In Linards, a wide range of hiking options meet local crafts and historic sites. The Circuit du Duveix is a moderately difficult circular route with a walking time of about three hours; the longer GRP® Monts et Barrages en Limousin passes through Linards as one of its stages and can also be walked in shorter sections. Other highlights include the parish church’s layered architectural history and insights into stoneware craftsmanship and local traditions.
Hiking: a circular trail or a longer route
The GRP® Monts et Barrages en Limousin is a 177-kilometre circular hiking route marked in yellow and red and approved by FFRandonnée. The full loop can be walked in either direction and takes approximately nine days. Those not planning to complete the entire route can choose shorter sections. One named stage passes through Linards.
The Circuit du Duveix takes a different amount of time: the yellow-marked loop is 12.9 kilometres long, rated moderately difficult and listed as taking about three hours to walk. This means a single hike lasting a few hours and a multi-day circular route are both options, but the details do not describe the same hike. Check the latest route details and conditions before setting out.
To reach the Circuit du Duveix from Limoges, take the A20, exit 39, towards Linards and Saint-MĂ©ard. Parking is recommended at the Salle polyvalente du Rouvereau in Le Rouvereau, Saint-MĂ©ard. Road conditions and parking availability may also change, so take this into account when planning your journey.
Landscape and nature around the trails
The Circuit du Duveix is characterised by rural heritage, paths along meadow edges and through woodland, and views of villages with well-preserved traditional buildings. These features bring together natural and cultural landscapes within the route. They give the loop a character beyond its stated distance and walking time alone.
The Étang de Crorieux in Linards has high ecological value. It is also home to the orange featherleg damselfly (Platycnemis acutipennis). The pond is therefore a distinct natural attraction in Linards alongside the hiking trails. The species is a particular feature of the site; however, its presence does not mean it will be seen on every visit.
Crafts and history in Linards
NB Poteries is based in Linards and handcrafts unique stoneware pieces without using a potter’s wheel. Those interested in discovering these works can look out for local craft markets and events: NB Poteries takes part regularly, but dates and venues vary. Check the business’s latest schedule to plan your visit.
Feeling's offers sculptures and art for table settings. Together with NB Poteries’ stoneware, these different forms of craftsmanship provide a thematic counterpoint to the hikes, while offering a different kind of discovery.
The parish church of Saint-Martin, now the Église de la Nativité-de-la-Sainte-Vierge, was probably built in the 14th century. Two side chapels were added in the 15th century. In the 17th century, another chapel was added on the north side, along with the bell tower and porch. The building’s history therefore spans several distinct periods of expansion.
Another memorial site is the Monument aux morts de Linards, bearing the inscription “À SES ENFANTS MORTS POUR LA FRANCE”. In Boulandie, the Fontaines Saint-Martin are part of a local legend from Linards. The church, memorial and springs offer different ways to explore history and tradition, from the development of a building to a local legend.
Discover more destinations: Châteauneuf-La-Forêt, Nexon, Gajoubert, Saint-Germain-Les-Belles, Saint Leonard De Noblat, Panazol, Sussac, La Châtre.
For the broader travel guide: Haute-Vienne.
