Uncover the wonders of Droux, Haute-Vienne, Limousin

A gentle discovery around Droux with its church, the old moat of the castle and the surrounding countryside composed of Limousin hedgerows. Beautiful landscapes characteristic of the high Limousin. You will appreciate the views of the Semme and the mills.

Starting out from the village of Rancon, you can observe the 12th-century Lanterne des morts (lantern of the dead) on the site of the old cemetery, which was used to keep watch over the dead. The botanical trail of the three mills offers a 6km nature walk. The trail was created in 2022 by CE1-CE2 and CM1-CM2 pupils from Rancon elementary school, together with their teachers and a forestry professional. The trail runs alongside the Gartempe River in a "Natura 2000" listed site (Gartempe valley) and allows visitors to discover different species of trees, shrubs and plants (51 in total). These are presented on small panels all along the trail. A small guide is available from the Rancon town hall for further information. An easy hike, ideal for the whole family!

This circuit allows you to discover the magnificent valley of the Gartempe. From Rancon, you can admire the lantern of the dead, the chapel of Saint-Sébastien, the parish church of Saint-Pierre...

The 9.4 km route from Magnac-Laval to Luchapt (in the commune of Droux) via Le Dorat is the first section of the Voie Verte du Haut Limousin. This route in the heart of the Limousin countryside is suitable for all types of soft mobility, including walking, cycling and horse-riding. Its surface enables a wide range of people to enjoy a safe walk. It's just as suitable for sports enthusiasts and hikers as it is for families with children in baby carriages, the mobility-impaired and the elderly. This section is also part of the d'Artagnan equestrian route, well known to horse riders.

This circuit, approved by the French Cycling Federation, is suitable for all the family. It takes you along the small roads around the Pouyades pond and the village of Dompierre les Eglises.

Escape for two hours to a place full of charm at the gates of Magnac-Laval. The route takes you to the banks of the Pouyades fishing pond. On the spot you will enjoy the picnic tables and the hamlet of cottages. Don't miss the Limousin bocage and the oak-lined paths along the way.

This family-friendly tour, approved by the French Cycling Federation, takes you from Magnac-Laval to Villefavard, with its Protestant temple and model farmhouse turned cultural venue for music creation and concerts, then on to Droux along the Semme valley.

This tour, approved by the French Cycling Federation, takes you along the roads of the Basse Marche and Monts d'Ambazac, passing through the Couze and Gartempe valleys and the shores of the Lac de Saint Pardoux. In addition to the magnificent views this route offers, you'll discover picturesque villages such as Rancon with its lantern of the dead, fortified church, art galleries and Buddhist study and retreat center, Châteauponsac "La Perle de la Gartempe" perched on its rocky outcrop, and Villefavard with its Protestant temple and model farm turned cultural venue for music creation and concerts.

This tour, certified by the Fédération Française de Cyclisme, takes you along the roads of the Basse Marche through the villages of Tersannes, Verneuil Moustier, Azat le Ris, Bourg Archambault, Lathus Saint Rémy and Le Dorat, classified as a "Petite Cité de Caractère" with its Romanesque collegiate church and medieval town gate.

This tour, certified by the Fédération Française de Cyclisme, takes you along the roads of the Basse Marche, in the Brame and Asse valleys, through the villages of Dompierre Les Eglises, Saint Hilaire la Treille, Arnac la Poste, Saint Sulpice les Feuilles, Azerables, Les Grands Chézeaux, Beaulieu, Tilly and Lussac les Eglises.

The house is located in a small, quiet village with many hiking and cycling trails. The house has one bedroom for 2 people and 2 single bedrooms, a small fully-equipped kitchen and an enclosed garden. The owners can provide you with 4 mountain bikes to make the most of the surrounding area.

As if suspended in the valley overlooking the Gartempe river, the loft-like gîte opens onto a terrace and the countryside. An ideal location for bird, sheep and deer watching. In the heart of nature, you can hike or bike from the gîte, and of course, you can fish directly from the gîte. Recreational fishing itinerary and approved as a fishing lodge by the Fédération de pêche 87.

