Saint-Jory-De-Chalais is in the Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park. The range of excursions covers a variety of interests, from hiking trails and interpretation trails to literature, an arboretum and a cycling loop. When planning, you can choose whether you would rather explore riverbanks and nature themes, follow a literary trail or take a route with a mystery story.
Hiking trails and the Côle
The municipal hiking programme “Les balades de St Jory de Chalais” comprises five circular trails. They start in the village and explore the municipality’s natural heritage. One of the shorter hiking options is the “Boucle du Pont Vieux”, a PDIPR hiking trail that takes visitors to discover the banks of the Côle. The “Les demoiselles de la Côle” interpretation trail also follows the riverbanks; information boards there cover hydrosystems and aquatic fauna. On “Les bords de la Côle”, visitors can admire the meanders of the Côle.
These options offer different ways to choose: the five circular trails pass through the municipality’s natural heritage, while the boards on “Les demoiselles de la Côle” focus on specific water-related and wildlife topics. The “Boucle du Pont Vieux” draws attention to the riverbanks, while “Les bords de la Côle” focuses on the meanders. Check local trail conditions before setting out on a hike.
Literature, mysteries and cultural heritage
The “Charlotte Serre” literary trail introduces the lives and works of Charlotte Serre and Léonce Bourliagnet, who lived in Saint-Jory-De-Chalais. This experience focuses on two people associated with the village and their literary themes. For a different kind of walk, try “L'impensable rumeur”: on this investigative trail around the village, characters tell the story of a rumour on game boards, in the roles of suspects and witnesses.
The investigation trail is 12 kilometres long. Along the way, players encounter 10 witnesses and 5 suspects. So the numbers describe not only the length, but also the roles featured in the story. As another point of interest in the area’s heritage, Saint-Jory-De-Chalais is home to the only dolmen still standing in the local tourist area.
The Pouyouleix Arboretum
More than 700 different species grow at the Pouyouleix Arboretum, including nearly 250 oak species from around the world. A guided tour lasts three hours and is available by advance reservation only. If you plan to visit the arboretum, allow for both the length of the tour and the reservation requirement. This sets the visit apart from the hiking options, where the focus is on trail lengths or circular routes.
Exploring by bike
The “Saint-Jory-de-Chalais–Miallet–Saint-Saud-Lacoussière” cycling loop is 33.6 kilometres long. It starts in Saint-Jory-De-Chalais and passes through Miallet and Saint-Saud-Lacoussière. Together with the 12-kilometre investigation trail, it offers a practical way to compare excursions by mode of transport and distance. The distances refer to different activities, so they are not a direct comparison of the time required. Check trail conditions before setting off by bike.
There are several clearly defined themes to choose from: circular trails and the banks of the Côle, boards about water and aquatic fauna, literary heritage, an investigation trail, the dolmen, the arboretum and a cycling loop. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Saint-Jory-De-Chalais, you can factor your preferred type of excursion into your stay plans. The three-hour guided tour of the arboretum must be booked in advance; check the conditions for hiking and cycling routes.
Discover more destinations: La Gonterie-Boulouneix, Saint-Seurin-De-Prats, Clermont-D'excideuil, Montaut, Saint-Germain-Du-Salembre, Prigonrieux, Le Fleix, Abjat-Sur-Bandiat.
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