Saint-Nexans can be explored through two distinct themes: the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste connects local history with a 12th-century Templar commandery, while the Boucle de Binassat is a six-kilometre walking loop through the Bergerac vineyards. La Chartreuse du Bignac is also relevant when choosing where to stay: the 17th-century building offers accommodation and is surrounded by a 22-hectare park.

Templar history and church architecture

The history of the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste is linked to a Templar commandery founded in Saint-Nexans in the 12th century. This historical connection gives the church a dateable context that can be distinguished from its surviving architectural features.

The church’s choir and nave have been preserved. The choir is the area around the altar, while the nave is the elongated main space. The west façade has an entrance portal with four archivolts and sculpted capitals. The archivolts form the arched frames of the entrance; capitals are the decorated upper sections of columns or pillars. These terms for parts of the church’s interior complement the specific details of the façade.

Since 15 July 1963, the west façade, including the bell wall, and the entrance portal have been listed as historic architectural features. This places the 12th-century connection to the Templar commandery alongside the later listing of specific features as two distinct points in time.

Walking trails and heritage

The Boucle de Binassat is a six-kilometre walking loop in Saint-Nexans. It follows small paths through the Bergerac vineyards. Along the route, discoveries of built heritage can be combined with a walk through the wine-growing landscape. As a loop, it has a defined distance to help you plan your time.

One of the named sights on the Boucle is the Statue du Moine Soldat. The statue is associated with warrior monks whose mission was to defend the kingdom. From 1147, the warrior monks associated with it wore white robes with a red cross. This gives the named sight a historical connection that extends beyond its role as part of the walking loop.

Another route passing through the area is the long-distance GR 6, which crosses the southeastern part of Saint-Nexans. The Boucle de Binassat is a six-kilometre loop; by contrast, the GR 6 passes through part of the commune. Those looking to compare routes will find both a clearly measured local loop and a long-distance trail with a different geographical scope.

La Chartreuse du Bignac: park, views and accommodation

La Chartreuse du Bignac stands on a hill in Saint-Nexans. The building dates from the 17th century and is surrounded by a 22-hectare park. The park’s listed features include springs and ponds, as well as a dovecote, an orchard and a herb garden. These different features give the estate several distinct aspects: water, garden areas and a dovecote all form part of its description.

The Chartreuse offers 360-degree views over vineyards, forests and orchards. Both its hilltop location and the surrounding landscape are relevant when considering the accommodation on offer. The view takes in several elements of the landscape rather than focusing on a single vista.

The Chartreuse has a restaurant serving gastronomic and traditional cuisine. If you would like to include a restaurant visit in your travel plans, check current availability in advance. This allows you to consider the restaurant as a separate part of your stay, while the church, walking loop and Chartreuse offer different cultural, landscape and architectural points of interest in Saint-Nexans.

Discover more destinations: Auriac-Du-Périgord, Varaignes, Audrix, Archignac, Badefols-D'ans, Sainte-Orse, Saint-Sulpice-D'excideuil, Montazeau.

For the wider travel guide: Dordogne.