Discover Urval

In the south of the Dordogne department, west of the Périgord Noir and between the river and the Bessède Forest, lies Urval. Its historic centre forms a rare and well-preserved ensemble of medieval structures. The area is also hilly, heavily wooded and characterised by numerous clearings. This gives travellers two distinct areas of focus when planning their trip: the historic buildings in the village centre and the hiking opportunities in the surrounding area.

Church and medieval architecture

Urval Church was listed as a Monument historique by decree on 9 June 1926. Its main construction phases date from the 12th and 13th centuries. A square tower with loopholes stands above the nave; the elevated end of the choir also served to fortify the church. The building thus combines its religious purpose with a fortified design.

The Church of Notre Dame de la Nativité is also associated with religious and cultural activities such as concerts, exhibitions and talks. Individual events may vary. If you are interested in a particular concert, exhibition or talk, check the relevant dates before your trip.

Urval’s Four banal

Another historic building is Urval’s Four banal, a communal village bread oven dating from the 14th century. The oven was listed as a Monument historique in 1941 and is considered a very rare example of medieval rural architecture. A municipal description from 2024 recounts the tradition of using it two or three times a year during village festivities, especially for the European Heritage Days. On these occasions, visitors could watch the bread being baked and then buy some. The specific dates may vary. The oven is therefore younger than the church’s main construction phases.

Hiking in the Urval area

There are two marked PDIPR circular hiking trails in the Urval area. One of these trails received the “Les 10 plus beaux sentiers du Périgord” award in 2024. The long-distance Chemin d’Amadour (GR81) connects Soulac-sur-Mer with Rocamadour, is 500 kilometres long and comprises 21 stages. The two circular trails are local options, while the GR81, with its length and number of stages, offers a regional-scale route. During an earlier lunch break on the Cadouin–Belvès stage of the Chemin d’Amadour, hikers were welcomed in Urval.

When planning your timing, note the difference between permanent heritage and individual events: the church and Four banal are listed as Monuments historiques, while bread baking is tied to village festivities and the church’s event programme may vary. If you want to plan your trip around the bread baking or a particular cultural event, check the dates.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Jayac, Saint-Jory-De-Chalais, Queyssac, Coubjours, Thénac, Javerlhac-Et-La-Chapelle-Saint-Robert, Chancelade, Périgueux

For the overview of the wider area: Dordogne.