the official Tourisme & Handicap label (which covers four types of disabilities: physical, auditory, visual, and mental). Others do not yet have the certification but have clearly chosen to leave no one behind.
Here is our selection, within easy reach of Champs-Romain.
💡 Before planning your excursion, remember to organize your accommodation on site. Château le Verdoyer offers a Life Mobile Home that is fully adapted for disabled guests, an electric scooter for rent, and a nursing assistant available upon reservation. Find out more about our adapted accommodations
The Tourtoirac Cave — an underground experience for all
Distance from the campsite: approximately 50 km · Tourisme & Handicap label (4 types)
This is undoubtedly our absolute favorite in terms of accessibility. The Tourtoirac Cave is one of the few caves in France to be fully accessible, and it truly is — not just in theory.
An elevator descends 25 meters underground, and the entire 300-meter route is on a wide, secure walkway, without steps or challenging gradients. In practice, a manual or electric wheelchair user can easily follow the tour from start to finish at the same pace as the rest of the group.
Accessibility does not stop at physical disabilities: the audioguides include an audio description version for visually impaired visitors, and a magnetic loop is available for those with hearing loss. The Tourisme & Handicap label covers all four types of disabilities — this is relatively rare for an underground site, and it deserves to be highlighted.
For families with members who have a mental or cognitive disability, the cave team is accustomed to adapting their commentary and pace. A beautiful visit for everyone.
The Château de Puyguilhem — free monument for disabled visitors in an exceptional Renaissance setting
Distance from the campsite: approximately 20 km
Located in Villars, the Château de Puyguilhem is a jewel of the French Renaissance, state-owned and managed by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux. Its great asset for visitors with disabilities: admission and guided tours are free for the disabled guest and their companion, upon presentation of valid ID.
Accessibility is partial but honestly documented. The park is accessible with ramps (in dry weather — the grassy ground can be difficult when wet), the monument’s presentation room is accessible by ramp, and the restrooms are adapted. A reserved parking space for disabled visitors is located in the immediate vicinity of the castle, with a vehicle-accessible path to drop off people with reduced mobility as close to the entrance as possible.
The ground floor of the castle is accessible with a companion (three steps to overcome), but the upper floors with their spiral staircases are not. It is therefore not fully accessible, but it is an honestly documented visit in an exceptional setting.
Brantôme — the Venice of the Périgord, and its abbey in virtual reality
Distance from the campsite: approximately 25 km
Brantôme is one of the most alluring towns in the Périgord Vert. Built around its Benedictine abbey, which legend says was founded by Charlemagne, it is crossed by the Dronne river that surrounds it on all sides — hence its nickname, the “Venice of the Périgord.” The quays along the river, the abbey gardens, and most of the outdoor spaces in the town center are wheelchair-friendly. It is a gentle stroll, best enjoyed at a leisurely pace, with beautiful views of the water and the Romanesque bell tower.
This bell tower — one of the oldest in France, with its 130 steps — was previously inaccessible to people with reduced mobility. The Brantôme Tourist Office has found a solution: they now offer a virtual reality headset to experience climbing the bell tower in total immersion, from your wheelchair. The virtual tour lasts about 45 minutes for only €5, instead of €8.50 for the traditional tour. A version for visually impaired people is also currently under development.
This is exactly the type of local initiative that deserves to be highlighted and encouraged: a concrete solution, designed to leave no one behind. Before your visit, do not hesitate to contact the Tourist Office to ensure the headset is available.
The Apple Museum in Lanouaille — thoughtful consideration for visually impaired visitors
Distance from the campsite: approximately 45 km
Original in its subject — who would have thought an entire museum could be dedicated to the apple? — this museum is also remarkable for a special touch: the exhibition text is available in Braille. This is not a trivial detail. Many rural museums have no adaptations for visually impaired visitors — here, the effort has been made, in a typically idyllic Périgord setting.
The site is located in the heart of the Périgord Vert, in a quiet and green environment that is perfect for a half-day outing without rushing. Ideal for families or groups, especially outside of high season.
Recommendation: check opening hours before you head out, as like many rural sites, they may vary depending on the time of year.
Adapted water skiing — Saint-Saud Pond
Distance from the campsite: only about 3 km
We have this one almost right on our doorstep. Just 3 kilometers from Château le Verdoyer, the Saint-Saud pond hosts a water skiing club that occasionally organizes days dedicated to parasports, using specially adapted equipment.
This is not a permanent activity — you need to check the seasonal calendar — but if you are there at the right time, it is a truly inclusive and sporting experience, open to people with a wide variety of disabilities.
It is also a fine example of what one sometimes finds without an official label: a local initiative, driven by passionate volunteers, who simply decide not to exclude anyone.
👉 Contact our reception team directly to find out if adapted days are planned during your stay — we can often provide you with real-time information.
And many others to discover…
Our selection above represents only what we have had the opportunity to spot or verify ourselves. The Dordogne is a department that is taking accessibility more and more seriously, and the Périgord tourist office regularly lists new certified or committed sites.
A few additional ideas to explore based on your interests:
- The covered markets of Nontron and Thiviers — generally level ground, ideal for a gourmet outing to meet local producers.
- The Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park — some marked trails have been developed to be accessible by wheelchair or all-terrain stroller; inquire at the Maison du Parc in Montbron.
- The villages labeled “Most Beautiful Villages of France” in the region — Saint-Jean-de-Côle, in particular, has relatively flat surfaces around the church and the central square.
Our team can guide you
Each season, we discover new places and new initiatives. If you have a type of activity in mind — sports, cultural, gastronomic — do not hesitate to speak to us upon arrival or before your stay. We will do our best to point you toward what best suits your situation and your interests.
And if you know of an accessible site that we haven’t mentioned yet, we would be delighted to add it to our list!
