Saint-Mesmin (Dordogne) walks

In Saint-Mesmin, you can see a church with a magnificent 17th-century altarpiece. Take the Côtes du Batissou trail with views of the Auvezère Gorges to reach the forges and blast furnace at Savignac-Lédrier. You will pass through Bourg Savignac-Lédriers and head towards Saint-Mesmin, passing in front of the Fontaine du Bon Saint-Mesmin fountain, before reaching the Saut Ruban and returning to Saint-Mesmin along the Auvezère tributary.

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.

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 very pleasant walk through the forest, offering exceptional views of the Objat valley at the end of the route.Best done at the weekend to avoid any disturbance from quarrying activities. User comment on 24 August 2025.(!) After the ruins of Patel, the footbridge (4) over the river has collapsed and it is not possible to cross. A diversion is signposted. This takes you towards Rouffignac. Alternatively, you can follow "le chemin du Maquis", which is a little technical in places.

Feedback from 19/12/2024. Still relevant on 25 August 2025.(!) The route is impassable from La Rechèze due to a crack in the pond's overflow. It is impossible to cross the path, which is closed by municipal order.This beautiful hike will take you to La Chartreuse du Glandier, founded in 1219, known at the time as "Notre-Dame du Glandier", destroyed during the Revolution of 1789 and rebuilt in its current state by the Carthusian monks in 1869.You will also discover the Étang de La Rochèze, built in 1457 to serve as a reservoir for the Canal des Moines (1457).Today it is an institute for people with mental disabilities.

This loop, mainly through woodland, will take you to some of the Périgord Noir's lesser-known châteaux: Saint-Rabier, Rastignac, Larres and Le-Maine. A steep climb will take you to the heights of Larres from Taravellou. The return journey is on a gentler slope through the village of La-Chapelle-Saint-Jean. There is a bit of tarmac at the start and finish, but overall there are far more paths than roads.

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.

A beautiful hike covering many kilometres but with little elevation gain. Pleasant paths between low walls and woods, especially after the hamlet of Beauzens. Interesting village, churches, castle, hamlet of Beauzens, stele.

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.

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.

A long, peaceful hike in the Barade National Forest (barradaen occitan: closed): calm, wind in the branches, birdsong... It mainly follows firebreaks, with few roads. Moderate elevation gain.

An easy walk through the forest ends at Notre-Dame de Fournet, with a beautiful view of the Couze valley. The route also offers a glimpse of Lake Chasteaux.

Une petite promenade autour des 2 sites préhistoriques de Montignac : la célèbre grotte de Lascaux et le site du Régourdou. Cette promenade qui part du bourg vous amène au sommet de la colline où se trouve la célèbre grotte de Lascaux. Vous pourriez visiter le site ainsi que celui du Régourdou. Le retour vers le village vous offre une splendide vue sur la vallée.

This route from Lagraulière features long stretches through the Blanchefort Forest and crosses the Brézou stream several times.

A fairly long but easy hike: the slopes are gentle and the elevation gain is moderate. There are some beautiful wooded sections, mainly towards the end, and a few views of the rolling countryside, but there are also some paved sections that can be a bit long.

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

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 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.

A beautiful loop through the forest and along streams and rivers. A climb up to the plateau for some great views.

This hike takes you up to a higher elevation with a beautiful view of the Vézère River, and also allows you to discover two sites: - La Roque Saint-Christophe, troglodyte dwellings in a limestone cliff one kilometre long and sixty metres high, - and the village of Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère, listed as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in France.

A lovely walk in the woodlands along the Ligoure and Briance rivers, with a visit to Chalucet castle. This walk has been created in memory of Bernard, from the Amis de Chalucet Association and a great Camino walker who also walked to Rome and Bremen.

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

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.

Walk around Collonges-la-Rouge.

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.