The apartment is located in the quiet village of Rancon, in the heart of the Limousin countryside with its many hiking trails. Restaurants nearby. The apartment is located on the 3rd floor, is self-contained and has all the facilities you need for a pleasant stay.

The gîte opens onto a large farmyard with a large pool topped by a fountain, and to the rear onto a private, unoverlooked garden that gives access to a covered terrace with SPA (optional at extra cost) and a terrace with an unheated 5x2.5 m swimming pool (open from May 15 to late September, weather permitting). Private footpaths on the estate allow you to discover unspoilt nature and observe wildlife (deer, foxes, hares....)

Furnished of tourism for 6 persons, composed of 3 rooms. Isolated in the middle of nature, and not overlooked, the main house has 2 bedrooms (on the 1st floor, a bedroom with a double bed 180x200 and a bedroom with 2 single beds) and a bathroom, a living room with panoramic view and a kitchen. The annex house has a bedroom with a double bed and a bathroom. Each house has its own terrace with deck chairs, outdoor swimming pool and private pond with fishing possibilities.

Independent gite opening on a closed garden and a secured ground with above ground swimming pool open from June 2nd to September 30th according to weather conditions (diam 4m, high 1,2m). Close to tourist lakes (St Pardoux, Mondon) and rivers full of fish. Old villages, hiking, starting point of many excursions, St Pardoux lake, zoos, Limoges and its porcelain, Poitiers and futuroscope, Montmorillon and its book city, many events : shows, producers markets, .........

The gîte is in a pretty hamlet, well restored in typical Limousin style. The area is very quiet and is criss-crossed by numerous hiking trails. This studio-style self-catering cottage is housed in the former bakery and features a private terrace with panoramic views over the valley. Ideal for a couple or a single person appreciating calm and nature. The living area includes a kitchenette, and a sleeping area with a double bed. The bathroom is adjacent to the gîte and accessible from the outside. The jacuzzi and sauna are accessible all year round. Naturism is possible for travelers who wish to do so (the host is a member of the Fédération Française de Naturisme).

At the crossroads of north-south and east-west tourist routes and roads, in a quiet, rural setting with hedged farmland, whitewater, ponds, lakes and valleys. The comfort of new bedding and recently renovated bathrooms, plus the private garden, will give you the peace and quiet you're looking for. Restaurants, services and shops are within walking distance of the house.

Claire's house is a self-catering cottage in the heart of a farm. The house was built by her parents some thirty years ago, to stay close to her. She has many memories of it, and has taken great care to furnish it comfortably and decorate it to welcome families on vacation. Her kindness, her dynamism and the emotion of her attachment to this place will transport you into this so relaxing environment where she lives with her dog Maïa and her cats Poupy, Perle & Lili. The gîte's garden opens onto the countryside, with occasional visits from beautiful limousines in the next field! If you look at the many trees on the property, you may be surprised to see and hear a peacock! A stay in the heart of nature!

Picnic area, with four tables, at La Brousse off the N145.

Nancy BOUGNOL lives in Rancon, where she grows vegetables with respect for the earth and the seasons. She uses no chemicals to fertilize, grow or preserve her vegetables.

Easily accessible, the leisure runs benefit from 3 rainbow trout releases a year by the federation. These sites, broken down on site, enable young and old alike to enjoy their favorite pastime (please note that fishing is closed during releases). In the Bellac AAPPMA sector, the course stretches over 0.9 km along the Gartempe (2nd category for fish). Fishing with spoons, lures, livebait and dead fish is forbidden until the opening of the pike season). Location: municipalities of Blanzac and Droux, from Moulin du Puy Martin (upstream limit) to Vieux Pont de Blanzac (downstream limit).

