De châteaux en belvédères

On the last buttresses of the Plateau of Millevaches, between Sarsonne and Diège, Ussel, city of Ventadour illustrates well the medieval past of Corrèze. Churches and houses of XVIe and XVIIe centuries. Church Saint-Martin with choir and Romanesque chevet of XIIe century, chapel of the Blue Penitents with retable of XVIIIe centuries of Paul Delimosin. Houses of the 16th and 17th centuries: residence of the Dukes of Ventadour, house of the communal priests (17th century), Soubise tower (14th-15th centuries). For leisure activities, the tourist centre of Ponty with its lake, the Station Sports Nature Haute-Corrèze, the equestrian centre and a vast network of hiking trails allow the practice of many activities.

The Bétinac windmill, located in the commune of Valièrgue, is one of the last, if not the last, windmills in Corrèze. Built in 1840, it was restored in the 1970s and again in the early 2000s, and is now in good working order.

Access via the D20, then the D183 between Neuvic and Liginiac. Puy de Manzagol overlooks the Triouzoune lake opposite Neuvic. From the panoramic viewpoint, the view plunges down to the Pellachal bridge, before wandering off to the horizon of the Monédières.

On the D127, 12 km west of Bort-les-Orgues. Promontory at the confluence of the Dordogne and Diège rivers. The village and church of St-Nazaire once stood here. From its tip, you have a magnificent view of the Dordogne (Marèges dam reservoir) and Diège gorges. This is the most beautiful viewpoint in the Dordogne valley. Easily accessible on foot. Rated *** by Michelin.

Situated at an altitude of 789 m and towering 350 m above the town of Bort-les-Orgues, the Orgues de Bort are formed by phonolite flows, the ends of which are cut into columns 80 to 100 m high, over a length of 2 km. These gigantic organ pipes, shaped by time, are the result of shrinkage cracks formed when the lava cooled. The Orgues de Bort are considered the best observatory in the Auvergne. Opposite this prestigious balcony are the Monts Dore range, the Artense plateau, the grassy ridges of the Cézallier and the Massif Central. Volcanic flows originate from the Puy de Bort (860 m), the highest point in the region. Tête de l'Homme site. Grotte des Orgues (Orientation tables: Panorama, ** Michelin). Signposted footpaths - Belvederes. Free access.

The Bort-les-Orgues dam is the water tower of the Dordogne valley, with a capacity of almost 500 million m3 - the 4th largest in France. The 120 m-high, 400 m-long arch-weight dam required 650,000 m3 of concrete for its construction. Two tours are available: - the EDF Odyssèlec space, a scenomuseum retracing the life of the dam from its construction to the present day, through a fun and educational trail, - a visit to the interior of the plant, from the control room to the engine room, via the tunnel. Tickets required (self-guided and guided tours), as places are limited, at www.tourisme-hautecorreze.fr or at the Tourist Information Offices of Tourisme Haute-Corrèze (Bort-les-Orgues, Meymac, Neuvic), or on site, subject to availability.

On the D82, 20 km north of Bort-les-Orgues. View of the Bort-les-Orgues dam reservoir.

In the early Middle Ages, Robert, founder of the Chaise-Dieu abbey, had a priory built on the right bank of the Dordogne. The abbey flourished from the 11th to the 13th century, with 16 monks. However, it was sacked around 1597 by the Huguenots. Today, all that remains of the priory is part of the surrounding wall, the large vaulted hall, the base of the keep and the chapel of the Manants. The latter was built outside the walls for the surrounding population. It served as a parish church, succeeding the church of Saint Martin further up the plateau. Every summer, the chapel hosts exhibitions and concerts.

Venez découvrir le barrage de Bort les Orgues, 4ème plus grande retenue de France. Pour cela, l'Espace EDF Odyssélec, scénomusée, vous retrace la vie du barrage de sa construction à aujourd'hui à travers un parcours ludique et pédagogique. Nouveauté 2025 : livret jeu pour partir à la découverte du barrage en famille. Billetterie obligatoire (visite libre et guidée), en raison de places limitées, et du plan Vigipirate, en ligne sur www.tourisme-hautecorreze.fr ou dans les Bureaux d’Information Touristique de Tourisme Haute-Corrèze (Bort-les-Orgues, Meymac, Ussel, Neuvic). Pas de réservation par téléphone. OBLIGATOIRES : CNI ou passeport dès 18 ans, chaussures plates et fermées. INTERDITS : téléphone, appareil photo, sac et sac à main, animaux. Accès refusé en cas de non respect. Groupe toute l'année.