Ajat is a hillside village on the edge of the Causse and Forêt Barade forest. The château and Saint-Martin Church are among the village’s landmarks, while a panoramic view offers a wider perspective on Ajat. Those interested in cultural history can explore the village on two levels: the architecture of individual buildings and the historical connections associated with Ajat.

Château and Saint-Martin Church in Ajat

Ajat Château is listed as a protected historic monument under a decree dated 8 June 1925. It consists of two residential wings connected by a gallery with a pavilion. The gallery encloses an inner courtyard. Together, the residential wings, gallery, pavilion and courtyard form a unified composition. The arrangement of these elements offers a concrete starting point for exploring the château’s architecture.

Saint-Martin Church in Ajat dates from the 12th century and is listed as a protected historic monument under a decree dated 25 April 1925. Its apse is decorated with arches resting on small columns. The church was originally connected to the château: a destroyed bay once linked it to one of the château’s towers. Its bell-gable stands out for its four openings and a height of 25 metres.

The church floor is also noteworthy: it covers numerous graves, including the grave of François de Hautefort. Together with the apse and bell-gable, this offers a view of different aspects of the building, from its upper-level details to the historic burials beneath the floor.

Architecture and history in Bauzens

Bauzens Church was classified as a protected historic monument under a decree dated 25 August 1909. Its western portal is set beneath a projecting arch, with three arcades above it. Two monolithic columns support sculpted capitals. This sequence, from the portal through the arcades to the capitals, draws attention to the structure of the entrance.

Part of the nave of Saint-Barthélemy Church in Bauzens is open to the sky. The church was first mentioned in 1120 and is considered one of the oldest churches in Périgord. These details offer several ways to explore the church: the design of the western portal, the open-air section of the nave and its early mention.

Discover the Route des Canons and the heritage

Ajat was closely connected to the Route des Canons through the de Hautefort family. The route was linked to the founding of the Forge d’Ans. Suzanne Lacore’s house is also part of the Route des Canons. Under Léon Blum, Lacore became the first woman to hold the office of Secretary of State. These historical connections add to the architectural details of the château and churches.

The Boucle d’Ajat mountain-bike circuit offers a way to discover Ajat’s heritage. You can choose your focus and explore the architecture or the historical connections: at the château, the overall layout takes centre stage, while the churches offer details such as the portal, apse and bell tower. The Route des Canons provides another thematic way to explore local history; the Boucle d’Ajat makes heritage discovery the focus of a mountain-bike ride.

Discover more destinations: Champagnac-De-Belair, Sagelat, Beynac-Et-Cazenac, Sorges, Allemans, Marsaneix, Verteillac, Teillots.

Return to the regional travel overview: Dordogne.