Couze St Front
By the early name of Coza, Couze has been known since the 10th century. Rows of old village houses perch on the hillside overlooking the River Couze and, on its banks, a two-star campsite. Couze’s first paper mills date from the 15th century, by 1530 there were 8 working mills and by the 17th century Couze’s 13 mills made it one of the largest paper-producing towns of France. In the early 20th century the mills were closed down one by one until only two remained which are still open to the public today. The authentic Larroque water mill still produces hand-made paper and Rouzique mill has been transformed into an eco-museum. The valley’s paper mills used to produce large quantities of paper for Amsterdam and Rouzique paper mill houses a remarkable collection of paper water-marked with Amsterdam’s coat of arms. (Guided visits).

Lanquais
Lanquais is a charming, listed village set well away from the main roads in delightful countryside. Old village houses are grouped around a 12thcentury church and flanked by an old corn exchange. Just outside the village a large tithe barn with an astonishing history is overlooked by a medieval / renaissance chateau (11th – 16th century). These magnificent historical buildings sit side by side with a shady 9 ha park and a 3 ha lake which is open for swimming in the summer and for fishing all year round. The commune has two more chateaux – Laroque and Le Hosset – both are private property.

Mauzac-et-Grand-Castang
Mauzac is a charming village on the banks of the Dordogne River with many walks and hiking trails. The registered hiking trail, the GR 6 (Sentier de Grand Randonnée 6) can be picked up here. A huge lake (formed by an Electricity Board dam) is very popular for fishing, sailing, rowing, canoeing-kayaking and triathlons. The lake’s banks have been planted with walkers in mind. The former ferryman’s house has been transformed into an exhibition center decorated with old photographs and postcards of Mauzac; the first floor houses an EDF exhibition on hydroelectric progress and the Fishing & Hunting Federation have mounted an exhibition about local wildlife and its habitat.
The Port: A 65-seat boat (a replica of an early 20th century yawl) is under construction and will be used to market Sigoulès wines. Trips down the river will be complemented by wine-tastings and high-quality Périgourdin produce.
Grand-Castang, a 13th century Knights Templar dwelling is well worth a visit. Note the bell-tower – a former defense-tower - and the lauze-roofed wells in the village center.

Pressignac-Vicq
Pressignac was destroyed on 21 June 1944 during the Second World War. It has since been rebuilt but only a handful of beautiful old village homes and the 12th century Romanesque-Byzantine church (on the Supplementary Inventory of Historical Monuments) with its ribbed vaults and windows, still stand. In the surrounding countryside some very beautiful houses can be seen from the GR registered hiking trail. Not to be missed: Vicq’s 12th century church of Saint Sauveur and its renovated ‘Descent from the Cross’.

Cause-de-Clérans
Two characterful villages make up one commune. The village of Cause has existed since the 12th century; the Romanesque-Byzantine church dates from the closing years of the 11th century. Note the bell-tower above the crossing on its pendentive-supported dome.
The area boasts many wayside crosses. At Clérans the medieval, 12th century castle - the ruins of one of the most imposing in Périgord - was built on Carolingian foundations dating from before the year 1000. It was in the 12th century that the destroyed parish of Clérans was attached to Cause. Also at Cause-de-Clérans: the ‘Pays Lindois’ registered GR hiking trail, old water mills, public wash-houses...

Liorac-sur-Louvre
Characterful village.
Many châteaux and private manor houses.
Liorac forest nature reserve nearby.

Baneuil
Remains of 14th century castle including a Romanesque, rectangular tower. Fine 12th century Romanesque church. Standing stones along the ‘Pays Lindois’ registered GR hiking trail.

Saint-Capraise-de-Lalinde
A former port town of considerable importance during the days of river transport, particularly for the construction and repair of gabares. A hiking trail between the Dordogne River and the canal has been made with visitors in mind.
Having admired Tuilières’ 6 graduated locks and the central crossing basin which enabled boats to traverse a 22m gradient, the hydroelectric dam on the Dordogne, and the fish lift, follow the old tow path towards the village passing a graving dock, the remains of a Warren girder bridge, a dry dock (harbouring one of the last boats to have sailed along the canal - the Merlandou) and a canal bridge. Most of these works are listed on the Historical Monument Supplementary Inventory. St Capraise de Lalinde also has a charming Romanesque church.

Saint-Felix-de-Villadeix
A delightful village situated on an old Roman road. Hiking, walking and mountain-biking trails. In the village itself the Romanesque church of St Félix was altered in the 14th century and St Nicolas’s chapel at the end of the 15th. Village fountain.
Nearby, the site of Lamothe Castle on a recently rediscovered burial mound has a picnic area.

Saint-Marcel-du-Périgord
The Romanesque church of St Marcel has an unusual wall-belfry, a beautiful gothic door, a spectacular nave and a rib-vaulted chancel. It is a former archpriestry where St Quitterie was honored in a chapel which, no longer existing , has been replaced with a cross.

Varennes
A small, farming commune. Overlooking the Dordogne River, characterful houses encircle St Avit Church.
The Romanesque church houses an ornate, painted wooden alter piece dating from the 18th century. St Avit was born in the village (St Avit’s grotto).

Verdon
The smallest commune in the canton (38 inhabitants). Romanesque church with wall-belfry, Tour de Montbrun Chapel, magnificent view over the valley. Château de Montbrun nearby.

Saint-Agne
Essentially an agricultural village. The church has remarkable acoustics.
Former priory, St Aignan. Gothic. Wall-belfry. A wayside cross made by St Agne’s blacksmith in the 14th century, can be seen at ‘Viradis’.




Text translated by Pays du Grand Bergeracois (professional translator).