You'll find Domaine de Lallé in the Corrèze. It's one of the 83 departments created during the French Revolution and it belonged, together with Creuse and Haute Vienne, to the Limousin region, now Nouveau Aquitaine.
We border the Haute-Corrèze, which people often refer to as “little Canada” 🍁
An ancient landscape, with vast forests, rivers, streams and waterfalls, breathtaking gorges, and the most beautiful villages and cities. Undiscovered, unspoiled, rugged, and pure.
Mountain biking, on your gravel or racing bike. Walking and getting lost in the endless forests. Discover one of the many lakes for swimming or other water sports. Canoeing on one of the rivers or a day trip to a picturesque French village. Close to Plateau de Millevaches, on the edge of the Auvergne with beautiful views of the mountain peaks of the Cantal (Puy Mary) and the Puy de Dôme, 25 minutes by car from the Dordogne river.
In Égletons (15 minutes by car) are 3 large supermarkets (LIDL, Super U, and Auchan). Also a large pharmacy, a hardware store, and several bakeries.
Closer to the campsite, you'll find a small epicerie and bakery in Montignac-sur-Doustre.
In Marcillac-la-Croisille (15 minutes by car) you'll find a small supermarket, an epicerie, bakery, and butcher.
The medieval wars are evident in the history of the Corrèze. This history is still visible in the landscape with its many fortified castles. In these bastions that had to be impregnable, age-old traditions remind us of the glorious, romantic, and warlike past of the lords of that time.
Château de Sédières is the backyard of Domaine de Lallé and is located on a 130-hectare domain with forests, ponds, and flowing streams.
The castle was built in the 15th century by the lords of Sédières and Champagnac as a fortified residence. The drawbridge providing access to the gate remains from that time.
In the 16th century, it became a holiday home with terraces and a beautiful garden for the Sédières family. Now we can enjoy it through organized outdoor activities, aperitif concerts, and multiple natural and cultural events during summer. Many walking and cycling routes (VTT) can also be found here.
The castle has been an important place for artistic and literary creation for more than a century. A place where the art of trobar developed. Trobar, in Occitan, refers to sung poetry with music. Lords and clergy were the ambassadors of that time, and the troubadours often the interpreters. They could write and compose music. Many troubadours were taught here; Bernart de Ventadour left about forty poems, twenty with sheet music. A beacon for troubadours.
The castle overlooks two tributaries of the Luzège river, with beautiful nature all around.
At an altitude of 562 meters, the remains of the former medieval castle from the 12th and 13th centuries rise from the top of a rocky point. The castle has been a protected historical monument since 1840.
Proudly ruling from a rocky point, 30 meters above a meander of the Maronne, lies the stately and spectacular place of Merle in the green heart of the Xaintrie forests.
Les Tours de Merle, built in the 12th and 15th centuries by powerful noble families, served both as a fort and residence and played an important role during the Hundred Years' War and other conflicts in the region.
The seven towers are connected by ancient walls and buildings, giving you a good picture of how the complex looked in its glory days. The surroundings invite walks through well-marked paths leading through the valley and forests.
This fortified town can be visited from April to November, for a journey back to the Middle Ages. There are informative signs and exhibitions explaining the history and daily life in the castle.
Medieval events are regularly organized in summer. Good parking facilities, a café, and picnic areas complete the day out.
What richness and diversity! The Corrèze is bursting with unique, unspoiled nature. From lakes to waterfalls, from peat bogs to forests, a thousand paths cross landscapes that are often thousands of years old.
Les Cascades de Gimel are located in Parc Vuillier. It was the painter/writer Gaston Vuillier who made the Gimel waterfalls famous at the end of the 19th century and who, fascinated by the beauty of this place, advocated for its preservation. During the walk to the basin, you'll also encounter his photos and drawings.
The Montane river makes its way between the rocks to eventually flow into 3 waterfalls, with a total height of 143 meters. During a walk, you'll see “le Grand Saut” (45 m), “la Redole” (38 m), and “la Queue de Cheval” (60m). Finally, the water ends in a basin called the Gouffre de l'Inferno.
The village of Gimel-les-Cascades is also worth visiting with a beautiful church “Église Saint-Pardoux” with a special relic and simple interior. There are also small shops and a few restaurants.
This is one of the beautiful viewpoints of the Gorges de la Dordogne. From here, you can take a nice walk to le Jardin de Bardot. There's also a nice picnic spot here.
The Gorges are crossed by the Dordogne river, interrupted by a succession of monumental hydroelectric dams, including that of Bort-les-Orgues. It's an area included on the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its exceptional biodiversity.
Le Belvédere offers a beautiful view of the confluence of the Dordogne and Sumène rivers and the “Barrage d’Aigle” reservoir. There's a beautiful picnic area.
The famous Saint Nazaire location, with a beautiful viewpoint over the mountain gorges of the Dordogne and Diège, is near the village of Saint-Julien-près-Bort. You can take an easy walk from the parking lot to enjoy the view. Located high in a green environment, this remarkable site owes its name to a legend: Saint Nazarius is said to have chased away the devil here, who during his flight left the imprint of a goat's hoof on a rock... The image of the saint, erected in 1901, still watches over the area.
