Limeyrat: Heritage, Dolmen and Walks

Limeyrat offers a range of attractions for a stay: listed buildings, walks around the old village centre, and a landscape of plateaus and forests. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Limeyrat, these themes can help you decide which experiences matter most for your stay. The sites and paths each offer something different, from architectural heritage to views over the surrounding area.

Heritage in Limeyrat

At the Église Saint Hilaire, two heritage designations apply to different parts of the building. The choir was classified as a Monument historique by decree on 10 February 1903. The nave and bell tower were later added to the supplementary inventory of historic monuments by decree on 21 February 2006. The dates therefore apply to different parts of the church: the earlier decree covers the choir, while the later one covers the nave and tower.

North of Limeyrat lies the Dolmen de Peira Levada, which was listed as a Monument historique by decree on 27 June 1980. It can be reached on foot or by car via a dirt track branching off the RD 68, the Route des Forges. Check the conditions on the road and track locally. Next to the dolmen stands a dry-stone hut that once served as shelter for a beggar named Jean l’Adroit. A visit to the dolmen thus also offers a glimpse of another detail of local history.

Walks and trails

The Promenoir poétique is a walking route around Limeyrat’s old village centre. The one-kilometre route starts there and includes the Jardin du poète, dedicated to local poet René Brachet. The walk therefore connects the old village centre with a cultural site commemorating a local poet. Its stated length provides a useful guide if you want to include a walk in your travel plans.

Another option for hikers is the Boucle de la Peira Levada, which offers a chance to discover the Dolmen de Peyrelevade. This route is described as a hiking trail associated with the dolmen. The Promenoir poétique and the Boucle de la Peira Levada therefore offer different experiences: one loops around the old village centre, while the other gives hikers a way to explore the dolmen.

Plateaus, forests and views

A third of Limeyrat consists of sandy, infertile soil where oak and chestnut forests grow. From Limeyrat’s low-lying plateaus, views extend towards the Auvézère, Cubjac and Thiviers, as well as the Causse of Beauzens, Hautefort and Clairevivre.

The region where the present-day commune of Limeyrat is located forms a plateau at an elevation of between 174 and 267 metres.

Literature and seasonal nature

The municipal library, Bibliothèque Andrée Chedid, organises events, literary gatherings and exhibitions. Alongside its historic buildings, Limeyrat thus also has a connection to literature and public events. If you are interested in cultural activities, the library adds another local attraction to a visit to the Église Saint Hilaire and a walk through the Jardin du poète.

A seasonal natural phenomenon occurs at the Puits de Bontemps in the commune of Brouchaud. The spring is located on the RD 68 near Limeyrat’s northern boundary and not far from the Bontemps quarries. During the rainy season, a spring occasionally appears there: water emerges spontaneously from the ground, releasing thousands of litres within minutes. The seasonal aspect is important, as the phenomenon occurs during the rainy season.

Discover more destinations: Vaunac, Carlucet, Brantôme, Vanxains, Saint-Léon-Sur-L'isle, Sourzac, Monfaucon, Salagnac.

For the full travel overview: Dordogne.