Beneath the covered market hall at the centre of Domme, an entrance opens into one of the largest natural cave systems in the Périgord Noir. The Grotte de Domme extends for 450 metres of accessible galleries, with chambers filled with stalactites and stalagmites of considerable size — some of the formations have been growing for hundreds of thousands of years and reach several metres in height.
The guided tour takes about 45 minutes and maintains a steady temperature of 13-15°C regardless of the season — a blessing in summer. The caves show evidence of both prehistoric human occupation (bones and tools were found during excavation) and more recent use as a shelter during the Wars of Religion. The exit from the caves brings you out onto a natural terrace with a view of the Dordogne valley, which is one of the better surprises the tour has to offer. Tickets are sold at the market hall entrance; it's worth booking ahead in high summer.