At the foot of the Massif Central, between the Vézère valleys in the north and the Corrèze in the south. Here you'll find heathlands and coniferous forests as far as the eye can see. It covers approximately 6,000 hectares and is part of le Parc naturel régional de Millevaches. The viewpoints Puy de la Monédières and Puy du Suc au May are in this area. Many activities can be done on land, in the air, or in the water!
This area lies on the foothills of the Massif Central, between the departments of Corrèze, Creuse, and Haute-Vienne. It extends over 314,000 hectares.
The nature park has thousands of springs and rivers; “millevaches”. Where peat bogs, heathlands, forests, and meadows alternate. It harbors vulnerable and unique animal and plant species and is a gathering place for migratory birds. A paradise for hikers.
The highest point is Mont Bessou at 976 meters with an observation tower offering breathtaking views over the Auvergne mountains. The top of the Suc au May, in the Monédières, also has a beautiful view with an orientation table at 908 meters.
Step back in time and discover a rich medieval past in unique locations... Corrèze is full of characterful cities and villages with old half-timbered or granite houses and slate or lauze roofs.
A journey back in time. This abandoned village was founded in the 12th century and was for centuries a stopping place for wandering pilgrims. During World War II, a group of 25 resistance fighters settled in the village. Most managed to flee after an attack by the Germans. The last inhabitants left the village in 1963.
The abandoned village, isolated in the middle of the huge Larfeuil coniferous forest, is a beautiful, mysterious place to visit. There are beautiful walking routes and a magnificent view from the rock.
A beautiful town on the banks of the Dordogne. For centuries it was an important trading port. From the Quai Lestourgie, the gabares (flat-bottomed boats) departed loaded with oil, wood, and leather. You can take a beautiful walk along the old paved quays to admire the fishermen's houses with their beautiful facades and turrets. Restaurants can also be found here.
In the summer months, you can take a trip on a gabare. Upstream through the gorges of the Dordogne. There are also animated tours, with an actor who brings the time of the gabariers back to life. (Also in English and Dutch....)
This medieval village is part of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France label. There is a 2-hour walk where you can discover the 25 towers. Almost all houses and other buildings are made of red sandstone. The color is due to the geological fault line that connects the Brive basin with Meyssac and separates the red sandstone from the limestone soil. Like brick, this sandstone contains a lot of iron oxide, giving it this original reddish color. Traditional stalls, restaurants, craftsmen, a very touristy village teeming with activities in summer.
In Aubazine, you'll find the Abbaye d'Aubazine and Le canal des Moines.
In 1125, Saint Stephen of Obazine founded this Cistercian abbey. It was originally a double abbey; one intended for men and another for women. Today, the abbey is inhabited by a small monastic community. Guided tours are also available.
Coco Chanel, then 12 years old, spent several years here with her two sisters. A sober and strict atmosphere that would eventually influence the famous designer's style. The abbey church is also well worth visiting.
This masterpiece of irrigation technology! Beautifully designed in the twelfth century by the monks of Aubazine Abbey to power the watermills and provide water to fish ponds and monastery buildings.
The canal draws water upstream from the Coiroux stream. It is then led to Aubazine along the rocky side of the valley. A true feat of engineering!
A beautiful walk can be made with starting or ending point at the Abbey of Aubazine.
The larger cities of Tulle, Ussel, and Brive-la Gaillarde are easily accessible by car or train from Montaignac-sur-Doustre or Égletons.
The Corrèze is also known for its many lakes and rivers. You can swim in natural waters in many places. Here are two options close to the campsite:
Within walking or cycling distance from the campsite, you'll find Etang du Prévôt. A 33-hectare lake with two beaches.
The construction of the barrage de la Valette in 1949 created this 230-hectare reservoir. There are two supervised sandy beaches and countless spots to quietly enjoy the water. Many activities can be booked through “Marcillac Sports Nature”. There are numerous water sports to practice, and there's a climbing forest with a long zipline and a pleasant bar.
Slate has been mined here since the 17th century. These slates are visible on roofs in the Corrèze and Auvergne, but also on the roof of the famous abbaye du Mont-Saint-Michel. It's a tourist attraction where you follow in the footsteps of quarry workers in an exceptional environment. Guided tours through the quarry with impressive, man-made steep walls are possible. There's a small museum and demonstrations are given in the workshop.
This cave is home to one of Europe's largest bat colonies. A beautiful cave divided into two galleries.
A visit to the cave takes about an hour and you will learn more about the cave and the bats. Children can learn about the profession of archaeology, but only upon reservation.
Make sure to wear warmer clothes during this visit!
Le viaduc des Rochers Noirs, also known as viaduc de Roche-Taillade, is a former railway bridge that was part of the national 'Transcorrézien' railway network until 1959. The bridge is 160 meters long and hangs 92 meters above the Luzège over pristine mountain gorges between the towns of Lapleau and Soursac.
The railway bridge, designed by engineer Albert Gisclard, was officially opened in 1913 by President Raymond Poincaré. It's a rare design of which only 5 remain standing in France. In 2000, it was also classified as a historical monument. In September 2024, the bridge will reopen to pedestrians and cyclists after renovation work. Three walking routes have been created, including one over a Himalayan bridge under the viaduct.
