Lolme – Circular Walk, Landscape and Romanesque Church

Lolme can be understood through three specific features: the Boucle des Peyrouliers, which starts in the village; the Romanesque church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité; and its valley setting beneath a wooded plateau shaped by meadows. For your trip planning, these offer a walking route, a Romanesque building and a landscape to consider side by side. You can decide whether to discover Lolme mainly through outdoor activity, architecture or its position in the valley.

Circular Walk and Landscape

The Boucle des Peyrouliers is a 7.0 km circular walk that starts in Lolme. As a loop, it returns to its starting point. It passes through woodland, by heritage sites and through meadow landscapes. Nature and culture are therefore combined along the same route. Check local conditions before setting out.

Lolme lies in a valley dominated by a plateau covered with woodland and meadows. The valley and plateau therefore belong together when describing the landscape: the valley describes the village’s location, while the wooded plateau covered with meadows forms the wider setting.

Romanesque Church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité

The church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité is a 12th-century Romanesque church. It has two bays in the nave and one in the choir; the semicircular apse is vaulted with a half-dome. In simple terms, the nave is divided into two bays, followed by the choir bay; the semicircular apse forms the vaulted end. The outer surfaces of the three walls bear wall inscriptions, engraved marks and decorative motifs, including crosses, rosettes and nine outlines of shoes. The exterior detailing of the apse is also notable. Its stone-slab roof rests on a cornice with corbels; some corbels are sculpted, and the metopes have circular openings. The stones used for the Romanesque church very likely came from the same quarry that contributed to Lolme’s development.

Names and Local History

Le Peyroulier, a point of interest along the loop, is associated with a local explanation of its name. The name derives from the Occitan Lo Pairolièr, meaning “repairer or seller of cauldrons.” Thus, alongside the church’s architectural history, the origin of a place name offers another cultural way to discover Lolme.

Culture in a Wider Context

A guided tour offers a broader geographical perspective: “Balade patrimoine en Pays de Monpazier” is based in Monpazier and also includes the neighboring villages of Biron, Lolme and Capdrot. The Boucle des Peyrouliers, by contrast, is a 7.0 km circular walk starting in Lolme. The two options therefore differ in geographical scope: a loop starting in Lolme or a guided tour that takes in several villages.

Visits by Appointment

Natural Wine Guru can be visited by appointment at its wine cellar in Lolme. If you plan a visit, reconfirm the appointment availability before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Minzac, Bouniagues, Villefranche-Du-Périgord, Ginestet, Sainte-Trie, Coly, Saint-Laurent-La-Vallée, Beaupouyet

For the broader travel overview: Dordogne.