Around the Chapel of Saint-Roch

(S/E) From the church square, take the Route de la Mazorie southwards, towards the Chapelle Saint-Roch.

(1) At the Chapelle Saint-Roch, turn left towards Lignac. In Lignac, carry on straight on to Laugerie.

(2) At the end of the road, take the path on the left, running alongside the bamboo grove on your right.

(3) At the junction with the path running at right angles, carry on straight ahead to the next junction, then turn left onto the path leading to the bridge. Continue to the next junction.

(4) Turn right, following the signposted direction, to the ford. Cross the ford (follow the signposts), ignoring the^first path on the left (private) and then the^second on the right.

(5) At the end of the track, on the open area, turn left, following the signposts to reach the D7E3.

(6) Once on the road, turn left between the pond and the Moulin de la Rivière, then head up the road towards the Domaine de la Rivière, following the signposts.

(7) At the three-way junction, turn left towards Les Rouverades and pass through the hamlet.

(8) Turn left at^{the fourth} track and continue straight on until you reach the Moulin de Lignac. Cross the bridge and continue straight ahead to the left. After about 200 metres, at the next junction, turn right towards the hamlet of Lignac (follow the signposts).

In Lignac, turn right towards the Chapelle Saint-Roch.

(1) Turn right again towards the village to return to the church square (S/E).

Route No. 5, entitled “Les Moulins”.

Blue signposts.

In Saint-Sornin, the cruciform church is thought to date from the early 15th century. In the sacristy, there was a 17th-century reliquary containing the remains of St Radegonde of St Donat and St Modeste. In the south chapel, there is a fine statue of St Radegonde and a 15th-century wooden Pietà. The oldest bell dates from 1592. Saint Radegonde was particularly venerated in Saint-Sornin-Lavolps.

A fountain in the village is dedicated to her. Its water was said to cure scabies and skin diseases. Furthermore, all manner of miracles were attributed to the village’s patron saints. St Donat, in particular, was invoked to ward off storms.

The Chapel of Saint Roch, in the commune, is a former oratory annexed to the priory of Tulle in 1318. It was moved to its present location from the village of Boissiaux around 1820. It is thought to date from the time of a particularly severe cattle plague. Few saints were as famous in the West as Saint Roch between the 14th and 17th centuries. A contemporary of the Black Death, from which he was miraculously cured, he was often the last resort for a population decimated by the epidemic that wiped out almost half of Europe’s population. In Saint-Sornin-Lavolps, he is celebrated every weekend leading up to 15 August with a blessing of the herds. In the past, the priest would also bless a handful of ‘plague herbs’ which, when hung in the stables, were believed to ward off disease in the animals.

The racecourse hosts 11 meetings a year featuring flat and jump races – the perfect opportunity to try your hand at betting!

And fishing enthusiasts can indulge their passion at the pond situated near the village, below the Les Etoiles campsite.

You’ll pass close to the former National Stud Farm at La Rivière, where, in the mid-19th century, Messrs Gayot and De Lespinats bred the Anglo-Arabian horse, which combines the stamina of the Arabian thoroughbred with the speed of the English thoroughbred.
All that remains of the castle’s ruins is a round tower topped with a thatched roof, which adds to the site’s unique character.
They are examples of the Flamboyant Gothic architectural period (late 14th – early 15th centuries), whilst the chapel still bears traces of its original 15th-century polychrome decoration. The site is privately owned; organised tours are held from time to time – please enquire at the tourist office.

To satisfy your appetite after the walk, you can stop for a bite to eat at the Moulin Rouge (in the hamlet of Les Maisons Rouges).