Servières-Le-Château: Chapels, Hiking Trails and Hydropower

When planning a stay in Servières-le-Château, you can explore three themes separately: religious architecture, a hike through the Glane gorges and hydropower at the Barrage du Chastang. An annual pilgrimage and seasonal activities at Lac de Feyt provide additional points of reference when choosing when to travel.

Chapels and architectural history

The Chapelle de Glény is a single-nave chapel dating from the 12th century. Its nave has a barrel vault and leads to a semicircular choir. These terms describe different architectural features: “single-nave” refers to the floor plan, the barrel vault to the shape of the ceiling, and the semicircular choir to the end of the building. A protection order dated 13 September 1952 designated the chapel as a Monument historique.

The Église Saint-Laurent also offers its own historical reference: it is documented from 1243, while its Romanesque choir dates from the 12th century. The documentary evidence for the church and the dating of the choir are two separate details. This makes it possible to consider the architectural history of the Chapelle de Glény and the recorded history of the Église Saint-Laurent separately.

The Château is not open to visitors; today it houses a Maison d’Accueil Spécialisée and a Foyer Occupationnel. If you are planning to view it from the outside, check locally in advance whether this is possible. A regular date on the annual calendar is the pilgrimage to Notre Dame du Roc, which takes place every year on 8 September.

Hiking through the Glane gorges

Les Chapelles is a 7.3-kilometre circular hiking route starting in Servières-le-Château. It runs through the Glane gorges, connects Servières with Glény and passes the Notre Dame du Roc climbing area. The route leads to the Chapelle de Glény and the Chapelle Notre Dame du Roc; it then returns to Servières, passing the Église Saint-Laurent. The loop thus links several named buildings with a route through the gorge landscape.

The Chapelle Notre Dame du Roc stands on a rocky outcrop above the Glane stream. Its setting adds a landscape feature to the architectural history of the chapels and church. The hike therefore offers a clearly defined route that follows the places and landscape features described for the trail. The stated distance of 7.3 kilometres gives you a concrete idea of the length of the loop.

Hydropower at the Barrage du Chastang

The Barrage du Chastang is a hydropower facility built between 1947 and 1952. It is located in the Dordogne gorges, within the territories of the municipalities of Servières-le-Château and Saint-Martin-la-Méanne. The Espace EDF Odyssélec, located in the site’s former caretaker’s lodge, offers a free interactive tour suitable for the whole family. It covers hydropower, the history of the Barrage du Chastang and the power of water as a renewable energy source. This gives the visit a focus that is both technical and historical.

Guided tours of the Barrage du Chastang and the Espace EDF Odyssélec are available by prior reservation. Check availability before your trip. Outside, at the Barrage site, there are picnic areas and a viewpoint overlooking the dam from the lakeshore. These facilities are separate from the tour inside the Espace: the picnic areas and viewpoint are outdoors at the site.

Water activities and when to visit

Supervised swimming at Lac de Feyt is available only in July and August; fishing is permitted. Canoes, stand-up paddleboards and pedal boats are also available to rent there. Check whether rentals are available before you travel. The timing details differ considerably: supervised swimming is limited to two summer months, while the pilgrimage to Notre Dame du Roc takes place every year on 8 September. Which of these activities matters most to you may therefore influence your choice of travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Lagarde-Enval, Merlines, Eyrein, Malemort-Sur-Corrèze, Jugeals-Nazareth, Lostanges, Affieux, Monceaux-Sur-Dordogne.

For the regional travel overview: Corrèze.