Groléjac: Trails, Water and Nature

Groléjac offers a range of points of interest to help you plan your trip: routes connected to the Dordogne, activities at Roc Percé, the natural area of Marais de Groléjac and Église Saint-Léger. If you are looking for a hotel in Groléjac, consider which of these themes you want to shape your trip. Visiting conditions also vary: swimming is supervised at the lake in July and August, while the Marais nature reserve is currently closed to the public.

Routes and wayfinding along the Dordogne

The Voie Verte, known as the Promenade Périgord-Quercy, was created along the route of a former railway line. Its starting point in Groléjac is near the Dordogne. From Groléjac, the route crosses the river and reaches Sarlat-La-Canéda after 7.5 kilometres. This gives you both a named destination and a specific route distance.

Another way to find your bearings is the GR 64B long-distance footpath. It branches off the GR 64 west of La Mouline in Groléjac, crosses the Dordogne on the former railway bridge and then runs north of Carsac-Aillac to the GR 64A. The Promenade Périgord-Quercy is described by its route to Sarlat; the GR 64B, by contrast, is defined by its branch point and onward connection to other GR trails. If you are comparing routes, this information helps distinguish their paths.

Water activities at Roc Percé

The Plan d’eau du Roc Percé in Groléjac covers 15 hectares. Swimming in the lake is supervised in July and August. Pedal boating and windsurfing are also available at Roc Percé; availability may vary by season. Information about swimming supervision and activities helps you plan your time by the water around your travel dates and personal interests.

Canoe and kayak trips are also among the local options: the Explorando canoe base offers trips departing from Groléjac. Check the operator’s information before your trip. This keeps swimming supervision, seasonal water sports and operator-organized trips distinct as different aspects of your planning.

Marais de Groléjac: nature and access

At the end of the lake, where the Mouline flows in, Marais de Groléjac includes a wooded wetland with an elevated educational trail. The area has a 1.2-kilometre elevated boardwalk with benches and information panels. At the same time, the nature reserve is currently closed to the public for safety reasons. Check the notice again shortly before your trip.

The section of the ZNIEFF Dordogne périgourdine located in Groléjac encompasses a variety of floodplain habitats. A survey from June 2025 lists the dragonfly Oxygastra curtisii, the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) and the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), among others, as notable species. Water rails, common snipes, Eurasian siskins and bitterns may occur in the Marais, particularly in winter. These bird species are seasonal possibilities, not guaranteed sightings.

The protection designations recorded in June 2025 identify the area as a ZSC, SIC and PSIC under the Habitats Directive; it is also located in the core zone of a biosphere reserve. These designations complement the description of the floodplain habitats and the species found there. The current closure to visitors remains in effect for your planning purposes.

A protected cultural monument

Another point of interest is Église Saint-Léger in Groléjac. It is protected as a historic monument by registration under the protection order of 12 October 1948. Alongside the routes, Roc Percé and the Marais, it offers another way to explore the destination.

Discover more destinations: Creysse, Savignac-De-Miremont, Prats-De-Carlux, Saint-Vincent-De-Connezac, Saint-Vincent-De-Cosse, Notre-Dame-De-Sanilhac, Montrem, Montferrand-du-Périgord.

For the broader travel overview: Dordogne.