Discover Montpeyroux

Montpeyroux is a village set on a hill in the Lidoire Valley. Several specific highlights come together to help you plan your trip: a Romanesque church, the Matecoulon estate and its park, and two routes with different journey times on horseback and by mountain bike. If you’re looking for a hotel, you can base your choice on the topics that interest you most during your trip.

Landscape and history of the Lidoire Valley

Its hilltop location gives Montpeyroux a distinctive landscape setting. The Lidoire Valley also provides historical context: until the end of the 18th century, it was of economic and historical importance. The village’s history therefore extends beyond individual buildings. If you’re interested in how the landscape developed, you can consider its connection to the valley alongside the specific buildings and Matecoulon Park.

Matecoulon: park, buildings and history

The Château de Matecoulon is located in the commune of Montpeyroux. In the 16th century, the Matecoulon estate belonged to Bertrand-Charles de Montaigne, the brother of Michel de Montaigne. A Tèrra-Aventura story set in Montpeyroux takes place around the château and features Bertrand, Michel de Montaigne’s younger brother, who lived there. The estate’s historical association and the story offer two different ways to explore the history of the area.

Parc de Matecoulon is a 3-hectare romantic-style park with ornamental structures known as fabriques. The park, the fabriques, the surrounding wall and its entrances, and the former faience factory of the Château de Matecoulon have been listed as historic monuments since July 25, 2003. The protected features thus include the park and its ornamental structures, as well as parts of the surrounding wall and the former factory. Parc de Matecoulon can only be visited on a guided tour and by prior appointment. Arrange your visit in advance if you plan to see the park.

Romanesque church with a distinctive apse

Follow the path alongside the Château de Matecoulon to reach the Romanesque church. It dates from the 12th century and is classified as a historic monument; the classification was made by decree on September 26, 1908. Its apse features nine round-arched arcades. The cornice is adorned with sculpted modillions. These architectural details give the church a distinctive profile: the arcades shape the apse, while the modillions decorate the cornice as sculpted elements. A visit here offers a chance to explore both the church’s Romanesque history and its specific architectural features.

Routes on horseback and by mountain bike

The Montpeyroux Loop takes 1 hour 15 minutes on horseback and 1 hour 5 minutes by mountain bike. For the Saint-Cloud Loop, the corresponding times are 1 hour 40 minutes on horseback and 1 hour 25 minutes by mountain bike. The Montpeyroux Loop is therefore shorter for both activities: the difference between the two routes is 25 minutes on horseback and 20 minutes by mountain bike. Compare the times for the same activity to estimate how long your ride will take. Trail conditions and markings can change, so check both before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Thiviers, Saint-Martin-de-Fressengeas, Peyzac-Le-Moustier, Abjat-Sur-Bandiat, Valeuil, La Dornac, Boisse, Razac-Sur-L'isle.

See the overview of the wider region: Dordogne.