Limousin walks

An interesting walk at the foot of the Monts de Blond, among the undergrowth and mystical stories.

Chassagnas, of Latin origin, Cassania or Gallic Cassanus, means oak. Chassagnas consists of a wooded slope down to the edge of Lake Vassivière and a partially open summit offering a 180° view of the lake. The Chassagnas peninsula, jutting out into the heart of Lake Vassivière, forms the boundary between the Creuse and Haute-Vienne departments. Together with its twin, the Puy du Rocher, which dominates Vauveix, it forms a barrier between the lake's two main bays.

A fairly demanding long loop that allows you to walk along or above the Creuse and discover its tributary, the Petite Creuse. Monet painted these banks many times, and with good reason! This hike is best done when the trees are still bare. IBP56 rating

A very pleasant hike close to a colossal structure built by the monks of Aubazines in the 12th century. This circuit also allows you to discover a dolmen, a dry stone "village" built by a hermit, the Puy de Pauliac with its orientation table and its cromlech. The Canal aux Moines skilfully follows the curves of the hill for about 1.5 km and feeds a reservoir in the abbey enclosure. In the past, the waterfall was used to power the monastery's watermill.

This easy hike will take you along the Canal des Moines in a bucolic, shaded setting, starting from one of the prettiest villages in Corrèze.

A very beautiful hike that takes you back to the source of the Vienne near the village of Servières and across the Chandouille on wooden bridges and granite stone bridges.

This magnificent trail will allow you to discover part of the Vézère Gorges in a preserved and wild natural setting. Panoramic view of the Brive basin.

The first part of the circuit takes you along La Mourne, a lively little river with numerous waterfalls and cascades. The second part takes you through the Faux-Mazuras forest, and the third part finally takes you to the top of the Roches Mazuras, in a corner of moorland, where you can enjoy unobstructed views.

A short walk around the village of Turenne, listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France, with interesting views of the citadel.

A pleasant hike leading to the summit of Knoll Mary, which overlooks the Freysselines cirque and the Ganezande Pond. At the summit, equipped with an orientation table, there are beautiful views of the surrounding area.

Walk around Collonges-la-Rouge.

You will walk through the Longeyroux peat bog, where you will discover the sources of the Vézère river, in which you can take a dip. You can also follow a discovery trail through the peat bog with educational information boards.

The hike first takes you up the Franche Valeine stream, where you can admire the beautiful, large waterfalls dotted along its course. After a connecting section, you descend to reach the Ruisseau des Rochettes gorges and waterfalls, then rejoin the Franche Valeine and follow it upstream to the car park where the hike began. Most of the route passes through wilderness areas untouched by human activity.

Actual time: 2½ hours This hike will take you to the heart of the Massif des Monédières and the Plateau des Millevaches, where numerous streams flow. The rural heritage is also rich in stones, crosses, menhirs and plank bridges. In winter, you can do this circuit on cross-country skis.

Ayen, Saint-Robert, Perpezac-le-Blanc and Segonzac are among the hilltop towns of the Yssandonnais region. Located in the foothills of the Massif Central, they all share a unique geological feature: they are isolated hills with very distinctive flora and fauna that are well worth observing or photographing. Since 2011, these towns have been part of the Vézère-Ardoise region of art and history.

Loop around Meyssac and Collonges-La-Rouge to discover the geological fault that has left a deep mark on the ground. Red sandstone to the north and white limestone to the south will take you to the Chaise du Diable (Devil's Chair) where you can rest before diving back into the valley.

Discover the Bonnes Fontaines de Courbefy, unique places of worship that are found in large numbers in Limousin. Those in Courbefy were particularly renowned and frequented, one of them even accompanied by a cross covered with ex-votos, offerings and marks of devotion. Courbefy is an abandoned village, and the announcement of its sale made international headlines a few years ago.

Hiking in the woods in the Corrèze countryside. An exceptional site that is a must-see: Gimel and its waterfalls.

Along a narrow goat track lined with boxwood forest, this circuit takes you through a wild landscape of gorges, where memories of a pilgrimage to the Virgin Mary remain on the banks of the Chat-Cros.

This path through the hills above Collonges shows you how the village was supplied with water until the mid-20th century. Along this circuit, there are several points of historical interest with audio commentary available via audio terminals.

At the gateway to the Millevaches plateau, set off on a walk punctuated with information panels to discover a 50-hectare listed natural site.

A beautiful walk from Jugeals Nazareth to Turenne via Gernes. Magnificent views of Turenne Castle and the cliffs above the Tourmente.

The village of Royère-de-Vassivière was established on a strategic pass on the Millevaches plateau, at the crossing point of a prehistoric ridge path. The ridge paths (or pouges) allowed people to travel long distances. They favoured the granite peaks of the rounded hills, called Puy or Peux, and avoided the damp, peaty valley bottoms that only cattle frequented.

A circular route starting from Saint-Pardoux-Morterolles that also allows you to discover the Cascades d'Augerolles site. This hike passes through meadows, woods, forests and the areas around the waterfalls. A few panoramic views, streams and a plank bridge complete the picture. It should be noted that the roads, where there are any, are forest roads, some paved and some unpaved, but in any case very little used.

A winding route through the woods, between greenery and running water...

A magnificent walk overlooking the Vézère river, following the route of the old "Paris Orléans Corrèze" railway line on the way there, returning on the other bank along the Vézère and crossing the old town of Uzerche.

