Squeezed between river and rock face, this much-visited village crouches in the lee of Château de Beynac. A stiff 15-minute climb up the cliff, the original fortress was founded by the 12thC barons of Beynac and commands spectacular views from the battlements. It was captured by Richard the Lionheart, but later spent most of the Hundred Years War in French hands, and the main château was added in the 16thC.

During summer regular boat trips in traditional flat-bottomed gabares depart from the jetty on the river, and there is canoe and kayak hire.