Two circular hiking routes offer different highlights: the Boucle de Cantelouve combines scenery, a reminder of the once-widespread tobacco growing in the area and practical details about walking time. The Boucle de Phénix focuses on architecture and a Fontaine-lavoir. Local history, the Marché gourmand and wine offerings round out these themes for planning your trip.
Hiking among fields, vineyards and buildings
The Boucle de Cantelouve is an 8 km circular hiking route. It takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes to walk, with a cumulative elevation gain of 66 m. The route passes through orchards, vineyards and grain fields, as well as wooded areas with dry-stone walls. At the beginning of the route, you pass an old tobacco drying shed, a reminder of the once-widespread tobacco growing in the area. This walk therefore combines a landscape shaped by agriculture with a tangible link to the history of tobacco. The time given is for walking; if you plan to stop along the way, allow for that in your day’s plans as well. Check local conditions before setting out.
The Boucle de Phénix has different highlights: you’ll see Périgord-style architecture and agricultural landscapes interspersed with wooded areas. Halfway along the route, it passes the Fontaine-lavoir de Phénix. Unlike the Cantelouve, whose practical details provide a clear guide to walking time, Phénix is characterized by its architectural and landscape features. When choosing between the routes, you can therefore take into account both the time given for the Cantelouve and the particular highlights described for each route.
Church and château: different building histories
The Église de Saint-Aubin-de-Lanquais was originally Romanesque in style. It was destroyed and rebuilt at the end of the 19th century. Its history therefore encompasses both an early architectural origin and a later reconstruction. By contrast, the building history of the Château de Saint-Aubin-de-Lanquais remains a mystery. While the church’s origins and reconstruction can be placed in a historical timeline, the château is notable precisely for the unanswered question of its building history. These distinct historical highlights offer two clearly different perspectives on the area’s history.
Marché gourmand and wine offerings
At the Marché gourmand in Saint-Aubin-De-Lanquais, vendors offer prepared food that you can take away or enjoy on site. Tables are available in the shady municipal park. For your visit, it’s useful to know the difference between takeaway food and eating on site: you can plan your day around the options accordingly. Check market dates and seasonal opening information again before planning your visit.
Château Tour de Grangemont offers wine for sale and tastings at the winery. It produces AOC Bergerac and Côtes de Bergerac wines in red, white, rosé and sweet varieties. Cellar visits are available on request; tours are by appointment only. Check dates in advance if you’re planning a visit or tour. The two food and drink experiences also differ in how they need to be planned: check the market dates for the Marché, while a tour requires an appointment.
Discover more destinations: Augignac, Jaure, Carsac-Aillac, Saint-Romain-Et-Saint-Clément, Festalemps, La Roque-Gageac, Pazayac, Bonneville-Et-Saint-Avit-De-Fumadières.
For the broader travel guide: Dordogne.
