Meyrals: Heritage, Architecture and Hiking

Meyrals offers travelers two clearly recognizable themes: heritage and hiking. Added to these are a village landscape of yellow stone and an annual summer festival. These highlights help you decide whether you are particularly interested in history, architecture, walking routes or a seasonal event.

Heritage and historical periods

The Grotte de Bernifal is a cave in Meyrals decorated with Upper Paleolithic engravings. It was classified as a historic monument by decree on May 27, 1904. Saint-Eutrope Church in Meyrals dates mainly from the 12th century and is fully listed as a historic monument; the listing is based on a decree dated July 3, 2007. The two sites highlight different periods in history: the cave is associated with the Upper Paleolithic, while the church belongs to a much later era. This contrast in time brings together two widely separated points of reference in cultural history.

Stone houses and village landscape

Meyrals’ village landscape is characterized by yellow-stone houses and lauze or flat-tile roofs. They give the village the golden hue characteristic of the Périgord Noir. While the cave and church stand out for their historical periods, here the focus is on building materials and roof styles. If you are interested in regional architectural styles, this combination offers a tangible way to appreciate the village landscape. The golden appearance can be attributed to two features: the color of the stone and the shape of the roofs.

Walking trails and seasonal events

There are four signposted circular walking trails within the commune. One named walking route in Meyrals is the Boucle de la Faurie. The medieval old village of Meyrals is a point of interest along this route; it also passes dry-stone huts. The relationship to the route differs: the village is a point of interest, while the Boucle passes by the huts.

Abris de Laugerie-Basse, an archaeological site, is located near Meyrals. The Grotte de Bernifal, by contrast, is in Meyrals. This distinguishes an archaeological site in the surrounding area from the Upper Paleolithic cave in the village.

The Festival des Épouvantails takes place in Meyrals every summer. If you would like to plan your stay around this event, check the dates for the relevant summer. The festival is therefore a seasonal feature, while architecture and trails shape the described character of the village throughout the year.

For heritage, the historical periods and village landscape provide the framework; for hiking, the marked routes are the points of reference. The festival takes place in summer. You can match the aspect that appeals to you most with the purpose of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Cyprien, Petit-Bersac, Saint-Vincent-Le-Paluel, Montpeyroux, Issac, Saint-Priest-Les-Fougères, Saint-Médard-De-Mussidan, Coutures

For the broader travel guide: Dordogne.