The Tung-Lam Linh-Son International Buddhist Retreat and Study Center has been located in Rancon since 1986. Covering some 30 hectares, the site includes a main temple, a temple dedicated to the dead where the ashes of the deceased are deposited, a library and basic accommodation for monks and laypeople. Large outdoor spaces, punctuated by ponds where lotuses grow every summer, are ideal for meditation. "Linh Son" means "Sacred Mountain" and "Tung Lam" means "Pine Forest". In addition to training monks and nuns in Buddhism, Tung-Lam Linh-Son works to develop Buddhist culture through supervised retreats for all, and helps the curious to better understand its principles. A universal and cosmopolitan site! On site: a store selling souvenirs, Buddha statues, decorative objects, ornaments...

Saint Sébastien chapel in Rancon is dedicated to the patron saint of the conscripts. It was settled in the graveyard that was disaffected in 1872. Even recently, masses were given in the honor of young men who were assigned to military service. It was built after the Lord of Rancon disappointed his subjects during the Second Crusade in Holy Land. The people of Rancon, ashamed of their Lord, decided to put themselves under the protection of Saint Sébastien. Nowadays, it houses temporary exhibitions during summer : Le Salon des Artistes de la Gartempe. It is settled in the village next to the lantern of the dead.

The lantern of the dead of Rancon is circular in shape, its top is pierced with six bays that allow the glow of fire to spread. Since the 12th century, the lantern has remained in its original place. The cemetery in which it was built was that of the chapel of Saint Sebastian and the fortified church of St Pierre-aux-Liens. It was moved away from the town in 1872. The two remarkable oak trees in the square today were planted at that time. Around them you can see ancient tombstones.

On the second floor of the Galerie Vanderlick, Sandra, her husband Christian and their son Léo have set up a Cabinet de Curiosités Africaines. Here they exhibit objects of domestic, cultural and cultic life gleaned over the past 30 years from their travels in African lands, from North Africa to the Sahel and Black Africa. The Vanderlick family will be delighted to show you the origins of all these tools and utensils, and explain their uses.

Rancon church was built at the end of the 12th century. It has been restored and transformed many times over the centuries. In particular, it was fortified following the destruction of the Château des seigneurs de Rancon in the early 15th century. As an integral part of the fortifications surrounding the village, it became a defensive element in its own right during this troubled period. Shooting bays and machicolations were added to the top of the building's chevet. The bell tower is the most recent element of the present-day edifice, dating from the 16th century. It is a bulbous bell tower covered with chestnut shingles.

Jules Verne-themed escape room. You have been commissioned by the family of Jules Verne to find a secret manuscript that powers a mysterious machine. The family grants you access to their office, which has been closed to the public for several years for one hour, and not a minute longer. Unravel the mechanisms and mysteries of this enigmatic place.

During the first half of the 20th century, a tram line joined Limoges to Saint-Sulpice les Feuilles. To make this junction possible several bridges were built. The viaduct you can see near Rancon is one of them. It is a 138 meters long and 23 meters high viaduct with eleven arches. The tram stopped in 1949 and the viaduct is not used anymore. Nowadays, it still spans the Gartempe River but its rails and parapets have disappeared. You can see it from the road that leads to le Moulin de Roche.

Roadside bar and restaurant located on the N145 Traditional and family cuisine

Burger Box 87 offers burgers, fries, salads, sweet crepes and cold drinks.

In the heart of the medieval town of Rancon, Jamie welcomes you to his establishment "Le Mange-Tout" for a quick gourmet break. You can enjoy typical English dishes.

In the center of the village of Rancon, the bar-restaurant and rooms "Le Georges" offers a lunchtime menu and a menu of home-made burgers. Traditional dishes prepared using local produce wherever possible. House specialties include Limousin-style faux filet, English-style fish & chips and gourmet ice cream sundaes. For summer 2024, we will be introducing a seafood menu, depending on availability. Reservations recommended, atmosphere guaranteed!

Just outside Blanzac, in the direction of Le Chablard, you'll find François only at weekends. He'll concoct tasty dishes using fresh, homemade ingredients. Every 1st Saturday of the month, François prepares his delicious pizzas to order.

