Saint-Germain-Les-Belles offers several ways to plan days combining the landscape and local history. Four hikes differ in length, starting point, and highlights; there is also the Église Saint-Germain, a medieval tower, and a historical walking tour. This gives you the opportunity to decide whether a route, history, or both should be the focus of your stay.
Choose Hikes by Distance and Duration
At 10.5 km, the “La Petite Briance” hike is the longest of the four routes described. It starts at Place de l’Eglise. Highlights include remarkable trees, two old mills, and the SNCF viaduct. If you are interested in this combination of natural features and structures, this is the longest route in the selection.
At 6 km, “Les Belles Filles” is the shortest of the hikes described; it takes 1 hour 30 minutes. The starting point is Place de la Tour, beneath the market hall. Several views of Saint-Germain-Les-Belles are among the highlights. This route therefore combines a shorter time commitment with views over the village.
The 7 km “Le Martoulet” hike takes 1 hour 45 minutes. It starts at a car park between Le Martoulet and Le Chargeas. Highlights include La Vergne forest, woodland paths, viewpoints, a pond, and the village of Le Chargeas. The starting point and named stops help distinguish this route when planning from hikes that start in the village.
“Le Grand Bois” is also 7 km long and is listed as taking 1 hour 45 minutes. The hike starts at Place de l’Eglise in Saint-Germain-Les-Belles. Its viewpoints look out over the Petite Briance valley and the viaduct. The route shares its stated length and duration with “Le Martoulet,” but its described highlights have a different focus.
Among the three hikes with stated durations, 6 km takes 1 hour 30 minutes, while each 7 km route takes 1 hour 45 minutes. This makes it easy to compare the stated duration with the distance. “La Petite Briance” rounds out the selection as the longest route at 10.5 km; its description does not state a duration. The different starting points are also a practical guide when choosing your hikes in advance.
Church, Tower, and Historical Walking Tour
The Église Saint-Germain was rebuilt in the 14th century. In the will of Hugues Roger, brother of Pope Clement VI and Cardinal of Tulle, it was named as the recipient of the endowment of a collegiate church. The church and its rebuilding are therefore closely connected with this historical endowment.
The medieval tower is the oldest building in the municipality of Saint-Germain-Les-Belles. It was initially a fortification tower and was later used as a prison. The two buildings illustrate different aspects of local history: the church is associated with the endowment and rebuilding, while the tower is associated with its former functions as a fortification and prison.
The “Circuit découverte du village” is a self-guided historical tour. It runs from the church via the Venelle to Place du Petit Barry and is available year-round in 2026. This lets you visit the historical sites in the order of the tour, rather than considering each building in isolation.
Fishing Lake and Getting There
The “Montréal” fishing lake is managed by the Haute-Vienne Departmental Fishing Federation. There is a fishing platform at the lake that is accessible to people with disabilities. This specific facility is a distinct feature of what the village offers and can be considered alongside hiking and local history when planning your stay.
The A20 motorway passes through Saint-Germain-Les-Belles, and the municipality is connected via junction 42. The village is also served by the SNCF Paris–Toulouse railway line. If you are planning to travel by train, check the timetable for your travel dates. Hiking, historical sightseeing, the fishing lake, and transport options offer different ways to shape your interests during your stay.
Discover more destinations: Vaulry, Augne, Champsac, Thouron, Pensol, Bussière-Galant, Saint-Sornin-Leulac, Oradour-sur-Glane.
For the broader travel overview: Haute-Vienne.
