December trip to dordogne with young children?
 

Can anyone offer some advice on a trip to this region in early december ?
We plan to spend a couple of days in Paris, visit Disneyland as well, then continue to the Dordogne region for 4 days.
Is Dordogne pretty/interetsing /cold in December?
We are used to travelling, will have a car and plan a mix of historical sights as well as things for the kids to do.
We want to base ourselves somewhere with character, small where we can walk, eat nice food and drink some wine!.
thanks

Hi 4,

How old are the kids?

((I))

Hi
The kids are 5 and 7. So they will not want to be hanging around too much! I thought castles, natural attractions, parks , ice skating, Christmas markets...

There will be plenty of things to see and do in December. Nothing to worry about!

As someone who lives in the Dordogne (Perigord Noir)I would warn you that winter here can be very cold ie. we can get night time temperatures as low as -10C, although daytime can be sunny enough to eat outdoors! Most importantly, although the main sites eg. caves and castles do remain open, many attractions are closed between November and end of March. The Dordogne in December is very quiet - even in the towns like Sarlat, lots of shops and restaurants will be closed. There is a small Christmas market and ice rink in Sarlat, but you in other tourist villages eg. Beynac or Roque Gageac,you will struggle to find a cafe open to even buy a drink! December here is fine for older adults who just want peace and quiet: hate to disillusion you!

Don't do this. Lots, I mean lots, of things are closed at that time of year, and it's often very, very cold. Also,it's a long and boring drive from Paris to the Dordogne and for four days, hardly worth it. You can see castles and "natural attractions" in plenty of places a lot closer to Paris. This would IMO NOT be a fun trip.

As another resident of the Dordogne I would underline what Sooo and St Cirq have said. It's dern cold in the winter and most places are closed.

I wouldn't say don't come. But if you do, be well-prepared for cold, short, dreary days. Some sites will still be open, though, and visiting a fortified castle such as Castelnaud or Beynac, on a dark, wintry day, will certainly give you that "medieval" feeling. If you're a gastronome, you'll be there in the beginning of the truffle season and you'll doubtless have the chance to try a fresh, Black Truffle of Perigord, something the epicures in New York will be paying a fortune to eat at some high-priced restaurant. The rich, local cuisine of the region (duck confit, foie gras, potatoes) will be much more appealing, satisfying and comforting to eat than it is in the heat of summer. And prices for lodgings will be down, although you may have fewer to choose from. Go to a toy store in Sarlat and let the kids pick out a French game or to for the long evenings. Go to any market you can, then find a café for a bowl of soup. I'd say -- go for it! But don't forget to come back another time for the sunshine, canoes and scenery.