Bellefond brings together two very different historical landmarks: the priory, with its unfinished church, and the Neolithic dolmens of Au Sabatey. The town also sits on a hill overlooking the right bank of the Engranne. Alongside the cultural sites, there is a hiking route and several cycling routes to choose from. When planning, it is worth bearing in mind how their routes differ and how they relate to the town centre.
Priory, church construction and heritage protection
The Priory of Bellefond was built by Augustinian Canons Regular and placed under the authority of La Sauve-Majeure Abbey in 1186. The church’s design remained unfinished: the nave was only planned, while the transept, apse and side apses were built. Thus, a planned but unbuilt section stands alongside the parts that were actually constructed.
The Église Saint-Eutrope and the adjoining ruins of the former priory are protected as historic monuments. They were listed on 3 November 1925 and 12 April 2001, respectively. This offers several specific ways to explore Bellefond’s history: the history of church construction, the unfinished plan and the protected remains of the former priory.
The Dolmens of Au Sabatey
The hamlet of Au Sabatey in Bellefond is home to two covered passage graves built in the Neolithic period. The Dolmens of Au Sabatey were classified as historic monuments in 1889. They represent a different cultural and historical focus from the priory: here, the subject is prehistoric burial sites; there, a religious complex and its unfinished church plan. Visitors exploring Bellefond’s cultural heritage can clearly distinguish between these two eras, rather than treating the monuments as a single story.
Distinguishing between cycling and hiking routes
The Roger Lapébie cycle route runs along the right bank of the Engranne near Bellefond. The 35 km circular route “De Branne à Bellefond” starts in Branne. After reaching the valley, the route follows the Roger Lapébie cycle path towards Sauveterre-de-Guyenne. This specifies both the starting point and the route’s onward direction.
The “Boucle vélo n°19 Frontenac–Ouest” is an easy 12.5 km cycling loop with a stated duration of one hour. It turns onto a road towards Bellefond and then passes the Le Sabatey dolmen complex without entering Bellefond. So, although the route heads towards Bellefond, it does not pass through the town.
The moderate “Boucle des Vaillants” circular hiking route covers 13 km and 139 metres of elevation gain; its stated duration is four hours. It heads towards the town centre and church of Bellefond. At the church, hikers can enter the cemetery to enjoy the view.
The two shorter routes show why distance alone does not allow for a time comparison: the easy cycling loop is listed as taking one hour, while the similarly long, moderately difficult hike takes four hours and involves 139 metres of elevation gain. So, when planning your day and choosing between cycling and hiking, consider the activity, stated difficulty level and time required together. Before setting out, check the latest route information and guidance on access to the cemetery.
Discover more destinations: Origne, Caudrot, Saumos, Mourens, Belin-BĂ©liet, Latresne, Saint-Sulpice-Et-Cameyrac, NĂ©rigean.
For the broader travel overview: Gironde.
