Discover Laplume

The commune of Laplume sits on a rocky promontory amid meadows and rolling hills. The village offers several distinct points of interest to help you plan a trip: Gothic church architecture, a gate from the medieval fortifications, the history of local faience production, and two trails with different themes. These attractions encompass not only buildings, but also craftsmanship, rural life in the past, and local flora. If you choose your stay based on your cultural interests, these themes can help you decide how to spend your time in Laplume. Each can be explored separately: Saint-Barthélemy represents sacred architecture, Porte des Maures the history of the fortifications, and the workshop in Dubergé artisanal production; the trails complement these perspectives with interpreted history and nature.

Heritage in Laplume

The Church of Saint-Barthélemy was built in the 16th century, with the principal construction campaign taking place in 1511. It is also a rare Gothic church in the Agenais and is protected as a historic monument. For the chronology, the century and the construction campaign should be considered together: 1511 marks the principal campaign within the church’s construction in the 16th century. Its protected status and regional rarity describe aspects of the building other than its date. Saint-Barthélemy thus offers those interested in Gothic church architecture a tangible point of historical reference.

Porte des Maures is one of the two surviving gates of Laplume’s medieval fortifications. It therefore has a different historical context from the church: the focus here is on the fortifications, not Gothic religious architecture. Also part of the area’s history is a faience workshop in Dubergé. It operated from 1779 to 1835, producing everyday vessels and tableware. The workshop’s history draws attention to the making of objects used in daily life and for dining. For a cultural and historical visit, the fortifications and craftsmanship thus offer distinct themes alongside church architecture.

Walking routes with different themes

The circular route “Laplume, la balade pennavienne des quatre lavoirs” starts in Laplume, is 6.7 km long, and has an elevation gain of 225 m. It is marked with painted trail markings. Its name refers to the four washhouses, and illustrated panels present the history of Laplume as well as scenes of rural life in the past. The route complements the focus on the church and fortifications with local history and scenes from earlier rural life. Its length, elevation gain, and markings give you practical information for planning; the panels convey the route’s historical theme.

The “Sentier botanique de Roquemaure” has a different focus. Through 21 information panels and two explanatory panels, it shares knowledge about local flora and a washhouse. The washhouse therefore features on both routes, but in different contexts: the Laplume circular route presents local history and scenes of rural life in the past, while the botanical trail connects the washhouse theme with local flora.

Discover more destinations: Espiens, Labretonie, Peyrière, Allemans-du-Dropt, Calignac, Baleyssagues, Montignac-De-Lauzun, Escassefort

For the broader travel overview: Lot Et Garonne.