The surviving chapter house at Hôpital-Beaulieu, the Church of Saint-Julien and the Gabaudet memorial site give Issendolus a strong cultural and historical focus. The area also offers circular trails in the Quercy-Causse and activities related to horse riding. The routes vary considerably: from a very easy 9 km mountain bike loop to a 15.9 km circular walk of moderate difficulty.

Monastic Heritage at Hôpital-Beaulieu

At Hôpital-Beaulieu, the chapter house of a former monastery of the Hospitaller Sisters has survived. The monastery existed from 1236 to 1793 and stood on the route to Rocamadour and Saint-Jacques. The chapter house has been listed and protected as a historic monument since 1921. Extensive stabilization and restoration work took place there between 2021 and 2025. The chapter house is located in the Parc naturel régional des Causses du Quercy. Here, you can encounter both the history of the former monastic community and a protected historic building with a long history.

Saint-Julien and Sainte Fleur

The older part of the Church of Saint-Julien is Romanesque; the apse and chancel bay probably date from the 12th century. The church is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check the opening hours before your visit, as they may change. The church contains a reliquary with relics of Sainte Fleur. These were returned to the parish in 1859 and displayed for veneration in 2014. A 19th-century stained-glass window depicts Sainte Fleur with roses. The architecture, relics and depiction in the window each offer a distinct historical perspective on a visit to the church.

Gabaudet Memorial Site and Dolmens

Gabaudet commemorates the massacre and deportation of resistance fighters and civilians on June 8, 1944. The memorial site is open to visitors. A stele names some of the victims, and commemorative ceremonies are held every year. There is an important access restriction for the two dolmens at Gabaudet: they are on private property. Both dolmens have been classified since 1934; one has a 11-ton capstone. The memorial site and the dolmens reflect different aspects of local history, with the private ownership of the land around the dolmens to be kept in mind.

Circular Trails and Activities in the Quercy-Causse

Le chemin des Dolmens et des Cazelles is a very easy 9 km mountain bike loop starting in Issendolus. The route is suitable for a family outing through the Quercy-Causse. The landscape features described include paths and dry-stone walls, as well as the remains of Hôpital-Beaulieu.

La Randonnée du Causse is a 15.9 km circular route starting in Issendolus. It is listed as taking approximately 4 hours 30 minutes and as being of moderate difficulty. The route is open to horse riders and mountain bikers and offers glimpses of the Causse’s many facets: rural architecture, crosses, dry grasslands, dry-stone walls, cazelles and dolmens. By comparison, this route is longer and rated as more challenging than the very easy 9 km loop; the approximate duration of around four and a half hours is another helpful guide for planning.

Equi’Causse in Issendolus offers multi-day and one-day rides, rides lasting one or two hours, horseback archery and pony rides. If these activities are important to your travel plans, check their availability in advance.

The municipality of Issendolus displays information about local circular trails on boards at Hôpital-Beaulieu, by the town hall and in Garry. These information points complement details about the named routes with guidance on other local circular trails.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Saint-Céré, Lunegarde, Les Junies, Lunan, Cahus, Lherm, Lacam-D’ourcet, Saux.

For the broader travel overview: Lot.