This is an opportunity to discover a rather secret path leading to the impressive Poirier Waterfall. Here, the Thaurion becomes a bubbling river that bounces off large granite boulders. This walk will also take you across two footbridges over the Thaurion, between twin ponds, along paths through woods and undergrowth, and across meadows.

This route takes you on a journey through history: the commune belongs to the Vézère-Ardoise Land of Art and History because this strategic site was chosen by the Viscount of Limoges and then elevated to a duchy by the Noailles family. As you stroll through the picturesque narrow streets, discover the heritage linked to water with its fountains and wash houses, and the imposing residences. The church of Ayen and its elements listed as historic monuments will arouse your curiosity!

This is a pleasant, nature-filled hike that allows you to discover the bocage countryside around Montrol-Sénard, with numerous views of the Limousin countryside, a wealth of rural heritage sites, wells, wayside crosses, dry stone walls and a wash house.

This short hike also gives you the opportunity to discover the charming village of Chambon-sur-Voueize. The walk can be done as a circular route, but only the first half runs along the Voueize gorges. For once, I vote for a return trip to enjoy the scenery along the banks twice.

A beautiful hike around the Biou and Couze rivers, which flow into Lake Couze. Very shady, it passes four mills, some of which have been restored but are no longer in operation. The gradient is sometimes a little steep, but it's worth it. Please note: there is a deforested area between points (5) and (6), which is impassable in wet weather.

This route crosses the Montcheyrol forest, classified as a ZNIEFF (Natural Area of Ecological, Faunistic and Floristic Interest). This is a beautiful walk in a wooded area dominated by deciduous trees, including oak, beech, chestnut, ash, black locust and cherry, through the heart of which flows the Tourmente river, which has carved out its territory by shaping the rock. This walk can be extended with a stroll through the streets of Juillac, among its characterful houses with slate roofs.

A lovely walk, partly through woodland and partly in sunny open country. Very little road walking. Please note that the route does not pass through the Travassac slate quarry, which is a paid attraction.

Starting from Sous-Parsat, this hike offers the opportunity to admire the amazing frescoes and stained glass windows of the village's Saint-Thomas Church, to stop at Mareilles in front of the "cylindrical" fountain and its pretty basin, and to walk through the undergrowth or across the bocage.

This hike through the valley of painters allows you to discover a stretch of the Petite Creuse and Creuse rivers, as well as numerous viewpoints that have been a source of inspiration for many painters. This is a family-friendly hike with numerous benches and tables, as well as information panels along the way explaining the paintings created in this part of the valley.

Starting from the Martinèche car park, Martin Nadaud, the most famous mason in the Creuse, invites you to follow the paths of his childhood to discover the built and natural heritage of the commune of Soubrebost in half a day.

As well as the beautiful Gallo-Roman site of Les Cars, this walk through a varied landscape of moorland and woodland takes in the small built heritage of the hamlets (crosses, wells, bridges) and the beautiful thatched cottage village of Variégas.

Walk along the Xaintrie Noire and Gabariers trails in the shady undergrowth between the Roche and Clauzel streams. The trail is marked in yellow throughout and numbered (6).

During this walk, you will discover some of the many ponds in the commune of Flayat. You are in a mushroom-rich area and the landscape is spectacular in autumn when the trees are ablaze with colour and reflected in the ponds.

A mainly forest route, on paths lined with low walls, skirting a few meadows and passing through a few quiet hamlets.

This hike, starting from the village of Millevaches, will take you to Chavanac, a restored village with a beautiful Romanesque church and stone houses.

This route takes you along a very quiet road and narrow paths on either side of the Viaduc des Rochers Noirs viaduct to a metal suspension footbridge over the Luzège. Lovely views of the viaduct and the Luzège Valley.

Near Meymac, Mont Bessou (976 m) is the highest point of the Millevaches Plateau. From the top of its observation tower at just under 1,000 metres, the view is simply magnificent. This hike takes you there via the Vézère springs through the Longéroux peat bogs at the foot of Puy Pendu.

A family walk around this lake, which is classified as a National Nature Reserve.

During a short climb and a small circular route, Mont Gargan, a memorial site steeped in history, offers landscapes of moors and woods, unobstructed views and heritage.

Hike around a magnificent castle and ponds in the Sédières National Forest.

Starting from Thauron, this is an easy walk that takes you along a small section of the magnificent Thaurion Gorges, then into the countryside.

This two-stage route of 2 x 18 km will take you on a journey of discovery around one of the largest artificial lakes in France. You can expect to see mid-mountain landscapes, varied vegetation including fir forests, moors and peat bogs, and wild flora and fauna on this tour of Lake Vassivière, commonly known as "Little Canada". The highlight of the route: a stopover at the Pourvoirie du Lac stopover lodge (accommodation, breakfast and dinner with a panoramic view of the lake).

This route will take you to the heart of Limousin villages, past oratories, good fountains and prayer trees, witnesses to ancestral spiritual activity. You are in the Périgord-Limousin Regional Nature Park.

Ayen is a nature destination between Limousin and Périgord! In the past, these well-oriented, sunny hillsides were used for vineyards, but today they are home to fruit crops: the Limousin apple route passes through Ayen. You will cross walnut groves: Ayen, the birthplace of the Corne variety, has been listed on the "Périgord Walnut" route since 2002.