The paved Piste Verte, a trail to the ruins of Château de Charlus and several cultural sites give a stay in Bassignac a range of different focal points. Whether you want to spend time outdoors, admire architecture or learn about a dairy farm, each offering has its own appeal and can be chosen to suit your travel interests.
Trails and art along the Piste Verte
The Piste Verte connects Vendes in the commune of Bassignac with Bort-les-Orgues in the Corrèze département. The 18-kilometre route is fully paved, free of charge and open to the public. It can be used by pedestrians, people with reduced mobility, cyclists and roller skaters; it is also suitable for strollers, scooters, balance bikes and roller skis. The Piste therefore caters to different ways of getting around. Its length and the types of use listed here make it a different kind of outing from a hike with a specific destination.
The PR 22 hike, Le Pic de Charlus, offers just such a destination. It leads to the ruins of Château de Charlus, which, as Castrum Carlicium, was one of the most significant fortresses in Haute-Auvergne. Today, only a few sections of wall remain from the former complex. The hike thus combines a named destination with an insight into the region’s history, while the Piste Verte is described as a longer paved route.
The Piste des Arts, an outdoor exhibition, takes place every year along the Piste Verte. One of its three exhibition areas is in Bassignac. Visitors interested in public art can take this recurring exhibition into account when choosing activities; its connection to the Piste links it to one of the local trail offerings.
Romanesque chapel and church history
The Chapelle Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur dates from the 11th and 12th centuries and was designated a historic monument in 1972. Its architecture can be described in terms of clearly distinguishable elements: the nave is rectangular, and the apse is semicircular. The bell gable has two twin openings. The lintel of the western round-arched portal bears the date 1778. The chapel thus brings together different periods: its construction and a later, dated part of the portal.
The Eglise Sainte-Marie, Sainte-Radegonde also offers several points of historical interest. The present building was erected in the 12th century; two side chapels were added in the 15th century, and the west façade was altered or rebuilt. The church is mentioned as having been dedicated to Saint Mary as early as the 8th or 9th century. This early record and the later structural changes tell different parts of its history. The Eglise Sainte-Marie, Sainte-Radegonde can be visited independently; keys are available at Bassignac town hall.
Gardens, mazes and a look inside the farm
Labyrinthe maïs de Bassignac has two corn mazes and two sensory trails on either side of the Sumène. The attractions also include large wooden games, pedal go-karts, a balance-bike area and a slide. Le Jardin Délirant offers something different: this colourful garden features changing textile installations and includes a puppet theatre, hammocks, dress-up costumes, a fabric maze and wheelbarrow rides. Each place therefore has its own themes and activities, without needing to be combined into a single programme.
Agriculture is at the heart of Ferme de Bassignac. This family-run dairy farm makes yoghurt, crème fraîche, fromage blanc and dessert cream. During a visit, guests can learn about the selected herd of Prim’Holstein cattle, the calves and the robotic milking system. Visits are available year-round on weekdays from 4 p.m. The visiting hours listed here make it easier to fit this glimpse of farm life into the day’s plans.
Discover more destinations: Sauvat, Drugeac, Marcenat, Junhac, Celoux, Ytrac, Jou-Sous-Monjou, Chavagnac.
For the wider travel guide: Cantal.
