Badefols-Sur-Dordogne brings together trails, heritage and the Dordogne landscape. Different activities are available during your stay: a permanent trail, the history of the Château de Badefols, protected areas along the Dordogne and a visitor experience at the Domaine de Barbe. A washhouse, numerous bories and a small church are also found along one route. Whether you prefer to focus your day on exercise, historical sites or nature, you can choose from these specific offerings.
Trails and Routes in Badefols-Sur-Dordogne
A permanent 15 km trail runs through the commune. The 14.0 km “Boucle de Badefols sur Dordogne” loop starts in Badefols-Sur-Dordogne. The routes differ in length by just one kilometre, but their location descriptions are different: the trail runs through the commune, while the loop starts in Badefols. Before setting out on either route, check the local signage and access.
The loop passes a washhouse, a site of cultural and historical interest, as well as numerous bories and a small church. Bories are dry-stone structures; along the route, they add another type of building to the washhouse and church. If you choose trails based on their historic points of interest, this loop offers more than just its distance as a guide.
Château de Badefols and Local History
The “Bourg et ruine du château” ensemble is designated as a “site inscrit.” The grounds of the Château de Badefols preserve the ruins of a chapel and the foundations of its imposing walls. The château was built in the 10th century and first mentioned in writing in 1273. During the Hundred Years’ War, the English attacked it several times; in 1405, the Count of Clermont looted and burned it. The surviving remains thus stand alongside a history spanning its construction, the attacks and its destruction in the 15th century.
The Dordogne and Its Protected Landscape
The “Rivière Dordogne” section in Badefols-Sur-Dordogne is protected as a biotope under a prefectural order. The protected area covers about 3% of the commune. The Dordogne within the commune is also part of the 5,685 ha “La Dordogne” Natura 2000 site, which covers 6% of the commune. The commune’s landscape is classified entirely as “Périgord central.” If you are planning activities on the water, check the boundaries and applicable regulations with the relevant authority.
Picnics and Visits to the Domaine de Barbe
Picnic tables are available at Place de la Mairie and on the riverbank at Chemin du Pêcheur. As these facilities may change, check before your visit whether they are available for your break. The Domaine de Barbe offers a guided tour with tasting, as well as a free self-guided tour of its production, which ranges from goslings and ducklings to foie gras. Check the current visiting arrangements in advance, as they may change.
Discover more destinations: Quinsac, Celles, Gaugeac, Grand-Brassac, Naussannes, Beynac-Et-Cazenac, Le Fleix, Saint-Martial-D'artenset
For the regional travel overview: Dordogne.
