5 of the best things to do in Brive La Gaillarde (from festivals to chocolate!)
On a trip to the Dordogne Valley, I flew in and out of Brive from London. We spent a bit of time exploring this pretty, small town and despite the fact that it’s not well known, it has quite a lot to offer visitors.
I spent a couple of days being guided around Brive, exploring the markets, and the restaurant scene and even getting to attend a music festival! It was super fun to explore a part of France that was new to me, and we were shown some of the locals’ best things to do in Brive.
If you’re visiting France’s Dordogne Valley and considering what to do in Brive, then check out these top things to do in Brive below.
Best things to do in Brive la Gaillarde
Whilst there isn’t an endless list of things to do in Brive, there’s still plenty to keep visitors entertained.
Go shopping
Brive has such a lovely array of shops. From more recognisable high street stores to independent shops you cod easily spend house browsing for new homeward or French fashion statements.
Visit Brive la Gaillarde market
The Brive la Gaillarde market day is most days from Tuesday and Saturday.
The Brive market is ideal for foodies. There’s everything from fresh fish and meat to live poultry, flowers, bread and fruit and vegetables. There are also stalls selling non-foodie goods such as clothing and jewellery.
Go to the Brive festival
Brive is a small town that knows how to party!
The annual Brive festival lasts for a week at the end of July. For the last four days, the Brive festival becomes a music festival and plays host to some of the biggest names in French music!
Every day throughout the festival there are different music acts playing to around 17,000 people over the four days. I partied up at the Brive festival on Friday night and watched big names such as Jain and Louise Attaque sing.
Feast on chocolate
The Eric Lamy chocolate shop in Brive is dangerously delicious.
Head upstairs and take a seat on the terrace on the balcony. To avoid making the impossible decision of what chocolate treat to have, ask for a selection of mini chocolates from the shop downstairs. That way you can have one of everything. Genius.
The chocolate shop also does workshops where you can learn how to make chocolate yourself. Oh, and you can’t possibly leave without picking up a bar or two for the flight home!
Enjoy brunch
Bruch may not be a typical French mealtime but that doesn’t mean the fresh don’t know how to do it.
For 10€ you can enjoy a massive plate of cheese, meats, salad, and French bread with a drink overlooking the Brive market. When we were there, there was even some live music to accompany us.
The perfect place to refuel after exploring the town.
About Brive France
Brive, or to give it its full name, Brive la Gaillarde is a small town in the Corrèze region of France.
It’s said that “Gaillarde” probably stands for bravery or strength but it may also refer to the city’s walls.
Despite being pretty small, Brive is one of the more sizeable towns in the area. Since it has plenty of facilities it’s a great base for exploring the Dordogne.
Is Brive-la-Gaillarde worth visiting?
Where is Brive la Gaillarde France?
Getting to Brive
Brive is served by flights from London’s Stanstead airport which makes getting to Brive from the UK pretty easy. You can also get a bus or a train from England to Brive.
Flights to Brive
Flights to Brive from the UK take about 1 hour 40 minutes and a return flight costs around £50 with Ryanair. So it’s a very affordable flight! Brive airport is very small but it’s kinda cute!
Skyscanner is what I use to find cheap flights.
Trains to Brive
Alternatively, you can catch the train from the UK to Brive. This involves a change in Paris after you’ve caught the Eurostar from London to Paris.
To get from Paris to Brive you’ll need to change from Gare du Nord to Gare d’Austerlitz and then get the train to Brive.
Omio is a great platform for booking European and UK travel on. You can check train and bus prices and schedules and book super easily!
Buses to Brive from the UK
If getting the bus is your preferred method of travel you can also get the bus from London to Brive. This involves one change in Paris and the whole journey takes around 18 hours.
Omio is a great platform for booking European and UK travel on. You can check train and bus prices and schedules and book super easily!
Getting around the area
The easiest way to see more of Corrèze and The Dordogne Valley is to hire a car. This gives you some more freedom to explore on your own schedule and see some of the smaller towns that aren’t well served by public transport.
I use comparison sites like DiscoverCars and RentalCars to book my car rentals as it’s easy to check prices and compare the best deals!
Where to stay in Brive
If you’re planning to use Brive as your base for exploring the Corrèze and Dordogne regions then take a look at these top-rated hotels in Brive.
- Budget-friendly: La Truffe Noire | Ibis Brive Centre | La Pigeonnier
- Mid-range: Hotel Les Originals | Champollion | Chateau de Lacan
- Luxury: Junoir Suite at La Truffe Noire
Final thoughts on the best things to do in Brive-la-Gaillarde France
Brive La Gaillarde France is a cute little town with plenty to offer during your trip to the Dordogne Valley. Staying in Brives la Gaillarde positions you perfectly for exporing nearby towns like Rocamadour, or enjoying the rivers and hills of the surrounding area.
I’d highly recommend making sure you’re in town for the Brives market day, as well as checking out some of these other cool things on this what to do in Brive-la-Gaillarde list!
Last Updated on December 8, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
