What to do in Périgord when it’s cold?

Despite being in the southwest of France, Périgord also experiences drops in temperature with the arrival of winter. It's not always easy to keep busy when the cold sets in, requiring appropriate clothing with gloves, scarves and hats! As we're never short of activities, we've put together a little list of things to do in Périgord when it's cold. Put on your furry boots, we're going to have fun!

Opening photo: AdobeStock gareth63

Going to a restaurant when the weather is freezing

Pleasant all year round, the restaurant has a special appeal when the frozen wind seeps through your clothes. There is only one desire : to get warm. Push the door of the brasseries for a comforting stew, enter a chic restaurant to taste tasty dishes that will make you forget the cold or take a snack break in a café for a hot chocolate, they often have delicious pastries on offer. The icy weather is quickly forgotten when you treat your taste buds in the warmth of a restaurant.

Go to the cinema to escape the cold

Winter is the ideal season for an impromptu movie outing. The weather is gray, the climate is cold, the wind is freezing your fingers and toes? Book a session for a cozy day snacking on popcorn, comfortably seated in a heated room. From now on, you can even buy your ticket directly online to avoid queues and the disappointment of arriving to a full house. It also gives you time to dress warmly , defrost the car windshield and find a place close enough to avoid walking in the cold before the cinema.

Visit a museum sheltered from the cold in Périgord

Not all museums are heated depending on the works on display, but some have the privilege of having a temperature increased by a few degrees compared to the outside. It is therefore a good idea to keep busy in winter in Périgord when the cold sets in. Many museums open their doors all year round, it's up to you to choose according to your interests which can be diverse between:

• The Maap Museum, Museum of art and archeology of Périgord
  
• The Vésunna Museum, a magnificent building designed by Jean Nouvel. Site of art and archeology, it preserves Gallo-Roman remains.
• The National Museum of Prehistory, a visit to the most important Paleolithic collection in France, sheltered from the cold.

Visit the producers in their workshop

Why not take advantage of an unattractive season to discover the region through contact with passionate producers? Whether it's raining, windy or cold, farmers rarely stop working because winter has arrived. On the contrary, they will be happy to take a break to tell you about their work and present their product to you. Biscuits, vegetables, meats, wines or foie gras, don't hesitate to taste them if you can, the producers of Périgord put their heart into the work for a quality result.

Farmers gathered in Bergerac

Go to the market despite the cold

The stalls are set up all year round, even in winter when it is cold. Well dressed with socks, gloves and fur-lined boots, wander the aisles in search of local and seasonal ingredients to get cooking. The markets offer the pleasure of chatting, exchanging recipes and meeting up before taking shelter from the wind and the cold to work on the good, carefully selected products. Some dishes are essential when you are in Périgord, such as raclette with Tomme du Périgord or trappe d'Echourgnac, duck confit, Mique or tourin. Warm and comforting, it's a well-deserved reward for going out to the market.

Play a game in an indoor room to avoid ending up frozen

Do you like to have fun, your children need to exercise, but the cold slows you down in your activities? Think about indoor games! The spaces are often heated and there are numerous options for a lively day away from the winter climate. Escape Game, virtual reality games, racket sports halls, bowling, trampoline or climbing, you will soon be too hot to jump, run and play with friends or family.

Go and try Padel and other racket games at La Bandeja

Swim in municipal indoor pools

Even if before leaving, the idea of diving into the water cools when you are already frozen, doubts are quickly forgotten once you pass the pool door. The heated water is a delight for frozen toes. Slides, paddling pools, jacuzzis or swimming lanes, the municipal swimming pools of Périgord offer numerous activities depending on the location. With friends, family or lovers, what a pleasure to let yourself go away from the cold for a few hours of splashing around. Bring a hat for the outing, the return to winter reality can be hard for those who are cold.

Have a mulled wine at the Christmas market in winter

This is a tradition not to be missed despite low temperatures. Wine or hot chocolate, the drinks at the Christmas market are comforting and bring a little warmth to your frozen hands. Take the opportunity to do your end-of-year shopping and admire the new products on the market; the often frozen artisans will be happy to chat for a few minutes about their activity. Nothing stops you from having another mulled wine if you linger, it's a real spicy treat that quickly makes you forget that the cold may be here.

Shopping in major shopping centers

Apart from Sundays when they are closed, except sometimes for a few days in December for the holidays, shopping centers offer an ideal outing to combine the pleasure of shopping and escaping the cold. Shops, cafes, restaurants, delicatessens and designer boutiques, there is enough to spend several hours window shopping punctuated by comforting breaks with a hot drink. Whether it's to start Christmas presents, renew your wardrobe or spend a day with friends, shopping centers are the perfect place to avoid the cold of Périgord.

Walk well covered in the most beautiful villages in France

There's nothing better to warm up than an active walk through the lanes of the villages of Périgord. With 9 villages labeled “the most beautiful villages in France”, you would be wrong to miss the special atmospheres that emerge from these charming towns in winter. Fall under the spell of Roque-Gageac between rivers and cliffs, discover the magnificent castle of Castelnaud-la-Chapelle, admire the unusual cave of Domme or visit the incredible castle of Beynac-et-Cazenac, you will only have one desire, to continue your escapade in a not-so-polar cold. There remains Belvès, the city of 7 bell towers to discover, the square village of Monpazier and Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère for nature lovers. Just a little more effort before sheltering from the cold, Limeuil is a privileged point and Saint-Amand-de-Coly is a must with its historic ruins.

Finally, winter is not so complicated when you are well dressed and know where to go. This year, you have all the good ideas to keep you busy and know what to do in Périgord when it's cold.

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