The churches of Mazeyrolles tell a story spanning several centuries of construction and restoration. Alongside Romanesque architectural features and a later fortification, there is an 11 km circular route starting in Mazeyrolles, horse-related activities and a farm visit with a tasting. This gives you the option to weigh cultural history, exercise and agriculture as different focuses for your trip.
Churches and Architectural History
The Église d’Aigueparse was built in the 12th century and fortified at a later date. Its fortified tower may have been built in the 14th century; this dating is uncertain. On 6 May 1940, the church was designated a Monument historique by decree. Its history thus combines an early construction phase with later fortification and a precisely dated designation.
The Église de Mazeyrolles is dedicated to John the Baptist. It was originally Romanesque, and its Romanesque choir has been preserved. The church also contains an 18th-century polychrome altarpiece. Here, Romanesque refers to the older architectural style; the preserved choir makes it tangible in a specific part of the building. Polychrome means decorated in multiple colors: the altarpiece thus adds another, later phase of decoration to the church’s history.
Another architectural history can be explored at the Église Saint Clair de Fontenilles. It is located in Fontenilles, 24550 Mazeyrolles, and is a Romanesque church. It was damaged during the Hundred Years’ War. Restorations followed in 1671, again in the 19th century and once more at the end of the 20th century. This sequence shows several phases of preservation over a long period. Looking at the churches of Mazeyrolles thus brings out different aspects: early construction, fortification, preserved Romanesque features and repeated restoration.
Circular Route, Horse Activities and Farm Visit
Mazeyrolles is a very heavily forested commune. The Boucle du Lac Blanc is an 11 km circular route starting in Mazeyrolles. Its length and circular shape give the tour a clearly defined format; it is a different way to spend your time than a carriage ride or a horseback ride. When choosing an activity for your trip, you can choose between this circular route and the horse-related activities, each offering a different focus, rather than treating them as similar excursions.
Le Périgord en Calèche offers horse-drawn carriage rides in Mazeyrolles from April to October. Participants can drive the carriages themselves, so they are not simply passengers. Horseback rides and riding tours are also offered. There are therefore several types of horse activities to choose from: a carriage ride that you can drive yourself, or a horseback ride or riding tour. The April-to-October period applies to the carriage rides.
At La Ferme Galtier, farm tours offer an insight into duck farming, force-feeding and the processing of fattened ducks; a tasting is also included. The visit thus focuses specifically on agriculture and food processing. If you are interested in these topics, the farm visit complements the churches and circular route with a different perspective on what Mazeyrolles has to offer.
Several distinct interests are therefore available to guide your travel plans: the churches’ architectural history, a circular route, various horse activities and a farm tour with a tasting. The historical details are particularly well suited to comparison; the activities differ in terms of route format, carriage rides, horseback rides and insights into agricultural processing.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Laurent-des-Hommes, Tourtoirac, Le Buisson-De-Cadouin, Saint-Avit-Saint-Nazaire, Fouleix, Ribagnac, Montferrand-du-PĂ©rigord, Maurens.
For the broader travel guide: Dordogne.
