Bourlens: Church, History and Landscape

Two themes provide a useful framework for planning a trip to Bourlens: local history and landscape. The Église de Bourlens, the Pech-de-l’Estelle castle site and the designated route “Bourlens, balade par monts et par vaux” offer concrete starting points. If you are looking for a hotel in Bourlens, the town’s historical and scenic highlights can help you assess whether it suits your interests for your stay.

Church and architectural history

The Église de Bourlens is open for visits. Its west portal is dated 1743. The apse is incorporated into a square structure that supports the bell tower. The building thus offers two distinct features to note: the date belongs to the west portal, while the description of the apse explains its relationship to the bell tower through the square structure. Before your visit, it is advisable to check the latest visitor information.

Local history across several centuries

In the Middle Ages, the Pech-de-l’Estelle castle site was one of the local settlement centers in what is now the municipality of Bourlens. Another historical reference point is the Castrum of Estelle: in 1271, it was under the jurisdiction of Tournon. The 17th-century Château de Foulou is another historical reference point in Bourlens. The timeline therefore spans medieval settlement history and the jurisdiction in 1271 through to buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries, including the château and the west portal of the Église, dated 1743. These different dates help distinguish settlement, administrative and architectural history as separate historical topics.

Plateaus and limestone Pechs

The plateaus of Bourlens generally lie at elevations of 130 to 200 meters. The steep limestone Pechs rise above 230 meters. These figures outline a contrast between plateaus and steep limestone landforms, rather than describing a uniform elevation across all of Bourlens. This offers a clear comparison when considering the landscape: the terrain includes both plateaus and higher-rising, steep landforms.

Route, landscape and activities

The “Bourlens, balade par monts et par vaux” route is designated for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. It starts in Bourlens and is marked with yellow signs. It passes through the wooded valley of the Dor, across the Perricard plateau with a prune orchard, and through the dry Combe de Bazérac. The route thus links a wooded valley, a plateau with an orchard and a dry combe. For planning purposes, the route can be considered in terms of two distinct points: its named landscapes and its three designated activities.

Getting around between the D 102 and the village

The D 102 runs through Bourlens and connects Tournon with Fumel; the village itself lies away from this main road. These details complement each other: the road describes the connection between the towns, while the village is set apart from it. For orientation, it is worth distinguishing between the D 102 passing through Bourlens and the village’s location in relation to this main road.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Jean-De-Duras, Montastruc, Dondas, Le Passage, Saint-Vite, Labretonie, Lougratte, La Croix-Blanche

For the wider travel overview: Lot Et Garonne.