To get to know Le Pizou on foot, you can choose between a village walk of about an hour and a half and an easy 9.4-kilometre hike that takes around two and a half hours. The routes offer different views of the area: the Circuit coeur de village Le Pizou passes historical sites, while the Boucle des 2 Ă©cluses follows the Isle River.
Between the Isle and the ForĂŞt de la Double
Le Pizou lies between the Isle River and the ForĂŞt de la Double forest. The river is also part of the route planning: the Boucle des 2 Ă©cluses runs along the Isle and starts at the church car park in Le Pizou. This hiking route is 9.4 kilometres long and takes about two hours and thirty minutes; it is rated easy. The time estimate helps you fit the loop into your day.
The Circuit coeur de village Le Pizou is a walking loop that takes about an hour and a half. It leads to the Monument de la Plaine and the industrial remains of the Forges de Coly. The two walks therefore offer different highlights: the village walk connects historical sites, while the Boucle des 2 Ă©cluses follows the river. Compare the estimated durations when deciding which loop best suits your stay.
Church, monument and ironworking history
The present-day church in Le Pizou was rebuilt in the 17th century after the former church was burned down during the Wars of Religion. A nearly intact coat of arms has been preserved on its walls. This is a distinctive feature of the church, alongside its eventful building history.
The Monument de la Plaine commemorates resistance fighters who died during the Second World War. The Forges de Coly tell the story of Le Pizou’s former ironworking activity: only the chimney remains of the old forges. The Circuit coeur de village route leads to these industrial remains. The walk thus takes in both a memorial site and traces of local industrial history.
22 August 1944
Another event in the town’s history took place on 22 August 1944. On that day, resistance fighters attacked a German column; nine resistance fighters lost their lives. The date and the number provide a specific historical context for the event, without conflating it with the other stops along the walk.
Summer evenings with markets and music
Since 2005, the Festines du Pizou have been held as summer evening markets on Tuesdays in July and August. The programme includes a market with 20 producers and traders, followed by a concert and an open-air disco. The market, music and dancing make up different parts of the same evening, offering another way to discover Le Pizou beyond the daytime walks.
Exact dates can vary from year to year. If you want to plan your trip around a market evening, check the dates for the relevant year. This lets you fit a visit to the Festines into the rest of your plans without assuming a specific event date.
The Véloroute Voie Verte de la vallée de l’Isle
The Véloroute Voie Verte de la vallée de l’Isle also reaches Le Pizou: the town is at its southern end. The route can be used over more than 100 kilometres on foot, by bicycle or on roller skates. This provides further ways to get active on the Véloroute in addition to the two local walks. Check local conditions before setting out so that your plans suit the conditions on the ground.
The estimated walking times, historical sites and summer evening markets offer different points of reference when choosing a stay. If you mainly want to walk, you can compare the village route and the longer hike by duration. If you are interested in local history, the Circuit coeur de village takes in both the Monument de la Plaine and the remains of the Forges de Coly. And if you are travelling in July or August, you can also check whether a Tuesday evening with the Festines falls within your travel dates.
Discover more destinations: Tourtoirac, Limeyrat, Champagnac-De-Belair, Salignac-Eyvigues, Bouniagues, Clermont-De-Beauregard, Vieux-Mareuil, Dussac
Return to the main travel overview: Dordogne.
