Dordogne in July- Day Trip to Monpazier or Hautefort?
 

After a week of caves, castles, villages, cro-magnon stuff, an outdoor market and physical activity-canoeing, hiking, swimming, in Sarlat and Perigord Noir we may have time for a day trip to Monpazier/Cadoin or Hautefort. Any recommendations on one or the other for a family including 8 and 12 year old boys?
In addition to the Perigord Noir we are spending a day and one-half in Rocamadour and the upper Dordogne valley-Padirac,Carennac, Autoire/Loubressac, and an additional day- afternoon in Figeac watching the Tour de France, morning at Pech-Merle (reserved 1st tour of the day).

I would opt for Monpazier (the most beautiful bastide ever, IMO) and Cadouin. Hautefort might be slightly more interesting for the boys, but it's a schlep there and back and the drive isn't all that pretty once you've become used to the gorgeous driving in the Périgord Noir.

The abbey in Cadouin is a beautiful building, and the fairly new group of shops just outside it is interesting. We also like the second-hand/antique store across the street.

You might consider stopping in Belvès, too, on the way there or back. And Beaumont, where you can search for the dolmen (http://www.panoramio.com/photo/12304303). If you did those in addition to Monpazier and Cadouin, it would make for an interesting day.

Oh, and check the tourist offices for goings-on in Monpazier. There are often brocantes and other events going on in the main square during the summer months.

Thanks. You convinced me. Monpazier and surroundings are it.The boys are good troopers and find enjoyment in historical sites especially if they end up with ice cream.

The chapel in the cemetery of Montferrand is definitely worth a stop.

And Lou Peyrol in Montferrand is a sweet little old roadhouse at the bottom of the hill, a great lunch stop. Definitely vote a a leisurely bastide crawl than driving up to Hautefort for just-another-castle (as nice as it is).

Hautefort is different from the other castles in that it is a 17th century castle, not a medieval/Renaissance structure. It burned down in 1968 and was completely rebuilt (I believe that the towers are original). As interesting as the castle is the 17th cent. hospice which is now a museum of medicine.