Discover Saint-Nexans

Saint-Nexans offers a range of points of interest for planning a trip: the history of the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste, the parkland of the Chartreuse du Bignac and hiking routes. Together, these themes range from historic architecture to paths through vineyards.

Church and Templar History

The history of the Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste in Saint-Nexans is linked to a Templar commandery founded there in the 12th century. The choir and nave have been preserved; the west façade has an entrance portal with four archivolts and sculpted capitals. Archivolts are arch profiles around a portal; capitals sit at the top of columns or pillars. This makes it possible to understand the design of the west portal through its specific architectural features.

Since 15 July 1963, the west façade, including the bell wall, and the entrance portal have been listed as historic architectural features. The connection to the Templar commandery concerns the church’s history, while the listing identifies specific architectural features and a date. These are two distinct aspects: the historical background and the protection of specific parts of the building.

Chartreuse du Bignac: Building and Park

The Chartreuse du Bignac is a 17th-century building surrounded by a 22-hectare park. It sits on a hill in Saint-Nexans and offers 360-degree views over vineyards, forests and orchards. The views over the landscape and the features of the park provide different perspectives on the site.

The park includes springs, ponds, a dovecote, an orchard and a herb garden. The stated area describes the extent of the grounds; the features listed illustrate their variety. The Chartreuse du Bignac’s gourmet, traditional restaurant is another point to consider when planning a stay. If you would like to include it, check current visiting options in advance.

Hiking Through Vineyards and Heritage

The Boucle de Binassat is a 6 km circular hiking route in Saint-Nexans. It follows small paths through the vineyards of Bergerac. Built heritage can be discovered along the route; the Statue du Moine Soldat is a named point on the circuit. This specific circular walk thus combines landscapes with a heritage site identified by name.

The Statue du Moine Soldat is associated with warrior monks whose mission was to defend the kingdom. From 1147, these warrior monks wore white robes with a red cross. These details make the statue’s historical connection tangible and give this named point on the circuit its own thematic context.

The long-distance GR 6 trail also crosses the southeastern part of Saint-Nexans. The two route descriptions differ in their focus: the Boucle de Binassat is described as a 6 km circular route that combines vineyard paths with heritage; for the GR 6, the description identifies its passage through this southeastern part of the town. This distinguishes a specific circular hike from a long-distance trail crossing the town.

Discover more destinations: Marquay, Saint-Capraise-D'eymet, Siorac-De-Ribérac, Saint-Amand-de-Belvès, Abjat-Sur-Bandiat, Prats-De-Carlux, Gavaudun, Saint-Saud-Lacoussière.

For the broader travel overview: Dordogne.