So much water... !
The Conseil départemental has four leisure and bathing sites open to the public. To the north, the Rouffiac leisure park is a 40-hectare stretch of water in a 100-hectare site on the Petite Loue river. The unspoilt natural environment on the edge of the Limousin region offers a wide range of water-related activities: swimming, fishing and even one of the region's only water ski lifts. The grand étang de Saint-Estèphe is one of the largest and most beautiful in the Dordogne. There are 21 hectares of water on 88 hectares of meadows, woods and granite chaos. A special bathing access system is available for the disabled. Heading back down to the west, the grand étang de La Jemaye (Natura 2000 sensitive natural area) comprises a string of ponds covering 210 hectares in the mysterious forest of La Double. Proof, if any were needed, that it's possible to combine the preservation of natural areas with bathing. Finally, in the south-west of the département, Lac de Gurson features a 14-hectare lake. Swimming is supervised every day in summer at these 4 sites, which also have a first-aid post. They are also ideal for water sports: sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing, rowing, kayaking, paddling... In addition, water quality is regularly monitored by the Agence Régionale de Santé. Some of these sites have been awarded the "Pavillons Bleus" label.
For the more adventurous and those with an appetite for invigorating discoveries, river canoeing and rafting offer, whatever your level, the guarantee of privileged moments in the heart of nature. As France's leading department for leisure boating, Périgord boasts five rivers that are accessible in all seasons. The navigable rivers are: the Auvézère, the Dordogne, the Vézère, the Isle and the Dronne. The main bases in Périgord Vert are at Brantôme and Bourdeilles. In Périgord Noir, you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to hiring a boat, and you can paddle down the Dordogne from Corrèze to Saint-Vincent de Cosse. The Vézère is accessible from the base at Les Eyzies. In the guide you'll find many addresses of professional rental companies with qualified instructors. Perigordian river sports clubs regularly shine on the podiums and raise the seeds of champions. These include the kayak clubs of Périgueux, Marsac-sur-l'Isle and Castelnaud, and the rowing club of Bergerac.
Rampeau and other traditional games of the Périgord
Rampeau is played at most traditional village festivals in the Périgord. It's a betting game played with three pins in a row and a ball slightly larger than a pétanque ball. Like bowling, the aim is to knock down all three pins in a single throw. When the throw is successful, it's called a "rampeau", and the player is selected to play again in the next round. The winner is, of course, the player who stays in the game the longest, i.e. the one who has made the most rampeaux.
The origins of rampeau are unclear, as it's a game played throughout the South-West. However, traces of the game can be found in written documents as far back as the 18th century. Traditionally, the game was played as part of village or district competitions... It's easy to imagine a few clashes between rivals from neighboring villages. The ground where the game is played today has remained unchanged since its origins, delimited and surfaced with clay, sometimes covered with sand or shavings. The track thus formed is called the "plantier". It is often bordered with wood to contain the ball's path. Its length and width vary according to the village, as does the material of the ball, which can be boxwood or metal. Skittles are generally carved from alder wood and can measure up to 60 cm in height. Rampeau is played by adults and children alike. In Sarlat, the Ringueta, a festival of ancient games, is held every two years on the Place de la Grande Rigaudie, at the entrance to the medieval town. For two days, you can try your hand at the games of yesteryear. Created in 1985, this festival is an opportunity to discover how our ancestors used to have fun in Périgord! It takes place at Pentecost, in even-numbered years only. Children can also play barrel rodeo, riding astride an old barrel threaded on a rope, with the aim of advancing on the mount by pulling on the rope. Not so easy to stay in the saddle! Last but not least, the most popular game is the "mât de cocagne", which you have to climb with your bare hands to win the prizes hanging from the pole.
Bike rides, bicycle touring and mountain biking
If there's one department where natural sites lend themselves to this sport, it's the Dordogne! With over 2,000 km of signposted trails, approved mountain bike centers offering equipment hire, and splendid greenways such as Sarlat-Cazoulès, the Vélo Route du Céou, the Canal de Lalinde, Thiviers-Saint-Pardoux or the Voie Verte cycle route linking Périgord to Bordeaux, there's a vast choice to suit every level of rider. The Flow Vélo® is the new Voie Verte cycle route linking Thiviers to Île-d'Aix in Charente-Maritime over a distance of 290 km. After an incursion into the Parc naturel Régional du Périgord Limousin, it reaches Angoulême and then joins the Charente River, set against a backdrop of vineyards. Along the way, Cognac, Saintes and Rochefort are all "Art and History" stops... before embarking for Île-d'Aix, the pearl of the estuary. The Flow Vélo®, chic and bucolic, is becoming increasingly popular. Among other things, you'll discover the island's wild orchid meadows. From the arts and crafts of Nontron, to the foie gras of Thiviers, via the medieval town of Saint-Jean-de-Côle, the Périgord Vert has many surprises in store for cyclists. In addition, the Dordogne offers some thirty cycle-touring routes, which you can discover at Tourist Offices, on your own or at rallies organized by the dynamic Comité départemental de Cyclotourisme.
