Château du Doux

From the Dordogne valley, a path leads up to the heights of Altillac, south of the Xaintrie. The shared influence of Quercy (on the houses) and Cantal (on the barns) can be felt in the village.

Details

3099957
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.00 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 279 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 279 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 419 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 139 m

Description of the walk

Park in the Altillac holiday village car park.

(S/E) From the entrance to the holiday village, head upstream towards the swimming pool. Continue for about 200 metres, then take the small road on the right. At the next crossroads, follow the gravel track on the left, then turn right onto the road. At the fork immediately ahead, continue straight on to reach the junction with the D116.

(1) Cross and climb up the opposite side via a sunken, shaded path. At the crossroads, turn left. Cross Paliole and follow a sunken path on the right between the meadows and then through the woods. At the road, turn left. View of the Dordogne valley. Cross Paliole and then leave the road to follow a sunken path on the right between the meadows and then along the edge of the woods.

(2) At the crossroads at La Coste, follow the tarmac road to the left for a few metres, then turn left again onto a stony path and climb up through the undergrowth. View of the Dordogne valley. Further on, pass under the power line, then at Bos Cassan, turn right to rejoin the road and walk to the nearby crossroads.

(3) Opposite, follow the signs for "Château du Doux".

(4) After the château, climb left towards La Borderie. After 500 metres, take a path on the right that joins the GR®480.

(5) Leave the road and follow this descending path. At the crossroads at the edge of the woods, follow the small tarmac road opposite and reach the road that crosses the hamlet of La Vayssière.

(6) Cross over and take the small road opposite that descends. Views of the Dordogne, Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, Altillac and the Lot department. Cross Les Embruns, then take the only gravel road that descends to La Bourelle, passing close to a vineyard hut.

(7) At the crossroads, take the road on the right. Cross the D41 with caution (bend) and continue straight ahead. Then cut across the D116 and continue straight on to the holiday village (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 143 m - Holiday village car park - Dordogne (fleuve)
  2. 1 : km 1.11 - alt. 160 m - D116
  3. 2 : km 2.22 - alt. 212 m - Tarmac road
  4. 3 : km 4.01 - alt. 332 m - Le Bos Cassan, crossroads
  5. 4 : km 4.77 - alt. 377 m - Château du Doux
  6. 5 : km 6.11 - alt. 419 m - GR480
  7. 6 : km 6.91 - alt. 364 m - La Veyssière
  8. 7 : km 8.59 - alt. 197 m - La Bourelle
  9. S/E : km 10 - alt. 142 m - Holiday village car park

Worth a visit

(S/E) Altillac's favourable location explains why it has been continuously inhabited from Neolithic times to the present day: La Borderie dolmen, underground shelters (Middle Ages) and numerous castles: Miegemont, Majorie Haute, Brâ, which belonged to Marshal Camp Marbot after the Revolution, Vaurs, Sugarde, Bichiran and Gary.

Château du Doux: this castle, built in 1904, was a luxury hotel. In 1942, it was requisitioned as an internment camp for Jewish families. After the war, it was used as a holiday camp, hotel and guest house.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Lachassinie
Lachassinie

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

well-marked route

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antoine94
antoine94

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

A good two-thirds of the hike is on roads... So if you like mountain trails or paths through fields, woodland paths, etc., choose another hike. Here, the countryside is divided up by plots and fences, and it's clear that everything is done to keep hikers away.
That said, the scenery is very beautiful.
This route is actually very well suited to mountain bikes.

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albatros 46
albatros 46

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant hike, well-maintained path, beautiful view of the town of Beaulieu below, pretty Château du Doux,
we pass right in front of the porch. It took us 2 hours and 45 minutes at a moderate pace.

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VIROULINE
VIROULINE

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Well-marked yellow route. Route frequented by mountain bikers. Route was busy on this Pentecost Sunday, but perhaps that was unusual. Beautiful route, especially when combined with a stroll through old Beaulieu.

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fontenette
fontenette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A wonderful discovery of nature and heritage.
May 2024
Then visit the village of Beaulieu sur Dordogne. Superb

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chtidu29
chtidu29
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route with a visit to the Château du Doux (from the outside).

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BOUREL 56
BOUREL 56

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Walk above Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne.
With a view of the Château du Doux. Very beautiful.

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Laloose
Laloose

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful views overlooking the Dordogne valley and Beaulieu.

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legdom
legdom

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Perhaps a little too much tarmac, but the roads are not too busy with cars. The last part of the return to the car park is not great. The passage to the Château du Doux offers a lovely view. There is a small error in the red route between points 1 and 2; you need to continue along the road to reach the path on the right.

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