La Sauve-Majeure - from the abbey to the Château de Camiac

A slightly hilly, shortened route through woodland, meadows, a stud farm, horse paddocks and the beautiful Château de Camiac.

Details

456489
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.64 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 43 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 40 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 104 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 60 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking: if you are travelling alone, you can park on the esplanade des halles; if you are travelling in a group, the town hall asks that you use the car park located a little further down, Place du Tennis (this option is shown on the route).

(S/E) Turn left at the exit of the square, then left again onto the road to reach the Lapébie cycle path. Cross over and continue straight ahead.

(1) When you reach the Y-junction, take the path that climbs slightly to the right through the woods. Follow it north-east to reach a road at the edge of the woods.

(2) Turn left and walk alongside the greenhouses at a place called Le Branda. Then pass in front of a first hamlet, La Pourcaud, then in front of a place called Cabireau.

(3) When you reach the Y-junction, turn left towards Les Artigaux and continue to the T-junction.

(4) Leave the road and take the path on the left to Château de Camiac, then go around it, turning left again.

(5) At the crossroads, turn right, walk alongside the château, its grounds and numerous horses until you reach the D121.

(6) Watch out for traffic! Keep left along the road and take the path immediately on the left.
Continue straight ahead to the Lapébie track, passing the Gestas stream.

(7) Cross the track and continue along the path opposite, which climbs, crosses a road and then descends. At the exit, you will see the Abbey of La Sauve-Majeure and return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 68 m - Place du Tennis
  2. 1 : km 0.97 - alt. 87 m - On the right, path through the undergrowth
  3. 2 : km 1.74 - alt. 90 m - On the left on the road to Le Branda
  4. 3 : km 2.64 - alt. 93 m - Y, left towards Les Artigaux
  5. 4 : km 3.07 - alt. 96 m - T, left towards Château Camiac
  6. 5 : km 3.84 - alt. 71 m - T, on the right
  7. 6 : km 4.74 - alt. 65 m - Junction with the D121. Towards - Gestas (ruisseau) - Affluent de la Dordogne
  8. 7 : km 5.37 - alt. 67 m - Track, opposite
  9. S/E : km 6.64 - alt. 69 m - Place du Tennis

Notes

Important: this route is off the beaten track. All the landmarks mentioned in the description (place names, castle names, but also high-voltage power lines, bridges, etc.) are shown on the corresponding IGN 1:25,000 map, but are not always shown on the reduced map.
We strongly recommend that you either purchase the map or use the app on a smartphone, which will also allow you to be geolocated at all times so you can track your movements accurately.

Worth a visit

The Abbey of La Sauve-Majeure was founded in 1079 by the Duke of Aquitaine and Gérard de Corbie; at its peak, it was home to some three hundred monks. Ruined and abandoned at the end of the 18th century, it was listed as a historic monument in 1840. This initial protection was confirmed by a decree published in the Official Journal in 1914, followed by the protection of several plots of land containing the ruins. The site has been listed as a historic monument since 12 April 1929. Finally, the land omitted from the previous decrees was classified as a historic monument by decree on 9 April 2001. In addition, the abbey was listed in December 1998 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France (Wikipedia).
It was not until 1834, following a donation, that François Chaumet, a famous doctor of his time, had the current château built thanks to the treasure, said to have been discovered in the stables. This treasure, which came from the Knights Templar, is said to represent only a tiny part of an enormous treasure hidden by the latter in several places on the property.
Inspired by the Renaissance, before the "Viollet-Le-Duc" style became fashionable, this charming building combines pure lines with light sculptures and harmonious shades of gold, slate and stone. Dominating a land of contrasts, where vineyards stretch out their twisted arms to give way to fields of wheat cut short, it is one of the jewels of this region.
Legend has it that the shadow of the fairy Melusine still roams, pursued by her lover, the enchanter Merlin, and when evening comes, their reflections mingle in the blue waters of the magical stream behind the castle, under the small wooden bridge.
It is also a hotel overlooking an 8-hectare park and a magnificent valley full of contrasts.

Other activities include a stud farm renowned for its breeding, training and performances.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 21 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
mimi3347
mimi3347

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Good location, a bit far from my town of Bègles for my audience.

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lemarcheur65
lemarcheur65 ★

Hello comma
Thank you for your comment.

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Arzela
Arzela

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice route, but the directions are sometimes unclear. We shortened the route without understanding where we went wrong! Be aware that in rainy weather it is best to wear good shoes, or even walking sticks, as the ground can be slippery. But it's a nice walk, and in winter you're in the sun almost all the time.

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Beaetpascal
Beaetpascal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route is as described, but at this time of year the paths are very muddy.

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Caro2013
Caro2013

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant short walk with all types of paths, including woodland and tarmac. The area around the stud farm is very pretty with fields of flowering courgettes.

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Fred 2222
Fred 2222

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

As I have no sense of direction, this app is perfect for me!
Great ideas for walks

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Fédine
Fédine

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this hike in October, so we only encountered: a couple, then a gentleman and his dog, who were walking along the "Labépie" cycle path, as well as a horse rider near the Camiac stables.
i imagine this route must be quite busy during the tourist season.
A very pleasant hike that we will do again (we were a group of 26 hikers) in the spring.

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Dune bleue
Dune bleue

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Short, easy and enjoyable hike

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virgule
virgule
Estelle33
Estelle33

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We couldn't find our way back to the main road. No greenhouses or landmarks. We continued on our way in a different direction.

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Denis Penninckx
Denis Penninckx

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk in Entre-deux-Mers. Don't forget to visit the abbey, 300 metres from the starting point, before or after your walk.

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martinet-galopins
martinet-galopins

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I have redrawn the route for this hike because the passage through the stud farm is prohibited. The owner of the estate has shown us another path that leads to the bottom of the estate, and I have added a loop to maintain the length of the circuit.
Otherwise, it's a very pleasant walk with lots of shaded areas. In wet weather, some parts may be muddy.

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Bruno33500
Bruno33500

This route does not pass very close to the castle, which is becoming less and less visible as the vegetation grows.
The D121 is indeed very busy, but only for a few metres, unless you took another route.
Bruno 33500

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Perret.D.33
Perret.D.33

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : May 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The hike started off very nicely in the small wood, then we joined a very quiet road. That's when things went wrong, as we arrived at the Camiac stables... We saw the castle from afar but couldn't get past it by walking along its left side. Perhaps we turned right too soon after the place name to reach the castle? We then joined the D121, which is in fact a parish specific to Brittany, VERY BUSY and dangerous because the verges weren't mowed, and then we returned to the abbey using the GPS. I'm not questioning the description of the hike, as it may have been me who got lost, but more precise directions are needed after leaving the road to reach the château. Most of the hike is in full sun at the end of the morning, so bring a hat.
Thank you anyway for this hike. We'll try to do it again properly...

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Joelle Contet
Joelle Contet

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 29, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk on flat terrain, often through wooded areas. Not much road
A very pleasant day
Joellle 33800

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