Saint-Avit-Sénieur brings together the few remaining ruins of a fortified monastery and an 11th-century church. There are also two circular routes, 10.8 and 18 kilometres long, as well as seasonal tours and evening events. When choosing your travel dates, it is therefore worth checking whether tours, the sound-and-light trail, market or farm shop fall within your stay.
Abbey, Church and Pilgrim Routes
Only a few ruins remain of the fortified monastery of Saint-Avit-Sénieur. The 11th-century Saint-Avit Church stands right beside the abbey ruins. From the outside, it looks like a fortress; its very massive defensive towers shape this impression. Here, then, you can see both the surviving remains of the fortified monastery and a church with a fortified exterior.
The Abbey of Saint-Avit-Sénieur is listed as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Saint-Avit Church is also associated with the Via Lemovicensis and the Via Turonensis. The Saint-Avit presbytery is another part of the local cultural offering: it regularly serves as an exhibition venue.
Choose a Circular Route by Distance
The Boucle de Pont Roudier is a 10.8-kilometre circular walk starting in Saint-Avit-Sénieur. The Boucle des Pèlerins also starts there and is an 18-kilometre circular route. The Boucle de Pont Roudier is therefore the shorter of the two options; the longer Boucle des Pèlerins is also described as easy and can be travelled on foot, on horseback or by mountain bike. Trail conditions may change, so check them before setting out.
For a wider regional connection, the Chemin des deux abbayes runs from Saint-Avit to the bastide town of Molières and Cadouin Abbey, before reaching Le Buisson station. From there, a direct train takes a quarter of an hour to Lalinde. Check both the route and the train service before travelling.
Seasonal Tours and Evening Events
From 1 July to 30 September, free guided tours of the village are offered on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. As this is a seasonal schedule, check the dates for the relevant year before travelling.
Les Murmures de Saint-Avit is a summer nighttime sound-and-light trail in Saint-Avit-Sénieur. Before your trip, check whether it is currently running during your travel dates. Another seasonal evening event is the night market in Saint-Avit, which takes place every Tuesday evening in July and August. Here too, check the specific dates for the year in advance.
Farm Shop at La Ferme de Cor
La Ferme de Cor grows produce organically and processes it on site in its own facility; these production details may change. The farm shop is open on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in July, August and September; visits are also possible by appointment. Check the current opening dates before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Beaupouyet, Rouffignac-De-Sigoulès, Savignac-Les-Églises, Campagne, Issigeac, Saint-Laurent-des-Hommes, Lanquais, Antonne-Et-Trigonant.
For the broader travel overview: Dordogne.
