Champagnac-la-Rivière is located in the Périgord-Limousin Regional Natural Park and is characterised by its rural, village setting. For planning your visit, hiking trails with different distances and estimated times are available alongside cultural sites such as devotional fountains, a church, a rectory and a château. This allows you to decide whether to focus your stay on a longer hike, a shorter loop or the area’s cultural and historical sites.
Hiking trails with different time requirements
The Sentier les biches is an easy 10-kilometre circular trail starting in Champagnac-la-Rivière, with a stated walking time of 2 hours and 30 minutes. The route loops around the village centre and offers the opportunity to see the 12th-century church and the 17th-century rectory. The loop therefore combines a clearly stated time requirement with potential points of interest from the village’s history.
The Sentier Les Ecureuils is described as moderately difficult, 7.2 kilometres long and with a stated walking time of 1 hour and 30 minutes. This circular trail also starts in Champagnac-la-Rivière and follows the Voie Verte des Hauts de Tardoire between Châlus and Oradour-sur-Vayres. In comparison, Les Ecureuils is shorter and has a shorter stated walking time, but is rated moderately difficult rather than easy. Distance, estimated time and difficulty give you concrete criteria for choosing between the two circular trails.
The Sentier Les Ecureuils also features a botanical educational trail with two masonry water basins, known in the region as “ris”. Another distinctive feature along the way can be found on the Sentier Les Hérissons: near Les Jarosses, it leads to a fountain with a monolithic wellhead. While the botanical trail and masonry basins are the focus here, the other trail features a fountain with a wellhead carved from a single stone.
The Voie Verte and its user groups
The Voie Verte des Hauts de Tardoire is a 13-kilometre, non-motorised route between Châlus and Oradour-sur-Vayres that passes through Champagnac-la-Rivière. It is suitable for roller skaters, people with reduced mobility, hikers and cyclists. This distinguishes the Voie Verte, a longer route for several user groups, from a circular trail such as the Sentier Les Ecureuils. Check local conditions before your trip, as access conditions and facilities may change.
Devotional fountains and historic buildings
Three devotional fountains in Champagnac-la-Rivière continue to be venerated: Saint Pierre et Saint Paul, Le Font du Caillou and Le Font Couvé. The fountains have been restored and reopened to the public. Local access conditions apply to fountains on private land; please take these into account when visiting.
The Château de Brie was built in 1484, is listed as a historic monument and is fully furnished. Together with the 12th-century church and the 17th-century rectory, these buildings provide another cultural point of interest alongside the hiking trails and devotional fountains.
Cultural events and farm stays
Âne et Carotte welcomes visitors to cultural events and offers farm stays. If you plan to include this option in your accommodation arrangements, check the activities and lodging in advance. This will help you choose what interests you about Champagnac-la-Rivière: hiking, local cultural sites, or a cultural event combined with a farm stay.
Discover more destinations: Pierrefitte, Mortemart, Beaumont-Du-Lac, La Châtre, Nantiat, Aureil, Solignac, Blanzac
For the regional travel overview: Haute-Vienne.
