Charlemagne’s Hill via Roqueblanche

This undulating and varied walk takes us from plains to hillsides, through vineyards and woodland.
From the heights, it offers beautiful panoramic views of the Dordogne or the vineyards and thrilling sensations in the dense woodland...

Details

4102542
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.81 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 97 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 97 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 67 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Cabara (33420)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 44.82704° / W 0.15811°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 1636E, 1637SB
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The route starts at Cabara harbour, where there is a small car park facing the river.

(S/E) With your back to the river, turn into Rue de l’Église. Leave the street on your right and continue straight on along Rue Villevieux. At the end, take the path that climbs through the woods and joins Rue de l’Église.

(1) Follow the road to the left and continue uphill. Cross the D18E5 with care. Go straight on, then at the three-way junction, turn left towards the cemetery. At the T-junction, turn right and walk alongside the cemetery.

(2) At the corner of the cemetery, take a tarmac path downhill to the left. Cross a stream and head back up into the woods. As you emerge from the woods, continue through the vineyard. Veer slightly to the right to follow the wide vineyard path that descends towards a road. Just before the road, take a path to the right which joins the road a little further on. Follow the road to the right.

(3) At Pistouley, turn left and then immediately right to walk alongside the wall of a beautiful estate. Before the large private park, turn right (signpost). Head towards a tree-lined path running alongside a vineyard, follow it and emerge between two vineyards. At the end of these vineyards, turn left and take the path into the woods.

(4) At the signpost, continue straight on towards Cabara (circular route). At the wall, turn right and climb up to the hamlet of Roqueblanche. Cross the hamlet and continue to the D19E2. Follow this road to the right towards Cobeyre, passing a road on the left and a signpost on the right.

(5) Turn left and follow the road downhill for about 1 km towards the D18E5.

(6) Cross the road with care, and first turn right then left to go down a flight of steps made of railway sleepers. Follow the path through the woods, come out onto a road and follow it to the right. Ignore all the turnings on the left, noting a pretty wrought-iron wayside cross on the right. This will take you to Port de Cabara (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 6 m - Port of Cabara - Dordogne (fleuve)
  2. 1 : km 0.3 - alt. 35 m - Head towards the D18E5
  3. 2 : km 1.12 - alt. 38 m - Cemetery
  4. 3 : km 2.05 - alt. 36 m - Pistouley
  5. 4 : km 2.73 - alt. 40 m - Porte-flèche
  6. 5 : km 3.58 - alt. 62 m - Junction
  7. 6 : km 4.62 - alt. 15 m - D18E5 Road
  8. S/E : km 5.81 - alt. 6 m - Port of Cabara - Dordogne (fleuve)

Notes

Since the bustling port activity of the 19th century, the village has become very quiet and peaceful for its residents...
Only two attractions remain: the barge-restaurant "La Lamproie", and the La Marine bar, where local literary gatherings are sometimes held.

(2) On our route, the cemetery, as always, provides a chance to top up our water supplies!

Brannais Tourist Office Tel: 05 57 74 90 24
Email: tourisme.brannais4@orange.fr
Website: Tourist Office

Worth a visit

Almost nestled against the hill, the Church of Notre-Dame de Cabara overlooks the river. It was built in the 19th century in the purest Neo-Gothic style.

(2) The Cabara cemetery, situated well away from the village, follows local tradition and features a beautiful 16th-century hosanna cross.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 5 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
marybleu
marybleu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A varied and very pleasant route. Quiet country lanes.
I should note that from the port, we immediately find ourselves on Rue Villedieux (which runs alongside the café), with the path at the end on the left-hand side (signpost).
At stage 6, it’s really just a right-left turn over 20 metres; the steps aren’t very visible and the path isn’t really passable due to lots of brambles. I’d already noticed this on another route passing through there.
Thank you for this route

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johndifool10
johndifool10

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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martinet-galopins
martinet-galopins

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

An interesting hike, though there are some steep climbs. The last part of the route is less pleasant

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mahistre.patrice
mahistre.patrice

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very good in the direction indicated; a steep climb right from the start (12–15%), but after that a gentle walk with a few gentle inclines. Beautiful views, a varied route

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Danyaiki
Danyaiki

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

As with the previous routes I’ve tried (only in this area for now, alas), the instructions are excellent. It’s allowed me to get back into the little adventures I used to go on as a kid, but which I’d stopped doing because I wasn’t sure if the paths were still accessible (some areas have been neglected for a long time and overgrown with scrub).
Thank you

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