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A hike in the region Aquitaine
This hike goes through a verdant countryside and allows to visit several places which evoke the rich History of Black Périgord. Belvès, which is classified as one of the Most beautiful Villages in France, was marked by the One Hundred Years War. The national forest of Bessède, with its archeological site of Caesar's camp, the Roman way, churches, etc. are other pieces of an ancient heritage which transports the visitor back in time.
1- Take the street Flanders-Dunkerque, and below turn to the right after Imberty's factory. Take the road on your left. Walk past a covered laundry, and turn to the first road to the left.
2- Take the track which leads to a wood. Continue up to the road.
3- Once at the road, turn to the left, and then to the right.
4- Take the first track to the right. The track goes in the forest up to the location called "La Belle Etoile".
5- Turn to the right. Walk past Borie.
6- Go down in a forest, walk past a pond, and turn to the left. As you find a meadow, go to the right to reach the road, near the locality "Champ de l'hoste".
7- Turn to the right. Go up to the second track to the left.
8- Take this track which runs along meadows. Go into a wood criss-crossed by forest tracks. Continue on the track leaving two paths on your left and two paths on your right.
9- Once at the road, continue straight ahead towards the road D53.
10- Cross the road and take the track opposite. At the intersection, go to the right and cross the road D26 for the opposite track which leads to Vielvic.
11- In the village, take the first road to the right. Continue up to a track.
12- You enter in the forest of Bessède. Continue on the track up to a crossing.
13- Take the right track (GR36). You leave this track by the first path to the left. This quite narrow path crosses the wood. Go down a steep slope, and cross the brook Raunel. Finnally, you will go out of the forest of Bessède.
14- You reach the church of Saint-Pardoux and pass along the presbytery, which is now used as a gite. Continue on the road towards the hamlet of Grimaudou. Cross the hamlet and continue up to a crossroads. Walk past some houses and turn to the left.
15- Take the track which goes in a meadow, then go along a beautiful vineyard.
16- Once at the road, turn to the right. Walk along the cemetery, and go straight up to come back to the starting point.
Information
General points
- Geographic situation. District : Belvès
(department Dordogne)
Road map with
 - Starting point : Belvès Watch tower (Tour du Guet). You can park to "parking de la brèche" in Belvès, and from there go on foot to the Watch tower.
- The length of the stroll is estimated at 16 Km and the walk duration is about 5 h 40 mn.
- The stroll is marked out all along
- Stroll form : loop
- Stroll relief : hilly (alt. mini = 135 m ; alt. maxi = 235 m)
- Maintenance : frequent (brushwood clearing at least annual)
- Exposure : varied (both covered and uncovered areas)
Events and information
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Call for your attention.
In the forest massif of Bessède, you must take all cautions against forest fires: fire is forbidden, do not throw cigarette butts, etc.
Noteworthy places
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La Tour du Guet. The watch tower was used to control the valley, in order to give alert to the fort situated above.
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La voie romaine. The path GR 36 corresponds to the Roman way that connected Saintes to Cahors.
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Belvès. With its 7 towers (4 bell towers and 3 towers without bell, all dating from Middle Age), its troglodyte dwellings, and the "castrum", the village of Belvès underwent violent periods in its history. During the One Hundred Years War, in spite of the protection provided by Pope Clément V in the early XIVth century, it was besieged many times by the English. Several buildings in this village display Gothic or Renaissance architecture.
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Eglise de Vielvic. This romano-byzantine church goes back to the XIth and XIIth centuries. It is characterized by its corbels around the chevet.
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Le village de Vielvic. The village of Vielvic corresponds to a ancient relay on the Roman way.
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La Bessède. In the middle of the XVIIth century, the forest of Bessède was a refuge for revolted peasants against the nobility, these poor people were called "croquants".
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Eglise de Saint-Pardoux. Romanesque church built in the XIIIth century.
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Laundries, dry stone huts, dovecotes, and so on are modest but interesting pieces of heritage.
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Eglise de Capelou. The pilgrimage to Notre Dame de Capelou goes back to the Xth century. It is one of the most ancient pilgrimage sites in Périgord.
Maps
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Carto Exploreur 24 Sud, IGN 1937 E.
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Further information about waypoints...
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