Campagne – Forest, château park and hiking trails

Campagne brings together forest, striking landscapes and historic heritage as different focal points for a trip. The Domaine départemental, the Château park and several outdoor activities offer different ways to shape your stay. You can choose a signposted hiking trail, explore natural areas with different conservation and management objectives, or focus on the château and church. It is important to distinguish between the park and the Château: the park is open to visitors, but the Château itself is not open for visits.

Forest, garden and landscape

The Domaine départemental de Campagne covers 337 hectares of forest, suitable for hiking and other outdoor activities. The Domaine park has been awarded the “Jardin remarquable” label; its notable trees form a rich arboretum. The distinction and the collection of trees give the park its own horticultural focus alongside the extensive forest landscape.

The Réserve biologique mixte de Campagne covers 171.81 hectares and combines two forms of protection with different purposes. The integral biological reserve covers 137.13 hectares and supports the natural development of the forest. The managed biological reserve covers 34.68 hectares and is intended to actively conserve open habitats. Visitors interested in nature conservation can discover two clearly distinct approaches within the same protected area.

The Falaise de la forêt départementale de Campagne overlooks the Vézère. From the viewpoints, you can see across the valley and surrounding hills. This makes the landscape a focal point alongside the forest and arboretum. Orienteering, climbing, archery and mountain biking are available at the Falaise site; check that these activities are available before you travel.

Château park and historic buildings

The Château de Campagne, together with its outbuildings, park and enclosures, has been listed as a historic monument since 5 April 2001. Its oldest section dates from the 15th century. The Château is not open for visits, but it hosts temporary exhibitions. The park is open to visitors free of charge every day; from December to February, it is open only during school holidays. Check the current opening arrangements before travelling so that you do not confuse a visit to the park with an exhibition visit.

The Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste is also part of Campagne’s historic character. Dating from the 12th century, it retains a Romanesque choir and carved capitals. The church was listed as a historic monument in 1949 and is located at the entrance to the Château park. Its date and surviving details provide another architectural point of interest, distinct from the château.

Hiking trails and outdoor activities

One specific hiking option is the Boucle de la Forêt Nord / le Polissoir n°5 / Campagne. The route is 5.3 kilometres long, rated easy and marked with yellow waymarks. It leads to the Polissoir des Salles. In this way, it combines a stated distance and difficulty level with a named destination. If you would rather focus on a larger forest area than on a single route, the Domaine départemental offers a different scale for outdoor activities.

Campagne has a year-round bike park with mountain bike trails of varying difficulty. Wooden features and shaped terrain are among the trail features described; be aware that safety requirements may change. The orienteering area includes several courses, from beginner level to sporting challenge, including one specifically for people with reduced mobility. Check the current availability of the courses before travelling.

Another outdoor option is “Tèrra Aventura: Un Mystère qui ne manque pas de piquant”, a digital treasure hunt carried out using a mobile app. Check with the tourist office for current availability before your trip. The activities on offer can thus be distinguished by format: a hiking trail, a bike park, orienteering and an app-based treasure hunt each offer a different focus.

Discover more destinations: Creysse, Monsac, Peyzac-Le-Moustier, Saussignac, Ligueux, Bouniagues, Monsaguel, Montazeau.

For the broader travel overview: Dordogne.