GUIDE PRATIQUE CORREZE ANG 001:Mise en page 1 15/05/08 15:51 Page 1 www.vacances-en-correze.net Practical Guide /// Visits and Excursions /// Natural Heritage /// Cultural Heritage /// Arts and Crafts /// Festivals and Events /// Gastronomy /// Fairs and Markets /// Themed Routes /// Outdoor Activities /// Hiking /// Swimming /// Watersports /// Climbing /// Aerial Pursuits /// Motor Sports /// River Tourism /// Adventure Parks /// GUIDE PRATIQUE CORREZE ANG 001:Mise en page 1 15/05/08 15:52 Page 2 FOLLOW THE GUIDE! 2 GUIDE PRATIQUE CORREZE ANG 001:Mise en page 1 15/05/08 15:52 Page 3 This indispensable guide is packed with practical information on exploring the varied sights and landscapes of the Corrèze, so that you don't miss a single market or festival! It lists detai- led descriptions of unique cultural and historical sights, as well as a wide selection of leisure activities available in the area. Make sure you don't set out without your guide! 3 CONTENTS ///p. 4 and 5 Map of the Corrèze ///p. 6 - 43 Visits and Excursions ///p. 44 - 49 Gastronomy ///p. 50 - 68 Outdoor Activities ///p. 69 - 71 Useful Addresses GUIDE PRATIQUE CORREZE ANG 001:Mise en page 1 15/05/08 15:52 Page 4 The landscapes of t Millevaches-Monédières Moorland and water The Limousin mountain region, with its mys- terious atmosphere, clean air and unique architecture, offers visitors a wide range of holiday options. With its heather moors and crystal-clear rivers, this area is renow- ned for its breathtaking unspoilt scenery. An ideal place to relax and recharge the batteries. The Plateau de Millevaches and Massif des Monédières offer visitors magni- ficent scenery in a region in harmony with its natural landscapes. The area has retai- ned many of its old traditions, making this a delightfully authentic part of France. Arnac- Pompadour Clergoux Marcillac la-Croisil Vézère-Auvézère In the land of the green valleys In this region of colourful contrasts, the Vézère and Auvézère rivers run through Noailles two beautiful green valleys. This unspoilt countryside is enhanced by attractive forti- fied towns and villages, which bear witness to the construction skills of bygone days. With so much to see, there's plenty for even the most curious visitor to explore. Discover Romanesque bridges and imposing castles that have stood the test of time in this region of natural greenery and running water. The perfect destination for fresh-air enthusiasts. The Most Beautiful Villages in France The Most Beautiful Detours in France 4 Stopover village Service stations GUIDE PRATIQUE CORREZE ANG 001:Mise en page 1 15/05/08 15:52 Page 5 Pays de Brive the Corrèze! Fine monuments and a gentle way of life With its gentle way of life, the Brive region combines gastronomic traditions with splen- did sights and monuments, offering visitors a wealth of places to explore. Discover pic- turesque villages and fortified towns where the spirit of the troubadours is still evident in the squares and narrow alleyways. This is the southern Corrèze and the mild climate is in tune with the region's gentle landscapes. The perfect place for a relaxing break. Gorges and Valley of the Dordogne Magnificent vistas From north to south, from the Dordogne valley to its river gorges, the Dordogne region offers a wide range of walks, out- door activities and places to visit. Enjoy a landscape that is both wild and shaped by man as you explore this delightful river, one of the most beautiful in France. Whether seen from the riverbank or from a viewpoint on high, the Dordogne is a magical river with a wild beauty. Its surrounding region is rich in historical monuments which evoke a mysterious and eventful past. arcillac- -Croisille Pays de Tulle Traditions and landscapes Unspoilt scenery and a magnificent archi- tectural heritage combine to make the Tulle region a must for any visitor. Intersperse energetic walks in the countryside with visits to splendid medieval towns, stunning works of religious art and colourful local markets. Here life is lived to the full, and you'll find the locals as full of life as the surrounding countryside. A palette of colours, tastes and traditions to nourish body and spirit. In this rich, peaceful region history and art blend perfectly to create picturesque villages of nce Rest areas slate-roofed houses. Tourist Offices and Information Centres 5 GUIDE PRATIQUE CORREZE ANG 001:Mise en page 1 15/05/08 15:53 Page 6 Visits and Excursions! Festival de la Vézère 2007 6 GUIDE PRATIQUE CORREZE ANG 001:Mise en page 1 15/05/08 15:53 Page 7 /// p. 8 - 10 Natural Heritage, /// p. 11 - 31 Cultural Heritage, • p 11-12 Special Villages • p 12-14 Typical Towns and Villages • p 14-16 Fortresses