Saint-Crépin-Et-Carlucet: Castles, Churches and Dry-Stone Huts

Saint-Crépin-Et-Carlucet is an interesting choice if you want to explore historic architecture and traces of earlier ways of life. The Château de Lacypierre, two churches, dry-stone huts and the cavities at the Carlucet site offer a variety of points of interest. If you are deciding whether to spend a culture- and history-focused stay here, it is worth taking a look at the buildings and possible walks.

Castle architecture at the Château de Lacypierre

The Château de Lacypierre is a typical Périgord castle dating from the early 16th century. It was built on older foundations dating from the 13th century. The difference between the castle and its foundations brings the site’s long building history to life: the castle and its older foundations belong to different centuries. A hexagonal tower is another distinctive feature of the building.

At the Château de Lacypierre, Isabelle and Florence give the tours themselves. If you plan to take a tour, check visiting times before you travel. This lets you include the visit in your plans without assuming fixed times.

Churches and historic monuments

The Church of Sainte-Marie-Sainte-Anne in Carlucet dates from the 11th century and is in the Romanesque-Byzantine style. Several information panels explain the history of the building and the features of its retable. From the church, you can reach a cemetery with enfeus: the tombs are set into the thickness of the wall. The former priory and cemetery in Carlucet have been listed as historic monuments since October 12, 1948.

The Église de Saint-Crépin is also a protected building in the commune; it has been listed as a historic monument since December 12, 1975. Together with the church in Carlucet, it offers another point of interest for travelers who would like to include historic religious buildings in their plans.

Dry-stone huts and former uses

The commune’s dry-stone huts are mostly round. They are built without timber framing or mortar and consist mainly of materials sourced locally. Their uses depended on their surroundings: in fields, they could be used to store tools. In forests, some provided shelter for lumberjacks, shepherds, charcoal burners or even poachers. These structures therefore offer a way to distinguish between form, construction methods and different uses.

Cavities and cluzeaux in Carlucet

The Carlucet site includes caves dug into the limestone, as well as cavities that people enlarged and fitted out. In the Middle Ages and during difficult times, they served as places of refuge. The cluzeaux of Carlucet are now difficult to access and are located on private property. Take this access situation into account when planning your visit.

Getting to know the walks and trails

Randoland – St Crépin et Carlucet is a 2.5-hour puzzle and discovery walk covering 6.6 kilometers and leading visitors through the area’s historic and natural heritage. A Terra Aventura trail follows the paths of Saint-Crépin-Et-Carlucet, starts in the village of Carlucet and passes the Château de Lacypierre, walnut groves and washhouses. The two activities can be distinguished by the information available: the duration and distance are given for Randoland, while the starting point and stops provide orientation for the Terra Aventura trail. Check in advance whether the Terra Aventura trail is currently available.

Other fountains lie along the commune’s hiking trails. If you plan to follow these paths, check their route on site before setting off. This will allow you to compare the historic places and walks mentioned here with the trail conditions relevant to your own plans.

Discover more destinations: Siorac-En-Périgord, Tocane-Saint-Apre, Loubejac, Campagnac-lès-Quercy, Berbiguières, Sarlande, Saint-Julien-De-Crempse, Issac.

For the broader travel overview: Dordogne.