Le Pizou: Trails, History and Summer Markets
Accommodation in Le Pizou
Le Pizou lies between the ForĂŞt de la Double forest and the Isle River. Several themes can shape your travel plans: walking trails lead to memorials and industrial remains, a hiking route runs along the Isle, and the Voie Verte reaches Le Pizou at its southern end. In summer, the Festines du Pizou are another draw. When choosing a hotel in Le Pizou, these highlights can help you plan your activities in the area.
Trails and different highlights
The “Circuit coeur de village Le Pizou” is a walking loop that takes about an hour and a half. It leads to the Monument de la Plaine and the industrial remains of the Forges de Coly. The “Boucle des 2 écluses” is an easy 9.4-kilometre hiking route that takes about two hours and 30 minutes. It starts at the church car park in Le Pizou and runs along the Isle. Comparing the durations highlights the different focuses: about an hour and a half is allotted for the loop, with its memorial and industrial remains, and about two and a half hours for the longer riverside hike.
Church, remembrance and industrial history
The present-day church in Le Pizou was rebuilt in the 17th century after the earlier church was burned down during the Wars of Religion. A nearly intact coat of arms has also been preserved on its walls. The rebuilding after the destruction and an almost completely preserved detail of the church stand side by side.
The Monument de la Plaine commemorates Resistance fighters who fell in the Second World War. The Forges de Coly are the remains of former forges; only the chimney remains. These two sites bring remembrance and industrial history together. One specific date in the history of the Resistance is 22 August 1944: Resistance fighters attacked a German column that day, and nine Resistance fighters lost their lives.
The Voie Verte and the Isle
The Véloroute Voie Verte de la vallée de l’Isle reaches Le Pizou at its southern end. You can travel along the route for more than 100 kilometres on foot, by bicycle or on roller skates. This is another way to include some exercise in your travel plans, alongside the local walking loops and the hike along the Isle. Check local conditions before setting off.
Summer evenings at the Festines du Pizou
Since 2005, the Festines du Pizou have been held as summer evening markets on Tuesdays in July and August. The programme includes a market with 20 producers and traders, followed by a concert and an open-air disco. The Festines are therefore more than just a market date: they offer an evening followed by music and open-air entertainment. Since the specific dates and programme may vary from year to year, it is a good idea to check the dates for the year of your visit before travelling. If you visit Le Pizou in summer, the Festines can be another reason to plan your travel dates.
Discover more destinations: Boisse, Saint-SĂ©verin-D'estissac, Thiviers, La Force, Nantheuil, Coubjours, Lunas, Castelnaud-La-Chapelle
For the wider travel overview: Dordogne.