Nestling on the banks of the River Gartempe, this traditional yet contemporary English pub offers a traditional pub experience surrounded by a great selection of beers, wines and Guinness with its varied and flavorful menu. House specialties include steak frites, British Indian and Asian dishes, stone-baked pizzas and, in winter, the traditional Sunday roast. Enjoy the lovely terrace on sunny days and the warmth of the interior on wintry days.

Located on avenue François Mitterrand, at the entrance to Magnac Laval, this bar-restaurant boasts a lovely terrace. The restaurant serves good, simple, family-style cuisine. House specialities: fish and French fries and Limousin meat. You can also enjoy a hearty breakfast at weekends, from April onwards.

Pizza Lola, located rue Camille Grellier in Magnac-Laval, offers a wide range of delicious takeaway pizzas.

The food-truck offers pizzas with homemade dough cooked on wood fires.

Located right next to the church in the center of Magnac-Laval, Le Magnachon bar-restaurant offers steak and French fries and a lunchtime menu. In the evening, you can choose from our à la carte menu. Enjoy our mussels and French fries evening on the first Saturday of the month and our theme evenings on the third Saturday of the month.

The house is located in a small, quiet village with many hiking and cycling trails. The house has one bedroom for 2 people and 2 single bedrooms, a small fully-equipped kitchen and an enclosed garden. The owners can provide you with 4 mountain bikes to make the most of the surrounding area.

Located on the Route du Haut Limousin tourist itinerary, the accommodation is set in the Limousin countryside. It is a small stone house with a private enclosed garden. A jacuzzi (available from June to September) will allow you to relax fully after a day of sightseeing or activities (hiking, cycling, fishing, nearby villages of character such as Châteauponsac...). Bedroom with a double bed (160x200), and a convertible bed in the living room. Please note that the ceiling height is 1m85.

1 bedroom, sleeps 6

The gîte is located in a quiet hamlet with a beautiful view over the surrounding countryside. The accommodation is spacious and well-equipped for a comfortable and relaxing stay.

As if suspended in the valley overlooking the Gartempe river, the loft-like gîte opens onto a terrace and the countryside. An ideal location for bird, sheep and deer watching. In the heart of nature, you can hike or bike from the gîte, and of course, you can fish directly from the gîte. Recreational fishing itinerary and approved as a fishing lodge by the Fédération de pêche 87.

The apartment is located in the quiet village of Rancon, in the heart of the Limousin countryside with its many hiking trails. Restaurants nearby. The apartment is located on the 3rd floor, is self-contained and has all the facilities you need for a pleasant stay.

Newly-renovated furnished apartment in a stone-built house sleeps 4 (2 adults + 2 to 4 children). It comprises a kitchen opening onto a living room with fireplace, a large bathroom and, upstairs, a second living room with sofa bed and a spacious bedroom with a 200x200 bed. The house opens onto a terrace with garden furniture and barbecue, and a large garden with children's play area (trampoline, tree house and swing), fire pit and wellness area (hottub and sauna). Bed linen provided.

Communal, public area. Artisanal bollard. Drain and fill up with water. Adjacent parking area (or on public squares in town).

The gîte opens onto a large farmyard with a large pool topped by a fountain, and to the rear onto a private, unoverlooked garden that gives access to a covered terrace with SPA (optional at extra cost) and a terrace with an unheated 5x2.5 m swimming pool (open from May 15 to late September, weather permitting). Private footpaths on the estate allow you to discover unspoilt nature and observe wildlife (deer, foxes, hares....)

This attractive wooden construction on stilts, with large windows, is located on the edge of a private pond. Access via a drawbridge, panoramic terrace above the water. South-east facing, pontoon below. Nearby cultural activities (Ferme de Villefavard e, Limousin), walking trails, fishing rights on request. The interior features a double bed, a cosy living room, a fully-equipped kitchen and a shower, with a separate dry toilet.