The Boucle de Pinson gives a stay in Saint-André-Et-Appelles a clearly defined hiking option: 5.4 kilometres, rated easy, with a duration of 1 hour and 40 minutes. The vineyard landscape and historic landmarks are also highlights, from Château Baby to the Menhir des Goulards.
Vineyard landscapes and traces of the past
The terraced vineyards of Château Baby overlook the Dordogne Valley. Their terroir includes clay, limestone, silt and pink gravel. The vineyard’s distinctive character comes not only from its hillside location but also from the variety of its soil components.
Saint-André-Et-Appelles is part of the La Dordogne Natura 2000 site. The surrounding area includes flowing waterways, muddy riverbanks and riparian forests.
The Menhir des Goulards is a striking historic landmark in the landscape. This prehistoric limestone menhir is about one metre high and 0.50 metres wide. It stands at the edge of the “de la Garenne au Nic” forest beside a sunken lane marked with red sandstone slabs. Its location, path and material give the site clear spatial and structural features.
The Boucle de Pinson
The Boucle de Pinson starts in Saint-André-et-Appelles at the Église de Saint André et Appelles. The church dates from the 17th century. The easy hiking route is listed as 5.4 kilometres long, with a duration of 1 hour and 40 minutes.
The route follows country lanes and sunken lanes typical of the region. Along the way, it crosses the Ruisseau des Sandeaux over a bridge. A topoguide is available from the tourist office for anyone who wants to plan the route in more detail.
Buildings and traces of the past
Château Baby is an 18th- and 19th-century building on a rocky outcrop above the Dordogne Valley. Two pavilions flank the building; they have mansard roofs covered with slate. Along with the terraced vineyards of the same name, the château offers both an architectural and a viticultural perspective on the area.
The history of the Chapelle d’Appelles also spans several centuries. After it was destroyed during the Wars of Religion, it was rebuilt in 1707 and 1787. The chapel preserves a painting dedicated to it, created by Pétrus Mauillac in 1772. The rebuilding and the painting mark two distinct chapters in its history.
In the Village des Chapelains, the washhouse was built in the 14th century. A spring feeds the nearby fountain. The site thus brings together a historic structure and a tangible connection to the local water supply.
Contemporary windows remain on the outbuildings of the Domaine des Pétities, though they are now bricked up. The estate belonged to the Templar commandery of Saint-Avit de Soulège in 1462. Another trace of the past can be found at the entrance to a mill in Saint-André: the stone inscription “Gabrielle Henri IV – N 1591” commemorates Henri IV and Gabrielle d’Estrées’s stay.
Wine and activities at Château Grand Montet
Château Grand Montet offers wine tastings and cellar tours at its 40-hectare vineyard. The estate’s wine tourism activities also include a marked walking trail and a picnic. Guided introductions to the world of wine and outdoor activities are among the different options available at the vineyard.
Discover more destinations: Bézenac, Nailhac, Groléjac, Fougueyrolles, Prats-du-Périgord, Montcaret, Blis-Et-Born, Saint-Vivien.
For the full regional travel overview: Dordogne.
