Singles: River Landscapes, Trails and History

Singles appeals to travelers looking to combine river landscapes, hiking, and historic architecture. There are several different scales to consider when planning: a 5.4-kilometer circular trail at the Arpiat Bridge, a short loop across plateaus and through wooded valleys, and a 430-kilometer Dordogne circular route that crosses several départements. At the Site de pêche du pont d’Arpiat, fishing and boating are also available. The routes and activities can be compared by distance and landscape.

Church and Architectural History

The choir and nave of the Eglise paroissiale Saint-Nazaire appear to have been built around the turn of the 12th and 13th centuries. The choir and nave are distinct parts of a church: the nave is the main space, while the choir includes the altar area. A Gothic portal in Singles dates from the 14th century. The term “portal” refers to an architecturally designed entrance. For travelers interested in culture, these features offer a tangible way to explore historic forms from different periods.

Hiking Along the River and Across the Plateaus

The hiking route at the Arpiat Bridge in Singles is 5.4 km long, follows a circular route, and is marked with blue markers. It runs along the wooded slopes of the Dordogne Valley to the border between Puy-de-Dôme and Corrèze, and to the confluence of the Dordogne and Burande rivers. Its circular layout, trail markers, and named destinations give the hike a clear framework. If you’re looking for a shorter loop, consider the Les mines de la guinguette circular hike. It crosses plateaus cut through by the Dordogne and passes through wooded valleys in the former coalfield plateau of the Massif Central. The routes therefore differ both in distance and in the landscapes described: at Arpiat, the focus is on wooded valley slopes and the river confluence; at Les mines, it is on plateaus and wooded valleys.

A Longer Dordogne Circular Route

On a larger regional scale, the 430 km circular route “L’Itinérêve – La Dordogne de Villages en Barrages” runs through the Dordogne gorges. It passes through Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal, and Corrèze. This sets it apart from the shorter hikes: its length and circular layout link several départements. When comparing routes, the 5.4 km Arpiat loop and the 430 km Dordogne route offer two clearly different distances; the local landscapes and river settings provide further guidance when choosing.

Fishing, Boating, and Gold Panning

The Site de pêche du pont d’Arpiat is a Category 2 fishing area. Boats can be launched there to travel on the 21 km-long Bort-les-Orgues reservoir. The reservoir lies on the borders of Cantal, Corrèze, and Puy-de-Dôme. At the Site de pêche, fishing and boating on the reservoir are therefore two distinct activities.

In the upper Dordogne Valley, the event “Dans la peau des chercheurs d’or” introduces participants to gold panning at a hidden gold-bearing site. The afternoon session takes place in the waters of the Burande, where an enthusiastic guide teaches various techniques. Booking through the tourist office or online is required. As seasonal schedules may change, check the dates in advance. Unlike the hikes, this activity centers on a guided introduction to a specific pursuit.

Discover more destinations: Randan, Vergheas, Chaptuzat, Sauvessanges, Ceilloux, Sancy, Parent, Chassagne

For the broader travel overview: Puy-De-Dôme.