The Dordogne, the Canal de Lalinde and the seasonal Bac des Bastides river shuttle give a trip to Mauzac-Et-Grand-Castang three distinct focuses: landscape, activity on the water and a crossing between Mauzac and Calès. There is also the Maison du passeur, with exhibitions about Mauzac’s past and the development of hydroelectric power. When choosing a destination, you can weigh nature, routes, culture and the seasonal river connection as separate reasons to stay.
Dordogne meanders and bird stopover
Mauzac-et-Grand-Castang lies at the foot of the Dordogne’s meanders and forms the Cingles of Trémolat and Limeuil. A biodiversity record dated 12 June 2024 notes important year-round resting places for birds along a stretch of the Dordogne in the Mauzac-et-Grand-Castang area, particularly for waterbirds during migration and wintering. This gives a clear distinction by season: the resting places are important year-round, while migration and wintering are especially significant periods for waterbirds. If you take nature observation into account when planning your trip, this distinction is a useful guide to the time of year.
Canal de Lalinde: history and routes
Work on the Canal de Lalinde was approved in 1838 and completed in 1843. The five years between approval and completion provide a clear timeframe for the canal’s history. You can cover 15 km on foot or by bike along the towpath. The Véloroute Voie Verte V91 follows the Canal de Lalinde, from the Tuilières locks to Mauzac. For planning, the towpath offers a specified distance, while the V91’s route between these points provides orientation. Alongside the canal’s history, this raises a practical question about getting around: would you like to cover the towpath’s 15 km on foot or by bike, or plan your route around the V91’s endpoints?
Exhibitions at the Maison du passeur
The Maison du passeur has been converted into an exhibition space. It displays photographs and postcards from Mauzac’s past; upstairs, there is also an EDF exhibition on the development of hydroelectric power. If you include culture in your stay, you can discover local memorabilia and the development of hydroelectric power side by side here. Access may vary by season; check whether the exhibition is open on your travel dates before visiting.
Cross the river on the Bac des Bastides
The seasonal Bac des Bastides connects the port of Mauzac with Calès and is available to pedestrians and cyclists. In 2026, service was scheduled to run through and including 15 September; check the timetable for later travel dates. The crossing spans about 200 metres of river at this point and carries a maximum of nine people and four bicycles. These capacities matter for groups: there is a limit for passengers and a separate limit for bicycles. Unlike the 15 km figure for the towpath, the Bac is a river crossing between two places, not a distance for a route along the Canal. If you are travelling with several people or bicycles, check the relevant capacities and the seasonal operating details for your date.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Just, Ribérac, Sainte-Nathalène, Léguillac-de-Cercles, Daglan, Grèzes, Servanches, Vezac
For the broader travel overview: Dordogne.
