Montvalent brings together long-distance hiking trails, medieval architecture, the Dordogne landscape and regional produce. The GR652 and GR46 meet in the village; the commune is also home to the Cirque de Montvalent and the Plage du Vieux ChĂŞne swimming spot.
Hiking, Flying and Swimming
The GR652 passes through the commune and meets the GR46 in the village, which the GR46 also runs through. Visitors looking to organise their stay around different activities will find both long-distance hiking trails and flying sports here. The Parapente Valley school is located in the hamlet of Veyssou, within the commune of Montvalent. It offers tandem flights and paragliding courses for all levels; flying activities are weather-dependent. If you are planning a flight, take this weather dependency into account when scheduling your time.
The Plage du Vieux ChĂŞne is a natural beach on the Dordogne and is accessible year-round. Swimming there is unsupervised and at your own risk. Facilities at the site include a shaded car park and a bar or refreshment stand; a restaurant is nearby. This makes a visit to the river quite different from the hiking trails and flying activities: the focus here is on the beach and swimming, with the important caveat that there is no supervision.
Church, Fortifications and Cultural Trail
The Église Saint-Christophe is a rural place of worship with a cruciform layout and a flat-ended chancel. Two chapels were added later; the original stone vaults of the 13th-century chancel have been preserved. The building’s history is therefore reflected both in the shape of the church and in the different dates of its various components.
The fortified village is also home to a tower on the ramparts, dating from the mid-13th century. It provides a different architectural focal point from the church: here, the village’s fortifications shape the built environment. For another way to explore local history, the commune offers the Parcours de Montvalent du pays d'Art et d'Histoire. The church, ramparts and trail thus offer different starting points for a cultural and historical focus.
The Cirque de Montvalent and the Dordogne Landscape
The Cirque de Montvalent is a natural amphitheatre below the village. Its landscape features limestone cliffs, wooded terraces and flood-prone meadows shaped by the Dordogne. The cirque is accessible from the village centre or via the descent towards the springs. As paths may change on site, check their condition before your visit.
The ZNIEFF La Dordogne quercynoise, which also includes Montvalent, offers a different perspective. Its habitats include floodplains, dry calcareous grasslands and limestone cliffs. While the cirque describes the specific landform below the village, the ZNIEFF draws attention to the variety of habitats in the Dordogne quercynoise. Both help define the landscape focus of your stay more precisely.
Regional Produce
GAEC Ferme Landes operates a farm shop in Montvalent. It sells goat’s cheese, the farm’s own Rocamadour, Tome cheese and yoghurt. The selection may vary seasonally. For travellers who want to include regional produce in their plans alongside hiking trails and architectural history, the farm shop is a convenient local stop.
Discover more destinations: Marminiac, Soturac, Saint-Denis-Lès-Martel, Saint-Caprais, Bagnac, Le Bourg, Saint-Matré, Cuzac
For the broader travel overview: Lot.
