Saint-Jal: Church, Hiking and Local Produce

Saint-Jal offers several specific reasons to visit: the Église Saint-Gall with its deep portal, the “A travers feuillus et crêtes” circular route, the Etang de pêche du Vieux Moulin fishing pond and the Le P’tit Corrézien farm. For your planning, you can choose between architectural history, a longer hike, a shorter walk and a farm shop.

Church and architectural history

The Église Saint-Gall was built in the late 15th or early 16th century on the site of an earlier building. The church therefore has two historical points of reference: the earlier building on the same site and the later church, dating from around the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. One striking feature is the deep portal in the Flamboyant Gothic style. If you are interested in religious architecture, Saint-Jal offers a clear cultural focus. You can take in the portal and the church’s historical context together.

Circular route and shorter hiking option

The “A travers feuillus et crêtes” route is a 13.0 km circular route, with a stated duration of four hours and a moderate difficulty level. The distance, duration and difficulty rating help you assess the longer hike in terms of both time and effort. Check trail conditions before setting out. The route initially follows the former narrow-gauge railway line and then joins the GR 46. Along the way, it offers views of the Monédières and the Troh Valley. Depending on how much time you have, you can shorten the circular route using various return paths marked in blue or yellow. For a shorter walk, you can take a 500 m section of the GR 46 in the Saint-Jal valley, starting at the mill. This gives you different distances to choose from: the 13.0 km loop, with a stated duration of four hours, or the explicitly shorter 500 m section. This lets you tailor the length of your hike to the time available.

Fishing pond and former railway lines

The Etang de pêche du Vieux Moulin fishing pond is fed by the Troh stream. A disused watermill stands below the pond. From the pond, you can set out on foot or by mountain bike along the former POC railway line. Unlike the “A travers feuillus et crêtes” circular route, the main choice here is between two ways of getting around; the trails from the pond follow the former railway line. This helps you decide whether you are looking for a hike with information on distance, duration and difficulty, or an option on foot or by mountain bike.

Farm shop in Saint-Jal

The Le P’tit Corrézien farm in Saint-Jal raises Cul-Noir Limousin pigs. The farm sells its products directly at the farm throughout the year, by prior arrangement. If you would like to include a farm shop visit in your stay, arrange your visit in advance and confirm that the products you want are available. When planning, take into account both the year-round sales and the need to arrange your visit in advance.

Discover more destinations: Sadroc, Saint-Germain-les-Vergnes, Sérilhac, Sainte-Fortunade, Montaignac, Saint-Sornin-Lavolps, Lamazière-Basse, Affieux.

For the broader travel overview: Corrèze.