and Castles • p 17-23 Museums and Exhibition Centres • p 23-26 Religious and Architectural Heritage • p 26-27 Civil Engineering • p 27-28 Parks and Gardens • p 29-30 Arboretums • p 30 Maison de Pays • p 30-31 Archaeological Sites • p 31 Tourist Trains • p 31 Themed Routes /// p. 31 - 34 Arts and Crafts • p 31-33 Traditional Skills • p 33-34 Courses /// p. 34 - 43 Festivals and Events • p 34-36 Festivals • p 36-37 Cultural Season • p 37 Sound and Light Shows • p 37 Theatre • p 37-38 Exhibitions • p 38-40 Sports Events • p 40-43 Miscellaneous Events This pictogram identifies sites exclusively for young children, with activities aimed specifically 7 towards our young visitors. GUIDE PRATIQUE CORREZE ANG 001:Mise en page 1 15/05/08 15:53 Page 8 Visits and Excursions Natural Heritage Remarkable Gorges de la Dordogne Natural Sites The Dordogne gorges are of major ecolo- gical interest for their flora and fauna. Cascades de Murel With a wide choice of water sports availa- distance of 2km. The enormous rocks, ble here, the gorges can also be visited in Map: E6 shaped like giant organ pipes and sculp- a traditional flat-bottomed "gabare" boat, ted over the centuries, are the result of Albussac/Forgès by far the best way of exploring the wild, cracks formed as the lava cooled. 15km northwest of Argentat mysterious river that was depicted in the The Orgues de Bort are regarded as the popular French television series "La Rivière best point from which to view the These cascades are formed by three suc- Espérance". Auvergne. Viewing table with 2-star cessive waterfalls which run through the Tel: 05 55 96 02 49 and 05 55 95 88 78 Michelin rated panorama. Waymarked steep, wooded Franche-Valeine gorges. www.bort-artense.com footpaths, viewpoints and climbing routes. The water surges through a maze of rocks www.haute-dordogne.com before flowing calmly into the Dordogne Le saut de la Saule river. Footpath waymarked in blue. Le site de la Vie (Bort-les-Orgues) Map: I4 Vallée du Chavanon Map: I3 Access via the D922 from On the D82, 20km north of Bort-les-Orgues, Map: I2 the car park near the C.A.T. Access via Merlines in the commune of Monestier-Port-Dieu Hiking path exploring the area around the Running along the border between the Viewpoint for the Bort-les-Orgues reservoir. giant potholes near the Rhue river and the Corrèze and Puy-de-Dôme départements, Saut de la Saule viewpoint, where the the delightful Chavanon valley is of excep- Le site du Mont Rhue drops 5m to join the Dordogne. tional geological, ecological and botanical Map: I3 interest (exceptional flora, with a mix of On the D82, 10km north of Bort-les- Le panorama de Puy de Bort mountain and Atlantic varieties). Orgues, in the commune of Sarroux Map: I4 Tel: 05 55 94 40 32 Unrestricted view of the Château de Val At Bort-les Orgues/Sarroux and the Bort-les-Orgues reservoir. Causse Corrézien Panorama de la Pyramide at Le Puy de Map: B/C7 Bort. View of the Limousin, the Monts Dore and the Lac de Val. Viewing table. Southwest of Brive, near the A20 motorway Le site de Saint-Nazaire One of the most unusual environments in the département, this limestone plateau is Map: I4 dotted with bare, white outcrops of rock. On the D127, 12km west of Bort-les-Orgues Water is completely absorbed by the rock surface and is carried along a network of Promontory at the confluence of the underground rivers before emerging in Dordogne and the Diège rivers, where the mountain springs. The flora and fauna of village and the church of Saint-Nazaire the Causse Corrézien are typical of the Orgues de Bort once stood. From the end of the promon- Mediterranean. Hiking paths in the area tory, there is a magnificent view of the allow visitors to explore this exceptional Dordogne gorges (Marèges reservoir) and landscape. Les Orgues de Bort the Diège river. This is considered to be Tel: 05 55 85 39 08 or 05 55 17 20 70 Map: I4 one of the most attractive viewpoints in the Dordogne valley. 4km west of Bort-les-Orgues Gorges de la Cère Le Puy de Manzagol et de la Maronne Situated at an altitude of 789m, perched 350m above the town of Bort-les-Orgues, Map: H4 Map: F8 - F/G7 these rock formations were formed by At an altitude of 693m, with a viewing 8 Tributaries of the Dordogne river volcanic lava flow. The end of the rock is table. On the D183, heading towards shaped into 80-100m high columns over a Liginiac. GUIDE PRATIQUE CORREZE ANG 001:Mise en page 1 15/05/08 15:53 Page 9 Cascades de Gimel Le Mont Bessou (977m) Map: G2 Map: E5 Highest point in the Limousin on the D36, 12km northwest of Tulle 4km north of Meymac One of the most beautiful natural sites in Situated at an altitude of 1,001m, this the département.